My Faith and our World

"My Faith and our World" - Faiths in Sussex Programme
Worth Abbey 2-6 PM, Sunday 19 October 2008

Driving to Worth Abbey was a celebration of autumn:
The leaves, red, yellow and gold, glistening in the sunlight.
As we arrived, Nigel Tomsett was welcoming participants
at the parking lot; Ian Lawton was taking registrations and
giving name tags in the entrance hall, and Heather Tomsett
was providing a welcome cup of tea.

At 2:30, Father Paul Fleetwood welcomed us in the Unity Room,
on behalf of Abbot Christopher. Many of us had heard Abbot
Christopher that morning as he spoke on BBC Radio South about
his new book on HAPPINESS.

Peter Brown from "Faith in Worthing" ably chaired the opening panel.

The first speaker was Shaykh Ismail Yusuf, Imam of Hastings.
Trained at the Muslim College of London, he opened his presentation
by telling us "Rightousness is not involved in facing this direction or
that direction." To live rightly is to do justice nd mercy. To keep
faith in God and the Holy Books. And in Islam, to perform the
"pillars" of prayer, pilgrimage, fasting, and giving.

Rabbi Charles Wallach of Shaarei Shalom Synagogue in Brighton and
Hove told us the story of the man who asked Rabbi Hillel to tell him
the essence of the Torah while standing on one leg. Rabbi Hillel said,
"What is hateful to you, do not do to others."

Barrney Leith of the Bahai National Spiritual Assembly gave us a brief
history of the Bahai faith from its founding in Iran in the 19th Century.
"The Bahai faith affirms human beings as manifestations of God."
To Bahais, "All mankind is one family."

As discussion opening, Vivenne (organiser of interfaith events in London),
asked a challenging question, "Is there an aspect of your faith you disagree
with?" Rabbi Wallach asked her for clarification. She said, "For example,
I am a Christian, but I don't believe Jesus is God." The Rabbi told of Jews
who don't believe, but who support the Jewish Community. Also, he said,
that when he is among "Ultra-Orthodox Jews," he tries to observe their
customs. But in his own synagogue he does not follow such strict practice.

Shaykh Yusuf told us, "The Holy Quran says that when God created the
world, humanity was like a baby." The early prophets gradually built
the temple of scripture. Then Mohammed came and laid the final brick.
*******************
It was time for tea, and wonderous cakes, apple, ginger and chocolate.
Thanks to all who provided this bounty.

We returned to Unity Hall for the Young Adult Panel. As Nigel Tomsett
wrote after the meeting, "Who ever got the young people for the panel
please pass on our thanks? They showed such enthusiasm and knowledge
and were so well prepared for their talk. All together a great day hosted as usual
by the abbey with such efficiency and love. Paul, Peter and Ian please pass our
thanks to your groups."

The young adults were Adib Farid, Bahai from Brighton, Adrian & Lisa, from
the Elmgrove Community in Brighton, and Mr. Inti Kahn, Muslim, who gave us
his thanks at the end, saying, "Whoever does not thank people,does not thank God."

The afternoon closed as the 44 or so of us stood in a circle, and shared
the familiar words of the Muslim Poet, Rumi,
"Come, come whoever you are, wanderer worshipper, lover of leaving.
Ours is no caravan of despair, come, yet again come."

As part of the STAND UP AND TAKE ACTION on poverty weekend, all were asked
to consider, fasting, or eating only a banana for lunch one day, and giving the money
saved to some cause like UNICEF. On United Nations Day, I will join with many
others in doing that. On BBC Southern Counties Radio, at 8 AM on 19 October,
I gave the "thought for the day" below.

REMINDER - the next meeting of the Faiths in Sussex Committee,
Monday, 27 October, 7:30 PM, at Worth Abbey
Thought for the Day, BBC Southern Counties Radio
This week I read a headline which said,
"Billion go hungry as rich countries fail to pay up."

What can I do? Each week, I have a banana day:
One "fair trade" banana for breakfast, another for lunch.
It helps keep my weigh down.
It reminds me that I eat to live, not live to eat.

I learned the practice from Buddhists in Japan,
who skip one meal each week and give the money saved to charity.

I wrote suggesting that Churches promote "skip one meal."
A colleague replied that she did not believe in "tokenism" and would not
support "band-aids" like "skipping a meal."

Instead, I find it like the white wristband I wear, which says,
"make poverty history." The wristband will not cure poverty.
But it does help cure the poverty of my soul.

When the market is down and pensions are declining,
we can do something.
This October, will you observe One World Week
by eating a fair trade banana? Instead of lunch? .
Will you give the money saved to some cause
like UNICEF?

During the last Great Depression, the Japanese Christian Kagawa wrote:
"Penniless,
for a while I can live.
But it breaks my heart to know
I cannot give."
Peace and love, Richard Boeke