Children of Abraham

Richard L. Shafer

 

While in New Jersey last month, I found a PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER column which reported both local and faith-wide events.  The newspaper reported separate Christian events as well as Jewish, Muslim, and several non-Abrahamic traditions.  During that week:

 

  • Some Roman Catholics celebrated the opening mass for the month-long homage to Senor de los Hermanos, a Peruvian religious festival.
  • The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrated the protection of the Mother of God.

“This has been marked since A.D. 911, date of an apparition in a Constantinople church:  The virgin was seen bearing an omophor, a cloth of wool signifying Jesus’ protection of lost sheep.”[1]

  • Ramadan, the most holy month of the year for Muslims, began on October 15. 

“Ramadan marks the beginning of the revelation of the Koran to the prophet Muhammad.  It is a time of reflection, discipline and atonement . . .Adherents aspire to gracious conduct:  for example, those who are fasting should not raise their voices in anger.”[2]

  • Jews celebrated Rosh Hodesh Heshvan[3] on October 16, with prayers welcoming the new moon that begins the month of Heshvan in the Jewish calendar. 

 

Various other events from the Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh and Baha’i faiths, and more from Christian traditions, were also listed.  But only one Interfaith event was shown:  On Friday, October 15, “The 13th annual Children’s Sabbath weekend begins, sponsored by the Children’s Defense Fund.  Congregations nationwide hold special prayers and programs.”

 

It’s fairly easy to find listings of religious services in our local papers, but I often wonder how to find out what’s happening here that encourages people like us to share our beliefs and practices with Jews and Muslims, and they with us.  In San Francisco, the organizers of the Interfaith Center at the Presidio[4] have now planned some Monday evening gathering times, called “The Interfaith Circle.”  “Twice a month we will share prayer and meditation from one or more traditions, have a potluck, and spend an hour or two talking about our different religious backgrounds with each other.”  Visit their web page for details of this and other interfaith events in the bay area.

 

November gives us at least two important occasions to remember our kinship with those of other faith traditions, particularly our Muslim sisters and brothers.  First on November 14, Muslims celebrate the end of  Ramadan. 

 

“The feast days of Eid al-Fitr last for three days.  Eid means recurring happiness or festivity in Arabic and Al-Fitr literally means the breaking of fast. Muslims from all walks of life celebrate these three days that mark the beginning of Shawwal or the tenth month in the Muslim calendar with much enthusiasm and fervour …the homes of Muslims  [will be] beautifully decorated. Everyone has new clothes too, and most Muslims dress in their finest attire.  On the morning of Eid everyone gets up early to join in the morning prayers ... After prayers breakfast is taken and then the celebrations really begin.

Greet Muslims with the salutation of "Eid Mubarek"...  Eid al-Fitr is all about celebrating the good things received from God's bounty.[5]”

 

And that brings me to the second of the occasions to share with those of other faiths.  While not religious, strictly speaking, for me, this is very much about “celebrating the good things” God has provided to us:  Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

 

Copyright Richard L. Shafer 2004


[1] “Interfaith Calendar for October 10-17” in the “Faith Life” section of the October 10th issue of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER (p. C4). 

[2] ibid.

[3] http://www.akhlah.com/holidays/rosh_hodesh/rosh_hodesh_traditions.asp

[4] http://www.interfaith-presidio.org/icpnewsevents.cfm

[5] http://www.whatsonwhen.com/events/~97261.jml