An Interfaith Event: Why Must I Suffer
Once again I would like to thank Dr. Prasad Mantravadi, Arjia Rinpoche, Robert Rogers, Amani Elhefni, Dr. L. Michael Spath, and Rabbi Mitchell Kornspan for speaking at "An Interfaith Event: Why Must I Suffer?. Lance Clark of LC Media in Fort Wayne filmed the event. As I watched the event I appreciated the willingness of the speakers to let us enter into their lives as they shared their stories of suffering. Using the topic of suffering we were able to learn about other faiths in our community. I also appreciated the honest manner in which the speakers spoke in explaining their faiths. Hopefully as you watch the event you will more fully understand your own faith and also be willing to learn about others.
Once again I would like to thank Dr. Prasad Mantravadi, Arjia Rinpoche, Robert Rogers, Amani Elhefni, Dr. L. Michael Spath, and Rabbi Mitchell Kornspan for speaking at "An Interfaith Event: Why Must I Suffer?. Lance Clark of LC Media in Fort Wayne filmed the event. As I watched the event I appreciated the willingness of the speakers to let us enter into their lives as they shared their stories of suffering. Using the topic of suffering we were able to learn about other faiths in our community. I also appreciated the honest manner in which the speakers spoke in explaining their faiths. Hopefully as you watch the event you will more fully understand your own faith and also be willing to learn about others.
Shalom!
The event has been posted to Youtube in six sections.
Question 1) Share with us how you have known or experienced suffering; being either a personal experience or a professional experience.
Question 2) From the viewpoint of your faith, why do bad things happen to good people? Why must we suffer?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYnIiCzLKJ4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYnIiCzLKJ4
Question 3) From
the viewpoint of your faith, how should we respond to those who are
suffering? What are words of comfort that we can give to those who are
suffering?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M7LCLgZE28
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M7LCLgZE28
Discussion) How do I get
through my suffering?
Conclusion:
An Interfaith Event: Why Must I Suffer
Buddhist, Protestant, Muslim, Judaism, Hindu, Catholic
November 2011
L. Michael Spath, D.Min., Ph.D.Religious Studies - Department of Philosophy; Peace and Conflict Studies Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne; Indiana Center for Middle East Peace
Amani Elhefni, Universal Education Foundation Islamic School, Principal
Ramona Fisher, Moderator, Canterbury School
Rabbi Mitchell Kornspan, B'nai Jacob Congregation
Dr. Prasad Mantravadi, Radiation Oncology Associates, Physician
Robert Rogers, Mighty in the Land Ministry, Founder
Robert Rogers, Mighty in the Land Ministry, Founder
Questions for the Interfaith Event
Question 1) Share with us how you have known or experienced suffering; being either a personal experience or a professional experience.
Question 2) From the viewpoint of your faith, why do bad things happen to good people? Why must we suffer?
Question 3) From
the viewpoint of your faith, how should we respond to those who are
suffering? What are words of comfort that we can give to those who are
suffering?
Questions for the discussion time:What
part of your faith helped you during your suffering? How do I get
through my suffering? In religions there is often self-imposed
suffering (example: fasting). From the perspective of your religion tell
us why this is important for a person's spiritual life? Is it seen as
suffering?
Why Suffering?
People often ask me how I pick my topics for the Interfaith Events.
There is no one set way that I determine the topics. The topic of
suffering has been brewing in me for awhile. Over a year ago a friend of
mine lost her recent husband to cancer. My friend and her young child
were left behind to carry on this life. A life which she was hoping to
build with the love of her life. I did not reconnect with my friend
until several months after the death of her husband. When we spent time
together she had determined that she did not believe in a God who would
allow this sort of suffering. She also could not come to terms with how
Christians had prayed during her husband's suffering. I am a follower of
Jesus so my friend's words challenged me in my own views of suffering
and how people of faith communicate their beliefs about suffering. Then
over the past year our school community has had unexpected deaths,
accidents and illnesses. A community often experiences sadness but what
we were experiencing was heartbreaking. The topic of Why We Must Suffer?
comes out of my own experience in my own community.Once I had chosen the topic I knew who spoke at the Interfaith Event was crucial. In my experience, I am not interested in listening to someone talk about 'suffering' if he/she has not experienced suffering. This is one of those topics where life experience gives a person the right to be heard. Each of the speakers for this Interfaith Event: Why Must I Suffer? have walked through their own fires. For some of them it has been heartbreaking personal tragedy and for others they see suffering daily in their professional life. It is their depth of understanding of suffering that will make this event especially an enlightening evening. Each speaker will be addressing how their suffering has been formed by their faith.
At the end of the evening hopefully we will have learned about the faith communities in Fort Wayne through the lens of suffering. As the topic of suffering is discussed, hopefully we will also see more deeply that there is hope even in our suffering.
Books and Organizations
At the Interfaith Event: Why
Must I Suffer there will be tables set up to purchase books written by the
speakers at the event and to become aware and involved in several important
causes. Attendees of the event can look
at the displays and purchase books before or after the event. After the
event the speakers will be at the tables to talk with audience members.
The week of the Interfaith Event, Canterbury
School will be in the midst of
their annual canned food drive for Associated Churches of Fort
Wayne. It would be wonderful if the attendees of
the Interfaith Event would bring canned food to the event to support Associated Churches and their important work in Fort
Wayne.
Bright Stars of
Bethlehem will have information about the work they are doing in Bethlehem
at Dar al-Kalima
College. The Dar
Al-Kalima College
is committed to building a culture of democracy, critical thinking, and free
expression, thus contributing to the strengthening of the civil society in Palestine.
Compassion
International is an organization who focuses on the spiritual, physical,
economic and social needs of children in poverty. Through their sponsor-a-child
program Compassion is actively involved around the world in meeting the needs
of children in poverty.
Robert Rogers,
will be offering his book, Into the Deep: one man’s story of how tragedy took
his family but could not take his faith, for a donation of any amount. In
2004, Robert began Mighty in the Land Ministry to help others Know God and Live
a Life of No Regrets. Robert depends on God mightily in his life.
After the Interfaith Event, Robert will be available to discuss arranging
a speaking engagement at your church, community, or organization. (He has
no agent and charges no fees.)
Arjia Rinpoche
will be selling his memoirs, Surviving the Dragon: A Tibetan Lama's Account of
40 Years under Chinese Rule. This book provides insight into the
situation in Tibet
and China after
the Communist occupation. Rinpoche is accompanied by seven monks from
Tashi Kyil Monastery, a Tibetan refugee monastery re-established in north India
by monks who escaped from Tibet
in 1967. Tashi Kyil is very poor and its ninety-plus monks are in
need of help and support. Rinpoche wishes to assist them and he hopes
with all of his heart that his friends will help them.
The mission of the Indiana
Center for Middle East Peace is to promote critical awareness of issues
that impact a just peace in the Middle East and to
facilitate intercultural and interfaith awareness both locally and
globally. We host monthly lectures and symposia with local, national, and
international speakers, as well as sponsor study and solidarity tours to Israel
and Palestine where we meet with Jews, Christians, and Muslims who are working
for a non-violent, just peace.
The mission of Associated
Churches Food Bank states, “We are communities of faith united through acts
of compassion, education and service to our region.” Associated Church is drawn
into fellowship by the recognition of the gift of Christian Unity offered to us
through the example of Jesus Christ.
They honor the community of rich culture from which we come. As
such, Associated Churches will strive to build relationships that are
humane, compassionate and just while committed to ecumenism that engages
and partners with other faith traditions.
An Interfaith Event: When I Die
Baha'i, Catholic, Muslim, Hindu, Evangelical
April 2011 
Scott Magers, Member of the Baha’í Faith
Most Rev. John M. D’Arcy, Bishop Emeritus
Most Rev. John M. D’Arcy, Bishop Emeritus
Moderator: Ramona Fisher, Canterbury School Religion Teacher
Mohammed Saad Ghazali, MD, Pediatric Cardiology Associates, P.C.
Dr.
Ramesh Narang, Associate
Professor, MECT, IPFW
Rick Hawks, Pastor, The Chapel
Video of the Interfaith Event: When I Die
Words of comfort from the scriptures of each religion:
-The Hidden Words of
Bahá’u’lláh
O SON OF THE SUPREME!
I have made death a messenger of joy to thee.
Wherefore dost thou grieve?
I made the light to shed on thee its splendor.
Why dost thou veil thyself there from?
The Holy Quran,
Chapter 3, verse 185
"Everyone
shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your
wages in full. And whoever is removed from the Fire and admitted to Paradise,
he indeed is successful. The life of this world is but comfort of
illusion."
John 14: 1 - 6
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in
me. In my Father's house there are many
dwelling places. If that were not, would
I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I
will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may
be." Where I am going you know the
way." Thomas said to him,
"Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the
way?" Jesus said to him. I am the
way and the truth and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through me."
Ephesians 2:8-10
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and
this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one
can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good
works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
From the Bhagavad Gita, Ch.2 verse 20
The self is never born nor does it die. It is not that
having been, it ceases to exist again. It is unborn, eternal, undergoes no
change whatsoever, and is ever new. When the body is destroyed, the self is not
destroyed.
An Interfaith Event: A Dialogue of Something Greater
Judaism - Islam - Orthodox - Catholic - Hindu - Evangelical
November 2010
Rabbi Mitchell Kornspan, B’nai Jacob Congregation
Amani Elhefni, Universal Education Foundation Islamic School, Principal
Ramona Fisher, Canterbury School
Father Paul Bebis, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Most Rev. John M. D’Arcy, Bishop Emeritus
Dr. Prasad Mantravadi, Radiation Oncology Associates, Physician
Dr. Prasad Mantravadi, Radiation Oncology Associates, Physician
Pastor Dennis Miller, Emmanuel Community Church
Link to An Interfaith Event: A Dialogue of Something Greater
http://www.canterburyschool.org/about/interfaith/an-interfaith-event/index.aspx
An Interfaith Event: A Dialogue of Shared Histories
Judaism - Christianity - Islam
April 2010
April 2010
Ramona Fisher, Moderator, Canterbury School
Rabbi Mitchell Kornspan, Rabbi at Congregation B’nai Jacob
Pastor Dennis Miller, Pastor at Emmanuel Community Church
Imam J. Tamir Rasheed, Imam at the Fort Wayne Islamic Center
2 comments:
"Tolerance, a term which we sometimes use in place of the words respect, mercy, generosity, or forbearance, is the most essential element of moral systems; it is a very important source of spiritual discipline and a celestial virtue of perfected people."
by Fethullah Gulen
More
Dr. McClay, thank you for your comment. Fethullah Gulen is doing such great work and a worthy person to quote when discussing interfaith dialogue. Tolerance is a word often used but from my perspective tolerance takes the least amount of effort on my part. As a follower of Jesus I am called to ‘love my neighbor’. Loving my neighbor is a spiritual discipline. My beliefs and theologies are different than those of other faiths but together we are human and we are all created by God. Out of my love for God I hope I can do much more than tolerate. I hope and pray that I can love.
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