One of the great challenges facing the human race is this: How we will live together given our cultural and religious differences?
In February a Buddhist, a Muslim, and a Christian met for coffee. They decided to hold three interfaith dialogues to practice talking and living together. Instead of doing a laundry list of beliefs and practices they decided to give perspectives on three topics: Economic Justice, Care for Creation, and Creative Conflict. They expect that there will be differences – and want to learn from those differences. They expect that there will be similarities – and want to see where they can act together to address the world’s needs.
Our Speakers:
Michael Jones I have been a Nichiren Buddhist for 30 years. Throughout my journey I seek commonalities of all philosophies and religions. I have conducted children’s workshops, interfaith dialogues, youth cultural festivals aimed toward creating a peaceful world, based on a humanistic philosophy that nurtures the creativity of the human spirit, to surmount the difficulties and crises facing humankind and realize a society of peaceful and prosperous coexistence.
Terry Kyllo is a Lutheran pastor who is serving St. Philip’s Episcopal Church. He grew up in Eastern Washington, went to Pacific Lutheran University and graduated from a Lutheran seminary in Chicago. He has served in partnerships between Episcopalians and Lutherans for over 10 years and has been a pastor for 23 years. He is the author of two books, Being Human and Apprenticeship. Terry feels that interfaith dialogue is critical to us learning to live with each other given our cultural differences.
Jafar Siddiqui was born and brought up in Pakistan. He received his Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering from University of Washington and began his career as an industrial engineer in Britain. He returned to the US where he was a construction project manager and is now a real estate agent in King and Snohomish counties. He is a member of American Muslims of Puget Sound. He has written commentaries in newspapers and magazines and has been a guest commentator on radio and TV.
The first dialogue will be on Sunday, March 30 from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM with light refreshments afterward at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, 4312 84th St. NE Marysville, WA 98270. Directions can be found at www.saint-philips.org.
All are welcome! Please bring a can or two of food to share with our local food banks.
Here is the poster for the event: Interfaith poster final