My Faith; My religion; My race; My, my, my ....
How to start discussion. Contructive critism? When in spiritual matters do we consider critism constructive. A poison out there in many traditions (new and old) that I see is the idea of 'MINE', i.e my Faith, my religion, my race, my... and deeply concerning to me is the confusion of race and religion in the backdrop of identity - National and personal. As an example of this many people identify my temple as Japanese and Asian just because they assume so, and Asians are often dismissive of the 'White' temple when they find out that there are non-Asians in the temple and the head monk is so too. How do we tackle the temples, churches, etc. which promote this? It seems all too ignored for me, wishing to play happy families while division festers.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ian Fraser on -
"I will however leave you all with one thought. If we are all educated to a reasonable level, would there be as many problems in the world?"
While I recognise that a certain basic level is probably necessary to go the next step, the level of education is not so important as the nature of education.
My work takes me into a wide range of workplaces, where I meet and talk with people with a wide range of levels of education. However, the significant factor that is apparent in conversation is how people react to / comment on differences in belief and ways of seeing the world. Level of education does influence how they express themselves, but the content of what they say is influenced primarily whether they think critically or think in terms of a received 'body of knowledge'.
Many of the problems in the world, especially where religion is a factor, whether between religions or within the one religion, are aggravated by different factions holding firmly to their particular 'body of knowledge'. The ability to think critically, especially about what oneself has been taught, makes it a lot easier to hear the other group's perspective and recognise that we all have as much claim to the truth and as much risk of error as each other.
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Permalink Reply by Peter Brabyn on -
Maybe basic philosophy should be added to curriculum's to improve this?
Certainly Plato's Cave should be something taught to everyone - this shows there are more than one point of view and that only by attempting to look through the eyes of another can we seek understanding of their truths....
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Permalink Reply by Ginny Findlow on -
What's Plato's cave? You'll have to explain it to me.
PersonallyI have a high mistrust of philosophy - its all in the head, not in the heart; is often used for evading any sense of responsibility etc etc
Or should i say - the philosophers I have known were not very nice people! [However - I never met Plato, face to face!!]
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Permalink Reply by Peter Brabyn on
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Hi Ginny,
I put a basic explanation at http://blog.ic.org.au/ which links to a very good YouTube presentation.
It's my belief that good philosophy hits both the heart and the mind. This is one of those good philosophies, at least in my book.
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Permalink Reply by Ginny Findlow on
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I went to Utube but it wasn't available.
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Permalink Reply by Ginny Findlow on
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I just saw it, via a different route.
Re the message - it could mean all sorts of things on lots of different levels - basically whatever you like. But it finishes by making one person 'enlightened' vs everybody else as stupid. That doesnt fit with my values. Christianity is much more practical than that.
Whether it would help at the age of 15 [common school-leaving age ] i'm not sure.
Teaching kids to have open minds is certainly useful, but there are other things they are more interested in at that age - and need more help with.
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Permalink Reply by Ginny Findlow on
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hi Peter - I just had a brilliant inspiration. There is a guy called Strakosch who works at the repat hospital Greenslopes - he has some rooms in the city. He's got a couple of boxes of my books in his surgery, that he 'plants' in mosques and synagogues [if he remembers, that is!] You could probably do more with them than he is able to. [He is pretty busy teaching the medical students.]
I made contact with him through his little website called 'eternal'. Stracky was brought up as an Anglican after his folk were exterminated in the holocaust. So he is one of those 'khazar' east-european jews, in ancestry, but he doesnt act or talk like a Jew.
What do you think of my idea. [I dont sell them - I give them away, to spread good sense etc+interfaith understanding]
Seeya
Ginny
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Permalink Reply by Peter Brabyn on
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Hi Ginny,
I haven't seen anything about your book but would be more than happy to seed them when and where I can so long as they have an Interfaith theme or are along similar ideals. I can certainly seed it at the local Dr's office where it will compete with decade old NatGeo's and year old Cleo's (hands down winner I'm sure). In fact with my current back issues I can probably also seed my Chiro, Physio, Osteo and Neurosurgeons offices too.
Our Church hasn't had many events yet, but they are on the cards for the near future and we now have a chapter starting in NSW also. Our first public event will be held this Sunday in East Brisbane where I could hand out a few (see http://blog.ic.org.au/?p=183 for details), or if you're available, you could do the honours and maybe give a few minute talk on the book if you're interested? I'm not expecting a big crowd (hopeful, but not expecting). Facebook currently tells me only to expect about a dozen people, but I have also advertised elsewhere and the Brisbane Greek Festival will be running right next door.
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Permalink Reply by Ginny Findlow on
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I've done nine - two of them are translated into Hebrew & Arabic
I just completed the last one right now - on anti-Semitism. I sent it to Raphael Shore who runs the aish website [no idea what the letters stand for, but its for Jewish people.] i read an article of his called 'why the Jews?" and i thought I could do a better job [it was a bit feeble]
chris [strakosch] hasnt got them all - just the ones directed to interfaith harmony I think.
He's also got some cards that can be put with the book when borrowed - it tells you where to take it when you're done [or bring it back to base.]
Certainly it would be easier for you to go see him at his rooms, and get the boxes, than it would be for me to send you a new box. You might get on very well, and make friends. He is a lovely man. He keeps telling me he is an atheist - but he doesnt act like one. [He cares, he loves!]
At the WPR I gave them away - it was easier. I wasnt in the book emporium - it cost 4,000ASD per cubicle. I just had part of a stall at the bottom of the escalator.
If you wanted to get them before Sunday, you would have to contact Stracky straight away. But that might be rushing things? If you want the contact details email ginnyfindlow@bigpond.com and I will give you them. If you went in office hours the secretary would give you the boxes I'm sure.[without disturbing his consultations.]
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Permalink Reply by Peter Brabyn on
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Unfortunately I'm not overly mobile at the moment Ginny. As a motorcyclist with a bad back, I have to rely on other peoples cars at the moment, ergo, no vehicle during the working week and on the weekend it depends on when my partner has other commitments such as Uni and everything she can't get done during the week.
I didn't check your profile before I responded and at the mention of Greenslopes thought you might be a little closer than Melb.
I doubt I will have the opportunity before the weekend but may do in the coming weeks. Must now go to bed while my brain is still operating enough to navigate the hallway...
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Permalink Reply by Ginny Findlow on
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So you are a night-owl, like me. It's naughty, I know, because the mornings are when my brain ceases to operate!
Feeling sorry for yourself, because you have no car in the week? Tut,tut. I am also stuck here, up a mountain with a stupid old ute [no heating & cooling] and a hand-brake that needs the grasp of Tarzan to loosen.
What about putting a few in a plastic shopping bag & stuffing it up your front [like a shop-lifter]. My Dad used to go to Nana's every Wednesday to get the pie, and that's what he did - would arrive home with a nice warm chest, the pie from the oven acting as his central heating.
I suppose you dont NEED central heating in Brisbane [we did on Merseyside!] [even in Summer.]
No matter - its only a suggestion /an offer. Wish I could be at the meeting - I'll pray for its success.
Best wishes!
Luv, ginny
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Permalink Reply by Peter Brabyn on
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Night owl is dependent on what is on the calendar and how I am feeling health wise.
I'm not sorry I don't have a car, I chose a motorbike for a few good reasons it's just that certain nerve endings are currently complaining when I ride, making it dangerous to do so. Those nerve endings are also keeping me from going to work and studying this semester. It appears to be the universes way of throwing me into my work with our Church, which I am enjoying most of the time and can put down when I am in pain.
With time, either my health or my finances will improve which will put my mobility back where it was (I'm hoping it's health). If I work towards both goals, I am sure that will occur when the universe has finished playing silly games with me. Who, after all, am I to say no to the universe / God?
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