2. This final ChI sermon is dedicated to my family. I wrote this sermon with 2 intentions: sharing it today with all of you AND sharing parts of it with my family when we are together over the holidays I would love for them to gain, through the interfaith lens, even just a little glimpse of new spiritual awareness.
3. The process of becoming an Interfaith Minister is not an easy one – there ’ s a whole lot of growing and stretching and letting go. For me , learning about the traditions and the sacred texts of the world ’ s religions has cracked wide open my Christian cocoon. It has been both amazingly enlightening and , at times, daunting. AM I READY? How will I serve the spiritual needs of others? How might I integrate the Vedas and the Upanishads? Could I really be the voice of the Divine? Will my ministry include the Torah, the Qur ’ an, and the Guru Granth Sahib? Not too long ago, I got the ole sacred nudge that reminded me of something I have known all along. Something that truly is inter-intra-and multi-faith. Something that I have taught about a thousand times in the classroom and in raising my children. That something is the The Golden Rule .
5. Interfaith and the Golden Rule Each of the major world religions values some version of The Golden Rule. In these next several slides I would like to share with you this point of agreement. I invite you to open your heart and consider that our world is in need of a greater awareness of this common standard for all. We are a human family!
6. Christianity In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets ~Jesus, Matthew 7:12
7. Unitarianism We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are all a part. ~Unitarian principle
9. Buddhism Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful ~ The Buddha, Udana-Varga 5:18
10. Islam Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself. ~The Prophet Muhammad, Hadith
11. Sikhism I am a stranger to no one; and no one is a stranger to me. Indeed I am a friend to all. ~ Guru Granth Sahib, p. 1299
12. Judaism What is hateful to you do not do to your neighbor. This is the whole Torah; All the rest is commentary ~ Hillel, Talmud, Shabbat 31a
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14. The Golden Rule is a tremendous tool for promoting social justice, teaching compassion and ethics, and for putting a certain interfaith seminarian at ease. The remaining slides are a collection of images, poems and prayers that I have found to be particularly meaningful in opening my interfaith heart to the work of the Divine!
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16. Thank you, God of everything, for the morning, when I wake again to you. -Morning Affirmation
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18. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. -John 16:24
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20. The flute of the Infinite is played without ceasing, and its sound is love. -Kabir
26. By day the sun shines, by night shines the moon. But the Buddha shines by day and night: In the brightness of his glory shines the man who is awake. From the DHAMMAPADA
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28. “ This is now. Now is all there is. Don’t wait for then; strike the spark, light the fire.” -Rumi
29. There is a Light that shines beyond all things on earth, beyond us all, beyond the heavens, beyond the highest, the very highest heavens . This is the Light that shines in our heart. from the Chandogya Upanishad
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32. With love and thanks to everyone at The Chaplaincy Institute!
I would like to close with a blessing, “ May each of you turn your doubts into dreams and experience loving-kindness along the way! Namaste! Amen! And May It Be So!
