ICOSA News Items
FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - Sacred sites and the role of religion in the distruction of many sitesCouncil members' questions and comments on last month’s discussion of sacred sites and the role of religion in the distruction of many sites.
FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - Rep. Peter T. King's Committee Hearings on Muslims
Rep. Peter T. King's Committee Hearings on Muslims, A Statement by the Interreligious Council of San Antonio
Supporting his committee hearings, Rep. Peter T. King has said that American Muslim communities are not cooperating to prevent the radicalization of their youth. He says “The threat is coming from the Muslim community.” No religion is immune to extremism. Americans should worry about extremists from the Muslim world, as from any other religion. But targeted and biased investigation of Muslim communities, making them “other” than American, is likely to alienate Muslim youths. Subjecting whole communities to investigations because a select few from amongst them perpetrate violence is unfair, unjust, and simply wrong.
The God of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam is One. Yet the holy books of each can be used to justify attacks on another. It is the duty of all to protect each from denigration on account of his or her religion. It is untenable that any religious group should be damned because some of its members are involved in terrorist activity. After enduring a decade of profiling, bigotry, hatred, and even violence against them, the Muslims of America do not deserve more of the same. American Muslims understand that any acts of terrorism emanating from their communities will hurt them the most.
FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - Religious Terrorism: Topic for our February 14 Council Meeting
Ken Southwood, Ph.D. will speak on religious terrorism. His talk will cover some recent work on religious terrorism deriving from various religions. He will include the religious roots and characteristics of terrorism, its sources in reaction to modernity, and characteristics which make some terrorist organizations able to impel their members and to successfully survive. Finally, Dr. Southwood will explain how terrorism is most likely to end as compared to other kinds of terrorism, suggest proposals to end religious terrorism, and discuss how the United Stated is shaping its policies to achieve an end to this terrorism.
Guests are welcome.
The Council meets from 6:15 to 7:45 at the Jewish Federation.
FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - October Council Meeting Monday, October 11
The October meeting of the Interreligious Council of San Antonio (ICOSA) will feature a presentation by Shereen Bhalla on “Looking at Color: An examination of Diversity and Dialogue.”
Bhalla is a PhD student in the Culture, Literacy and Language program at UTSA. She also teaches undergraduate courses examining the role of diversity in Schools and how to implement a multicultural curriculum.
The meeting will be held on Monday, October 11 from 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at the Campus for the San Antonio Jewish Community, 12500 N.W. Military Hwy in the Federation Board room which is located in the upper level by the elevator. The meeting is open to the public.
FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - July 12 Council Meeting
When ICOSA meets on Monday evening July 12, our topic of discussion will be “Contemplative and reflective practices of spiritual traditions.” Jan Puckett with moderate the session.
Guests are welcome.
FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - Council Meeting June 14
The program for our June meeting is as follows: The Human Condition of Leadership: From the Founders to the Present Day. What is our perspective when religious leaders fail to live up to the precepts of our religions? Should religious leaders be held to a higher standard?
Guests are always welcome.
FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - Interreligious Council Meeting Monday, May 10
The program for our Council meeting on Monday will be "Rituals for Dying in our Various Religions, Including how to Prepare for Death."
Our meeting begins at 6:15. Guests are welcome.
FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - Interreligious Council Meeting April 12th from 6:15 to 7:45
For our program, Council member Rajam Rajamurthy will present:
'A Tapestry of Belief'. My recent visit to South India.
I would like to share some beautiful moments with all of you. This will be at the Interreligious Council meeting which begins at 6:15 with light dinner. The presentations are usually at 6:45 ending at 7:30.
There is often lively discussion and sharing of different religious perspectives. I seek your input and hope you will share some of your experiences as well.
Please let me know if you are attending so we can have an approximate head count. Look forward to seeing you.
The public is welcome. Members are encouraged to invite friends.
FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - Council Meeting Program: Sikh Awareness
The Council will meet on Monday, March 8 at 6:15. Dr. Pritam Singh will discuss the Sikh religion.
Guests are welcome.
Calendar Items - Summary of Talk by Jim Spickard at our January meeting
Interreligious Council Meeting January 2010
Summary of Professor Jim Spickard’s remarks on the Entanglement of Religion and Politics
by Simone Brown
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FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - February 8 Meeting of the Interreligious Council
The Interreligious Council will meet on Monday, February 8, from 6:15 to 7:00 p.m.
One of our agenda items will be the plight of the Bahá'ís in Iran.
Our program will be a discussion of religious leadership in our various communities. Council members are encouraged to contribute information regarding their communities.
FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - Council Letter to Members of the State Board of Education
The Interreligious Council of San Antonio affirms the principle of separation of church and state in its protection of citizens from religious indoctrination by the state and the State from intrusion by religion. The religious traditions of American citizens should be respected provided there is no violation of the separation principle.
Understanding that the Christian religion, in its many different sects, played an important part in the beginnings of this country – e.g., Puritans in Massachusetts, Anglicans in Virginia, and Quakers in Pennsylvania -- and in its further development as other sects came here, this needs to be taught as part of the history of the United States. This history also includes parts played by deists, Jews and, more recently, by other, non-Christian, faiths benefitting from America’s religious freedom and contributing to its economic vitality.
The Council urges the State Board of Education to avoid the intrusion of any religious beliefs in the selection of material to be taught in the Texas schools.
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FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - Council Meeting January 11
Council Meeting, Monday, January 11, from 6:15 to 7:45
Jim Spickard, a professor of Sociology, specializing in religion, will speak on
the Entanglement of Religion and Politics.
Guests are welcome.
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FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - December 14 Council Meeting
Our next meeting is December 14th from 6:15 to 7:45 in the offices of the Jewish Federation.
Jan Puckett, a Tibetan Buddhist practitioner, will introduce the program on religious retreats. She will show slides from Pullahari Monastery overlooking Katmandu valley in Nepal, where she attended a 10-day meditation retreat in March, 2009. ICOSA members of other faiths will also comment on retreats from the perspective of their own traditions.
This is a wonderful opportunity. Guests are welcome.
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Calendar Items - Fighting Poverty with Faith: Presented by the Interreligious Council at Oblate School of Theology
Fighting Poverty with Faith: Good jobs, Green jobs presented at the Oblate School of Theology in Tymen Hall.
October 14 at 7:00 p.m.
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FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - Amazing Faiths Dinner Dialogues
The Interreligious Council of San Antonio invites you to participate in The Amazing Faiths Dinner Dialogues, Thursday, November 12, 2009
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Calendar Items - Special Event October 12, 2009 with Michael Benedikt
Special guest speaker Michael Benedikt will discuss his book God is the Good that We Do: The Theology of Theopraxy. There is no charge to attend this special event sponsored by ICOSA. Please RSVP in advance
Monday, October 12, 2009
6:15 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.
12500 N. W. Military Hwy. Room 277
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FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - Council Meeting Monday, September 14th
Home Coming and Pot Luck
September 14th is our traditional potluck and home coming for the new 2009-2010 year. We will continue to meet at the Jewish Federation from 6:15 to 7:45. See our website for a map if needed. Lee Hampton is coordinating the potluck. Please let her know what you can bring.
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FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - The Amazing Faiths Dinner Dialogues
The Interreligious Council of San Antonio invites you to participate in The Amazing Faiths Dinner Dialogues, Thursday, November 12, 2009
To register as a host or participant
please visit www.amazingfaithsproject.org
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FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - Interreligious Council to hold July 13th meeting at the Hindu Temple of San Antonio
Our July 13th meeting will be held at the Hindu Temple of San Antonio located just North of Helotes. This is a wonderful opportunity for the Council and friends.
Guests are welcome.
Please RSVP to Rajam at ramamurthyrajam@aol.com if you plan to attend.
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FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - Interreligious Council Meeting June 8, 2009
“Modern Secular Scholarship on the Christian Gospels”
Ken Southwood has agreed to lead a discussion on “Modern Secular Scholarship on the Christian Gospels.”
This is the third of possible ongoing presentations by Council members of aspects of their religions.
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FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - Announcement for ICOSA April 13th Meeting
For our April meeting, Jewish members of our group will provide a Passover “Child Nutrition Seder.” Every spring, Jews celebrate the holiday of Passover, declaring in our seders the words from the Haggadah, “Let all who are hungry come and eat; let all who are in need come share our Passover.”
We will join Jewish groups and interfaith leaders around the country who are convening not just to celebrate the Jewish people’s historical escape from slavery, but to highlight this country’s obligation to ensure that all of our children escape the affliction of hunger.
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Calendar Items - Announcement for ICOSA April 13th Meeting
For our April meeting, Jewish members of our group will provide a Passover “Child Nutrition Seder.” Every spring, Jews celebrate the holiday of Passover, declaring in our seders the words from the Haggadah, “Let all who are hungry come and eat; let all who are in need come share our Passover.”
We will join Jewish groups and interfaith leaders around the country who are convening not just to celebrate the Jewish people’s historical escape from slavery, but to highlight this country’s obligation to ensure that all of our children escape the affliction of hunger.
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FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - March 16th Council Meeting
The Council will meet at 6:15 in the offices of the Jewish Federation.
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Calendar Items - March 16 Council Meeting
Our Program: “National Geographic Genotype Project and the Future of Religious Thought” led by Judy Lackritz
FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - February Meeting of the Interreligious Council
The Interreligious Council will meet on February 9th at 6:15 at the offices of the Jewish Federation. Our program will be on mysticism in the various religions represented on the Council.
Guests are welcome.
FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - Interreligious Council Meeting Monday, January 12th
What can we learn about Religious Diversity from our Indian Council Members?
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FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - Buddhism: A Science of the Mind -- Interreligious Council Meeting December 8th
Buddhism: A Science of the Mind
A talk by Jan Puckett, Council member and Buddhist
December 8th Council Meeting 6:15 – 7:45
Guests are welcome!
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FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - Suraj Kund Dance Festival
Arathi School of Indian Dance Presents Suraj Kund Outdoor Dance Festival 2008
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Calendar Items - November 10th Council Meeting
The Council will meet on Monday, November 10 at the offices of the Jewish Federation.
For our program, Simone Brown will lead a discussion on interreligious dialogue.
Items of business will include the Interfaith Dialogue Dinners on the 13th and several issues from the current concerns committee.
FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - Amazing Faiths Dinner Dialogues on November 13th
San Antonio Community Members to Gather for
Life-Altering Conversations on Faith, Tolerance, and Respect
The Interreligious Council of San Antonio
and the peaceCENTER
Invite you to participate in
The Amazing Faiths Dinner Dialogues on November 13th
Registration Deadline is October 31st
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Calendar Items - October 6th Council Meeting
The date of our October Council is Monday, October 6th. This is a change to our regular schedule of meeting on the second Monday of each month. The offices of the Jewish Federation, where we now meet, will be closed on the 13th due to a Jewish holiday.
Our program on the 6th is “Wedding Traditions in our Various Faith Groups”.
Rajam Ramamurthy will lead the discussion. She will bring pictures of her daughter’s recent wedding.
Members are invited to give brief statements about weddings in their faith traditions. Pictures will be welcome.
FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - There Shall be No Needy Among You: Fighting Poverty with Faith
An Interreligious Panel Discussion: Religious Perspectives on Poverty
Thursday, September 11th from 6:30 to 8:00.
Held at the SOL Center at the University Presbyterian Church, 300 Bushnell, 78231. solcenter@upcsa.org
Moderated by Dr. Peggy Starkey, panelists will be from various religious groups of the Interreligious Council of San Antonio, including Bahá’í, Christian, Hindu Jewish, Muslim, Quaker, Sikh, and Universalist Unitarian. This topic coincides with a nationwide effort called “Fighting Poverty with Faith: A Call to Action”
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Calendar Items - September 8 Council Meeting
The Council will have its traditional homecoming potluck at the September 8 meeting. The meeting will begin at 6:15 and end at 7:45.
Note that we have moved to the Offices of the Jewish Federation in the Jewish Community Center. Look for the address and phone number with a link to a map at the top of our home page.
Calendar Items - February Interreligious Council Meeting
February 11, 2008
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FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - Martin Luther King Events
January 20th and 21st
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FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - January 14 Council Meeting
Our Program: Religious Groups that Work to Advance Interreligous Understanding and/or to Moderate Extremism.
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Calendar Items - January 14 Council Meeting
Monday, January 14, 2008
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FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - San Antonio Interfaith Dialogue Dinners
Sponsored by the Interreligious Council of San Antonio
November 15, 2007
6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
November 15, 2007
6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
A Sharing, Listening Experience about Faith, Spirituality, Common Ground
On the evening of Thursday, November 15, 2007, San Antonians will gather in small groups in private homes to have a meal together and to share from their lives about faith, religious diversity and common human values.
Organizers will mix and match the dialogue participants for maximum diversity. You may share your first meal with a Bahá’í, Christian, Hindu, Jew, Muslim, or Sikh. The point of the evening is to connect and converse with people outside your daily or regular routines.
Everyone is invited – people of all faiths, people of no faith, and everyone in between. The only requirement is that you come in a spirit of tolerance and respect.
To sign up as a participant or host/ess, before November 7th, go to www.amazingfaithsproject.org
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FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - October 8th Program: Migrants-Foreigners: Teachings and Practice in Diverse Religious Faith Traditions
October 8, 2007
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FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - Annual Pot Luck and Homecoming
September 10, 2007
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Calendar Items - July 9th Interreligious Council Meeting
The Interreligious Council of San Antonio will hold its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, July 9, 2007 from 6:15-7:45 at the San Antonio Friends Meeting at 7052 North Vandiver at Eisenhauer.
Program: Tom Keene will give a review of "God & Empire: Jesus Against Rome, Then and Now" by John Dominic Crossan, HarperCollins, 2007
Our Meetings are open to the public.
FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - The Interreligious Council of San Antonio Invites you to an Open Council Meeting
The Interreligious Council of San Antonio
Invites you to an Open Council Meeting
Date: Monday, June 11, 2007
Topic: Religiously Motivated Hate Crimes
Speaker: FBI Special Agent Miguel Alba
Time: 6:30 to 6:45 p.m. Refreshments
6:45 to 7:45 p.m. Lecture & Discussion
Location: The Friends Meeting of San Antonio
7052 North Vandiver at Eisenhauer
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FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - Sounds of Prayer 2007
The Interreligious Council of San Antonio fosters awareness of religious diversity and promotes interreligious understanding in San Antonio through education and action.
The Sounds of Prayer 2007: Expressions of Multicultural Spirituality in Song, Dance, and Chant is on Sunday, March 25, 2007 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. at the
Carver Cultural Center (226 North Hackberry). Refreshments from the various cultures will be served following the program.
Tickets are $7.00. The proceeds of this program will benefit the tiny infants in the Premature Infant Development PREMIEre Program off UTHSCSA that provides the vitally needed developmental follow up for the first three critical years. For further information, please call 698-0023.
You can join us as we work for interreligious understanding and cooperation in San Antonio.
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Calendar Items - June Council Meeting
June 11, 2007
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Calendar Items - May Council Meeting
May 14, 2007
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Calendar Items - February Council Meeting
February 12, 2007
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FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - Sounds of Prayer 2007
The Sounds of Prayer 2007: Expressions of Multicultural Spirituality in Song, Dance, and Chant
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FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - Statement Issued on Pope Benedict
Statement of the Interreligious Council of San Antonio
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Calendar Items - November Council Meeting
November 13 2006
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San Antonio News - ICOSA Celebrates 10 years!
About five years before the 9-11 terrorist attacks, a Christian professor of religion and a Jewish community leader founded a group to promote religious understanding.
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Calendar Items - October 2006 Meeting and Potluck
October 9th Meeting
The Interreligious Council Invites You to an Open Council Meeting Program and Pot Luck
Program Topic: The Gülen Movement: A Modern Expression of Turkish Islam
A movement in favor of dialogue and moderation and the reimagination of Muslim tradition
Speaker: Veysel Demir, the San Antonio representative of the Institute of Interfaith Dialog, is a Muslim from Turkey
October 9, 2006
Pot Luck at 6:15
Program at 7:10—7:45
The Bahá’í Center
735 W Magnolia Ave
Accessible from IH 10 or US 281
Food will be provided
If you plan to attend the potluck, please call 651-9287 or e-mail: thereligionfactor@msn.com
Calendar Items - June 2006 Meeting
June 12, 2006
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San Antonio News - 2006 Harriet Ross Individual Achievement Award
2006 Harriet Ross Individual Achievement Award for
Dr. Pemmaraju Narasimha Rao, Ph.D (council member)
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Calendar Items - May 2006 Meeting
May 8, 2006
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Calendar Items - April Meeting
Our regular meeting will be held on April 10th from 6:15 to 7:45 at the Bahá'í Center of San Antonio.
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Religion News - Sikhs, Muslims, & Arabs: Civil Rights in Post 9/11 America
Five years ago, the United States of America suffered tragedy at the hands of Islamic fundamentalists. Unfortunately,negative media-based stereotypes, a communal sense of fear, and a general ignorance towards the Sikh, Muslim, and Arab communities, led to a violent backlash throughout the US.
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San Antonio News - INTERFAITH COMMUNITY PROGRAM
TO BE SHOWN BY THE SAN ANTONIO PEACECENTER
THE DATE IS JULY 9, 2006 @ THE peaceCENTER,
1443 S. ST MARYS... CO-LOCATED IN THE MENNONITE CHURCH. TIME IS 6:00 PM.
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Religion News - US Televangelist Robertson Censured for Anti-Islam Rant
US evangelical broadcaster Pat Robertson drew a diatribe Tuesday, March 14, from American Christian and Muslim leaders for descending in a new rant against Islam.
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Religion News - CAIR Press Release
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today held a news conference at its national headquarters in Washington, D.C., to call for the release of members of the Christian Peacemakers Teams recently taken hostage in Iraq.
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Calendar Items - March Meeting
To Members and Friends of the Interreligious Council of San Antonio.
We are looking forward to an enjoyable and informative evening on Monday, March 13 at 6.15 at the Baha'i Center. Our speaker will be Diana Roberts, former Director of the Center for Spirituality and the Arts, artist and consultant, and a member of the Council. She will be relating her talk to Chapter 8, Religion and Art, in Kent E. Richter's et al book Understanding Religion in a Global Society, but adding her own creative material. We appreciate Diana offering her time and expertise and hope you will be able to come and bring a guest.
Monday, March 13, 2006
6:15 pm
Baha'i Center
Religion News - The ICOSA in the Local News
Sarwat Husain, San Antonio's CAIR director, and the Interreligious Council make the local news and catches the attention of the Pluralism Project.
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FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - Sounds of Prayer 2006 Moved to May
Sounds of Prayer postponed
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FRONT PAGE and Events and Resolutions - Announcing the Sounds of Prayer 2006
The Sounds of Prayer 2006 will take place on February 26, 2006 from 3:30 to 4:30 at the Carver Center.
Multicultural Refreshments will be available following the program
Check our site soon for more information about this interreligious, city wide event.
Calendar Items - January 9th Meeting
Our next regularly scheduled meeting is Monday, January 9th from 6:15 to 7:45 at the Bahá'í Center located at 735 W. Magnolia Ave.
We will continue our series on How We Differ. Tom Keene will lead us in a discussion of Chapter 6, "Myths, Stories, and History," of the book we are studying, Understanding Religion in a Global Society by Kent E. Richter, et al. It is published by Thomson Wadsworth, 2006. ISBN 0-534-55995-6
We will continue our plans for the Sounds of Prayer 2006 (February 26 2006 at the Carver Center). If Rajam has not contacted you, she will do so soon in order to find out if your group would like to participate.
If you have issues or announcements from your community or items for the agenda, please contact me by Friday (if at all possible).
I hope to see you next Monday, January 9.
Calendar Items - December 12 Council Meeting
The Interreligious Council will meet at its regular time, 6:15 to 7:45, on Monday, December 12 at the Bahá'í Center located at 735 W. Magnolia Ave.
Our program for the evening is a continuation of our series, How We Differ.
Our discussion will center around chapter 5 "World Scriptures," of the book we are studying, Understanding Religion in a Global Society by Kent E. Richter, et al. Published by Thomson Wadsworth, 2006.
Religion News - 'Elder Statesman' of Jewish Republicans Dies at 96
(RNS) Max Fisher, a Jewish leader and philanthropist who advised every Republican president since Dwight D. Eisenhower, died Thursday (March 3) in Detroit. He was 96.
-- Holly Lebowitz Rossi
Religion News - Pope Will Give Sunday Blessing From Hospital Window
VATICAN CITY (RNS) An aide will lead Sunday prayers at the Vatican again this weekend, but Pope John Paul II will give a silent blessing from the window of his hospital room, papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said Friday (March 4).
-- Peggy Polk
