Veterans reflect on war, warriors, and “holy wars"

Brookings Interfaith Council will meet on Thursday, November 12, 6:30 pm at the Islamic Society of Brookings (724 11th Avenue, Brookings) the day after the U.S. recognizes it's military veterans. On this special evening, the gathering will hear from some local veterans about their understanding of service to their country, before, during, and after the conflict. They will also reflect on their perception of what is commonly called "holy war."

 Members of the Dialogue from different religious traditions will also share the way their traditions have responded to war, sometimes blessing them as "holy," and how they have responded to those veterans who serve.

Please bring a potluck dish to pass, if you are able, or just show up for the evening. All are welcome. Invite a friend. Please be aware that many in our interfaith community do not eat pork or may be vegetarian.

Curious about Hinduism, one of the oldest religions in the world with approximately 1 billion followers? Want to know its origin, celebrations and significance? The next Brookings Interfaith Council (BIC) discussion will have presentations, demonstrations, and a Q&A about Hinduism. Please join us for an informative discussion and great food.

BIC will meet at 6:30 pm on Thursday, October 8th at The United Church of Christ who have gracefully agreed to host this event (UCC is located at 828 8th St S - between Medary and 7th ave S; Please see https://www.google.com/maps/@44.2965614,-96.7907817,17z?hl=en).

Please bring a potluck dish to pass, if you are able, or just show up for the evening. All are welcome. Invite a friend. Please be aware that many in our interfaith community do not eat pork or may be vegetarian.

Next BIC Event to Focus on Science and Faith

The Brookings Interfaith Council (BIC) will meet at 6:30 pm on Thursday, September 10^th, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (726 Sixth Street / Corner of 6^th Street and 8^th Ave) in the Thorburn Fellowship Hall (Lower Level). Our customary potluck will be followed by some brief presentations and discussion on science and faith.

Evolution versus Creation! Medical Science versus Faith! Many of you might be familiar with various positions Christians hold regarding such topics. Have you ever wondered if Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, or Bahá'ís hold similar positions? If so, please join us for good food and great discussion!

Please bring a potluck dish to pass, if you are able, or just show up for the evening. All are welcome. Invite a friend. Please be aware that many in our interfaith community do not eat pork or may be vegetarian.

Next BIC Event to Focus on Religious Imagery and Respect

The Brookings Interfaith Council will next meet at 6:30pm on Thursday, May 14, at the Brookings Public Library. Our customary potluck will be followed by a broad-ranging discussion regarding religious imagery and respect.

Over the last year there has been much conflict and inflamed debate over the offensive portrayal of religious figures and the limits of speech. Questions arise, such as:

• Do European and North American countries have speech laws that other countries or cultures do not understand? 
• Do Westerners have difficulty understanding the cultural and legal traditions of others?
• How has the history of Christianity and European civilization developed in a manner different from Islam (or other traditions) regarding religious images and depictions of sacred things? 

We invite you to join us in exploring these questions and gaining a better understanding of the differences and assumptions behind these confrontations.

Please bring a potluck dish to pass, if you're able, or just show up for the evening. All are welcome. Invite a friend. Please be aware that many in our interfaith community do not eat pork or may be vegetarian.

April Gathering to Focus on Interfaith Alternatives to Violence

BIC will next meet at 6:30pm on Thursday, April 9, 2015, at the University Lutheran Center, 1404 8th Street. Following our customary potluck, we will consider together the question "Are There Realistic Alternatives to Violence in Our Traditions?"

Gandhi and his followers practiced satyagraha ("insistence for truth" or "force of truth," in Sanskrit) and ahimsa ("nonviolence") as alternatives to violence. Jesus taught a "third way" between fighting and fleeing. It was also a way of nonviolence.

All religious and spiritual traditions have something to teach us about violence and nonviolence. What are these teachings? Are they realistic?

Join us as we discuss how our traditions can sustain and empower us in a violent time. We'll also hear about a training in nonviolence to be held this coming August in the Black Hills of South Dakota where those teachings will be discovered and discussed. If you'd like to access more information about this training before the next meeting, visit this link. 

Please bring a potluck dish to pass for the meal, if you are able, or just show up for the evening. All are welcome. Invite a friend. Please be aware that many in our interfaith community do not eat pork or may be vegetarian.

BIC to Discuss Interfaith Perspectives on "Happiness"

BIC will next meet at 6:30pm on Thursday, March 12, at the Brookings United Church of Christ, 828 8th Street South. After our customary potluck, we will view together an eight-minute video from the Interfaith Summit on Happiness. (See below if you'd like to watch it ahead of time.)

Here’s a description of the video, entitled “Understanding and Promoting Happiness in Today's Society”:

What do Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam teach us about the concept of happiness? What do these ancient traditions hold in common about this often elusive state of being, and what are their greatest points of difference? How do they define happiness? Is happiness the purpose of life, or is it a reward only available after life?

Listen to His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama discuss happiness with The Most Reverend Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori, the 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church; Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth; and George Washington University Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr, a world-renowned scholar on Islam. Krista Tippett, host and producer of the award-winning public radio program "Being" (formerly titled "Speaking of Faith"), will moderate.

We hope to follow the video with small-group discussion.

If you’re interested, you can watch the full video from the Summit (nearly two hours long) at this link.

Please bring a potluck dish to pass for the meal, if you are able, or just show up for the evening. All are welcome. Invite a friend. Please be aware that many in our interfaith community do not eat pork or may be vegetarian.

Next BIC Potluck to Focus on End of Life Issues

The Brookings Interfaith Council will next gather at 6:30pm on Thursday evening, February 12th, at the Brookings Islamic Center, 724 11th Avenue.

Join us as we gather to learn about end-of-life issues, particularly for those in our community who are not from the Christian majority. How do our Muslim, Hindu, Baha’i and Buddhist friends contemplate and prepare for this phase of life in our community? Does Brookings or our surrounding region provide reasonable and dignified services to our various religious communities for death/burial, hospice, or other needs? How can we assure our community meets the religious needs of everyone in this regard?

Please bring a potluck dish to pass, if you are able or just show up for the evening. All are welcome. Invite a friend. Please be aware that many in our interfaith community do not eat pork or may be vegetarian.

 

Tonight's BIC Event Cancelled

Due to inclement weather, our event for tonight is cancelled. Stay warm and safe, folks!