UPDATED: The ‘Faith Shared’ event is a big one, with many locations. Learn more about the event itself, with more information about site events at Washington National Cathedral and All Saints, Pasadena.
A service of readings of sacred scripture from Abrahamic faiths is being held tonightat St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Honolulu. Leaders from the Jewish, Christians, and Muslim faiths will gather to read from their sacred texts, offer prayers, and hear tradition-specific music.
In the Abrahamic religions, even more than in other religious traditions, a book of sacred scriptures is of central importance. Jews, Christians, and Muslims, known as “people of the book,” believe that the content of their respective scriptures was revealed by God and provides instruction on how to live a in a manner pleasing to God. Our gathering this evening celebrates this common bond.
Speakers will include Ismail El-Sheikh, imam of the Muslim Association of Hawaii; Lorraine Gershun of Temple Emmanu-El Honolulu; and Diocese of Hawaii Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick.
John Heidel, president of the Interfaith Alliance Hawaii, said it’s time to move on from our more intractable, less educated positions.
“Given the amount of misunderstanding and mistrust among some people of faith, we are hoping this interfaith service of worship will express the presence of a new era of mutual acceptance and cooperation.
…“it is necessary to have a witness to live pono (justly and harmoniously) and not engage in the rhetoric of violence, separation and hate.”
Given the quickly approaching decade anniversary of Sept. 11th, it seems reasonable to expect to hear more about, and be inspired by, these kinds of events.