Media matters in today's world. In all its forms, media shapes and is shaped by people and events that, in small and large ways, change our world locally and globally. We read or see or hear or touch; and in turn, educate ourselves, educate others and begin to transform our situation in life. So it is with the Interfaith Peace Garden. From time to time, this page will highlight books or articles or DVDs that are in keeping with the vision of the Interfaith Peace Garden. These selected media can bring us into conversation with the challenges and issues, hopes and goals that are a part of the ministry of the Interfaith Peace Garden.
"MEASURING THE TRUE COST OF WAR", Marla Ruzicka, page 299 in Embedded:The Media at War in Iraq, Bill Katovsky and Timothy Carlson, Lyons Press, CT. 2003. Marla, creator of the nonprofit organization Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflicts, was a peace activist who has earned credibility with both journalists and the military. It was her results in conducting interviews with victims' families in Afghanistan that caught the attention of US Senator Patrick Leahy, who then introduced legislation to start the Afghan Victims Fund.
ISLAM VS ISLAMISTS, Voices from the Muslim Center 2007, tells the story of courageous moderate Muslims in Western Europe, Canada and the United States and the extraordinary challenges they face. What is happening to these moderates offers critical insights into the challenges that both they and non-Muslims are encountering in religious dialogue and efforts toward peace making today. This film by acclaimed Director/Producer Martyn Burke also suggests steps that can and must be taken to help empower such Muslims in the practice of their faith today. www.islamdocumentary.com/
THE TENT OF ABRAHAM, Stories of Hope and Peace for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. By Joan Chittister OSB and Murshid Saadi Shakur Chishti and Rabbi Arthur Waskow. Forward by Karen Armstrong, Beacon Press, Boston, 2006. This is an easily readable book that presents Abraham and his journey from the reconciling perspectives of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim writings and the seeds of peace found in the Torah, the Bible, and the Koran. Very useful is the Epilogue, "From Hearing to Doing" and the ending portions of the book "Resources for Practical Use in Abrahamic Peacemaking"
THE COMMON HEART, An Experience of Interreligious Dialogue. Edited by Netanel Miles-Yepez. Forward by Ken Wilber. Lantern Books, New York, 2006. As stated on the frontal page, "The Snowmass Interreligious Conference -one of the world's longest-running Interreligious conferences reflects on twenty years of dialogue". Reading this book is a presentation of the points of agreement and challenges that begin and continue a dialogue encounter. The chapter headings can be viewed as an invitational plan: origins and ideals, opening a dialogue, bases and boundaries, and the work of dialogue. Further headings refer to content about spiritual practices, spiritual authority and ethics, and points of uniqueness. Afterword is by Fr. Thomas Keating.
EARTHLIGHT, Spiritual Wisdom for an Ecological Age. Edited by Cindy Spring and Anthony Manousos. Friends Bulletin Corporation and EarthLight Corporation, 2007. What a gift to receive this a few weeks ago. The chapters in the book are written by many authors, grouped into sections: Introduction, Conscious Evolution, Sacred Relationship, Collective Wisdom, Mutual Learning, Conscious Choice, Inclusivity, and Celebration. The listings of contributors and resources is rich. It includes writings of Thomas Berry, a visionary favorite, who is often quoted regarding the dream of the earth and the earth dreams as well as the Great Work that calls the earth community today.
AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH (DVD). Al Gore, Shows the effect of global warming on life now and in the future. Have an earth-party in your home. Invite the neighbors to watch the DVD with you, Then facilitate a discussion around the question: what does the film suggest for our neighborhood today?
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC magazine, January 2007. This issue focuses on the "Amazon, Forest to Farms, battle to stop the land grab". Embedded deeply within the article is the story of Sister Dorothy Stang (pp. 60-61, 50). She is the 73 year old Roman Catholic nun revered for her work for human rights and sustainable environmental futures with the family farmers and settlers in the Amazon. Just before she was murdered on a jungle path, the article states," She opened her Bible to Matthew and read from chapter five, 'Bem-aventurados os que tem fome e sede de justica, pois serao satisfeitos' - Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied."
