The festival of Vesak is one of the most important holidays celebrated by Buddhists all over the world. Known as Vesak in the Theravada Buddhist tradition or Saga Dawa, in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. It is celebrated on the full moon in the month of Vesakha which occurs during the spring months in the western
As I think of this article about Ramadan, my first thoughts are not positive ones because it brings memories of discrimination that I faced as a child while growing up. It was Ramadan 1972 in Willingboro, New Jersey. I was in the sixth grade, something happened that altered how I thought of myself. My cousins
Growing up Easter was one of my favorite holidays because we celebrated it twice! As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we celebrated Easter in ways similar to many in the United States. We participated in the secular Easter traditions by dying hard-boiled eggs, carefully placing them in baskets, only
World Labyrinth Day is celebrated every year on the first Saturday in May, which this year is May 1. The international event, begun by the World Labyrinth Society in 2009, is expected to attract around 5,000 participants visiting sites in some 35 countries. Most participants will “Walk as One at 1” by walking a labyrinth
Join us online for "Ecumenical and Interfaith History in Greater Kansas City: Celebrating the Past and Envisioning the Future" February 21st, 2021 at 2pm CDT In honor of UN World Interfaith Harmony Week, join us for a celebratory and retrospective look at the history of ecumenical and interfaith work in Greater Kansas City over the past 100 years.
The Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council joins the many voices in condemning the recent unprecedented attack on our nation's Capitol Building that resulted in the death of five individuals and many others suffering injuries. As members of an interfaith council, so many of our forebears suffered due to baseless hatred and violent acts. Each of
Two weeks into “stay at home” orders in Kansas City, and I was adjusting to homeschooling. I looked forward to literature days. I could help with that easily. My daughter handed me a poem, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” by Langston Hughes. Her class was having a lesson in allusion. I had never heard of
If you knew Steve Jeffers, you know why I wish we could hear his voice as COVID-19 disturbs the world. Readers unfamiliar with him will want to know that each year the Council presents an award named for him. The Rev. Steven L. Jeffers, PhD, founded and directed the Institute for Spirituality in Health at
Recognizing that climate change is a threat to the existence of all of humanity and that it requires immediate action from people of all faiths, the Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council organized a Virtual Forum titled, “Faiths’ Call for Climate Action,”which took place the week before Earth Day on April 16th. We chose to hold
It is hard to think of a time in world history when health partnerships were more important than they are today. That is why GKCIC leadership accepted immediately and enthusiastically the invitation to participate in this year’s dinner on behalf of (PAMA) the Palestinian American Medical Association. The dinner was held Saturday evening, February 29th
Syed Farrukh Shabbir, M.D., Memorial Scholarship 2020 Syed Farrukh Shabbir, M.D. was a founding member of the Crescent Peace Society who passed away in 2006 after spending twenty-seven years of his life serving and supporting our community. In this memory, the Shabbir family founded the Syed Farrukh Shabbir, M.D., Memorial Scholarship through CPS. The scholarship
Since the 1920’s, Greater Kansas City has fostered a community of interfaith relations that is quite distinctive from other cities. In fact, if it was ever necessary to designate one city in the United States as the heart of interfaith activity, a very compelling argument could be made for Kansas City. The Greater Kansas City
#Repost The Parliament of the World’s Religions unequivocally condemns the anti-Semitic attack carried out in Jersey City, New Jersey on Tuesday. December 10. The monstrous attack on a Kosher Deli in Jersey City resulted in the deaths of 4 victims, including one police officer. The Parliament stands with the global Jewish community, the Jersey City
Philip Goldberg was the speaker for the Arjun Kumar Sharma Memorial Lecture, sponsored by the Vedanta Society of Kansas City and the AUM Foundation on October 26th this year. Goldberg and Swami Chetanananda spoke together on “India’s Impact on America’s Spiritual Landscape.” The Vedanta Society was pleased to welcome Goldberg back to Kansas City after
Towards a Global Ethic: Initial Declaration, also known as the Global Ethic, expresses a shared set of core values found in the teachings of the world's religious, spiritual, and ethical traditions. The Global Ethic, mostly drafted by Professor Hans Küng in consultation with several hundred leaders and scholars, became an official declaration of the Parliament of the World's Religions in 1993.
David E. Nelson D.Min., Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council Community Advisor I have always been interested in world religions. As a little boy I explored books in the library and on my father’s book shelf. In high school, one of my favorite courses was “Great Books” which was a study of world religions.
Interfaith cooperation is the key to transforming this religiously diverse society into a more just, kind, and pluralistic nation, and world. It’s why we are so passionate about the work we do, and why we are so grateful to those who support us financially through their sponsorship for our Table of Faiths event. Interfaith leaders
Each year the Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council gives two awards to acknowledge an individual and an organization in the greater Kansas City area demonstrating the values we hold so dearly - building the most welcoming community for all. These awards are: The Steve Jeffers Leadership Service Award is named in honor of the late
The Parliament's website says, “Welcome to the Oldest, Largest and Most Inclusive Convening Organization of the Global Interfaith Movement” – and it’s not just boasting. If you believe in the interfaith movement and you enjoy meeting people from all religions and countries, the Parliament of the World’s Religions is a “bucket-list” event. Each Parliament is
Today’s Western psyche can be unaware that deep in the heart of Christianity rests a way handed down from ancient times by those seeking the Divine. Monasticism is the Christian’s way of making a total offering of his or her life to God. For the Eastern Orthodox Church, monasticism is at the heart of its
