Posted on 11/10/2005 3:44:25 AM PST by Gamecock
'There's a space for everyone at the table' at Louisville festival
By Frank E. Lockwood
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER
Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and National Council of Churches general secretary Bob Edgar are among those coming to Louisville for its 10th annual Festival of Faiths.
The eight-day festival, which unites people of all faiths, includes about a dozen events, including a community thanksgiving service and a session on "Faith and Cooperation in a Nuclear Age" with McNamara, Edgar and arms control expert Thomas Graham Jr. Artists, musicians and academics also participate in the activities.
Sacred songs and scriptures from around the world are shared. Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews and Muslims offer prayers.
Diversity is a priority.
"The new reality of religious America is that it is pluralistic," said the Rev. Landon Whitsitt, the festival's program director and a minister with Presbyterian Church U.S.A. "We wanted to make sure this is a viable place for all stripes of religious expression."
As he listed the various religions that participate, Whitsitt asked that Christianity not be the first faith mentioned.
"One of the things we're trying to do is honor some of the other traditions that don't normally get mentioned as prominently," he said.
There aren't any altar calls at these religious services.
"We're not out to convert anybody to anything," Whitsitt said. "All we want to do is make sure there's a space for everyone at the table."
Organizers say it's important for people of all faiths to interact. "If we don't know one another, we can't work together," he said.
Evangelicals are relatively scarce at the events, Whitsitt said. But a wide range of Christian denominations is included.
Susan Egger, co-chair of the community thanksgiving service, says youths from all the major faiths will play roles in the service, serving as acolytes, singing in the choirs, acting as greeters. Tibetan monks will lead the singing.
Each year, the service is exciting and inspires greater understanding. "When you ... see different traditions," Egger says, "you gain an awareness and an appreciation, and you actually begin to celebrate the differences as well as the similarities."
Festival of Faiths
When: Nov. 6-13
Events include: Community celebration of Thanksgiving, 5:30 p.m. Tue., Cathedral of the Assumption, 433 South Fifth Street, Louisville; "Faith and Cooperation in a Nuclear Age" panel discussion, 5 p.m. Fri., Cathedral of the Assumption. Both are free.
It seems that a Catholic Church is one of the center pieces of this festival. That's a nice tradition.
You would think people that are supposed to know God would grasp such a simple concept, but obviously chose not to trust a God they supposedly follow.
[The eight-day festival, which unites people of all faiths, includes about a dozen events, including a community thanksgiving service and a session on "Faith and Cooperation in a Nuclear Age" with McNamara, Edgar and arms control expert Thomas Graham Jr. Artists, musicians and academics also participate in the activities.
Sacred songs and scriptures from around the world are shared. Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews and Muslims offer prayers.
Diversity is a priority.]
The Bible states that a man is saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus only and that the latter days will bring a church that is anti-Christ.II Timothy 3: states;
12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
"Louisville for its 10th annual Festival of Faiths"
Babel on the Ohio!
Also known as Unitarian evangelism.
The eight-day festival, which unites people of all faiths, includes about a dozen events, including a community thanksgiving service and a session on "Faith and Cooperation in a Nuclear Age" with McNamara, Edgar and arms control expert Thomas Graham Jr.
CC&E
Ain't that the truth!
In our area included in the event are Hindus and Buddhists, Muslums etc.
I am overwhelmed with the people that are willing to pray to any god at all.
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