York Interfaith Group (YIG)
Newsletter – March 2017
· Editor’s Note
I have taken the following article from a favourite website for this month, because I like it so much. Please feel free to respond with any comments or feedback for next month’s newsletter…
Religious Freedom: A Partner in the Cause of Peace
Countries with more religious freedom have more peace. And countries with less religious freedom have less peace. So say a number of studies.[1] This might seem counterintuitive. After all, doesn’t religious freedom cause more tension by allowing more beliefs? Don’t religious differences inevitably divide society? Experience says no.
Religious freedom is about achieving peace among differences and reducing fear so everyone can have confidence in their lawful place in society. When we think of peace we generally have in mind a region without war, a nation without strife, or a city without violence. But peace is more than the absence of conflict. Peace is the habit of engaging differences, the practice of negotiating disagreements between foes. It’s a culture of fair-mindedness. Even the most peaceful societies have contention, but they don’t let it tear them apart.
Consider Brazil, the country with the fewest religious freedom restrictions in the world. While undergoing a dynamic shift from Roman Catholicism to Pentecostal, Protestant and other churches, the population has managed to avoid broad sectarian conflict. “Given the level of religious switching in Brazil,” says researcher Brian Grim, “it is particularly notable that … there have been no reported incidents of hostility over conversions or proselytism.”[2] Though far from perfect, dialogue between the various religious communities has managed the tension.
Peace has many factors — the history of a people, the structure of government, the economic environment and the level of political inclusion. Freedom of religion is also crucial. Countries that protect the diversity of religious experience tend to have fewer armed conflicts, greater civil and political liberties, greater press and economic freedoms, better health outcomes, higher levels of income, better education and higher overall human development.[3]
The world seems to move by large, impersonal forces. Financial markets, military alliances, international bodies and ruling elites all play a role in shaping societies. But dig a little deeper and we see the subtler tectonics of personal conscience at play — the search for meaning, empowerment to pursue purpose, speaking our convictions, forming identity in the company of fellow believers and the freedom to change religions. The key question for peace is whether we can trust each other to honour our various religious paths. Can we have common respect?
Professor Nilay Saiya explains why this is important: “Religious freedom encourages peaceful religious forms of activity by creating space for religious groups to practice their faith freely, bring their religiously-informed ideas to the public square, make positive contributions to society, and engage in debate through open channels of discourse, thus allowing diverse perspectives to be heard and depriving extremists the ability to win the battle for hearts and minds by default.”[4]
When alienated from these levers of civic life, people feel they have no influence in their communities and some take drastic measures. That’s one of the reasons why, Professor Saiya adds, that “religiously free countries are far less susceptible to and do not encourage religious violence.”[5]
In the end, religious freedom is not about eliminating rivals and intimidating people into agreeing with the majority. Rather, religious freedom is about achieving peace among differences and reducing fear so everyone can have confidence in their lawful place in society.
[1] See Brian J. Grim and Roger Finke,The Price of Freedom Denied(2011); “Five Key Questions Answered on the Link Between Peace and Religion,” Institute for Economics and Peace in conjunction with the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation, 17–18; Nilay Saiya, “Does Religious Liberty Encourage or Curb Faith-Based Terrorism?” Religious Freedom Institute, July 12, 2016.
[2] Brian Grim, “Brazil: A Lesson in the Peaceful Navigation of Religious Change,” Religious Freedom Project, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University, June 1, 2015.
[3] Brian J. Grim and Roger Finke, The Price of Freedom Denied (2011), 206.
[4] Nilay Saiya, “Does Religious Liberty Encourage or Curb Faith-Based Terrorism?” Religious Freedom Institute, July 12, 2016.
[5] Nilay Saiya, “The Religious Freedom Peace,” The International Journal of Human Rights, June 9, 2015.
· Monthly York Interfaith Meeting
York Medical Society Rooms, 23 Stonegate, York, YO1 8AW
7.30pm Tuesday 14th March (Please note change of date)
Six Interfaith Principles from the Bhagavad-Gita
Speaker: Shaunaka Rishi Das (Director: Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies)
Chair: Avijit Datta
Host: Michael Chester
· City of York Council request for help..
The Russian Orthodox Community in York is currently looking to organise a charity piano concert to raise some money for their community. They are looking for suitable premises to host the concert with a piano. If you know of anyone who can help, please let me know and I will put them in touch. Many thanks
Kay Bailey | Neighbourhood Manager; Communities & Equalities Team
t: 01904 551818 | e:
City of York Council | Communities, Culture and Public Realm
West Offices | Station Rise York YO1 6GA
· York Interfaith Group visit to Samye Dzong Buddhist Centre in Scarborough
By Dee Boyle
On the 9th of February a group of 21 people from York Interfaith Group travelled over to Scarborough for an evening visit to the new Buddhist centre there (Sister Patricia was there too).
We were met by Ani Tselha who is a Tibetan Buddhist nun living in the town and who is now the manager of the centre. We were then shown into the prayer room / shrine room where Ani led us in a short mindfulness meditation.
She then told us some of the history of the building, the story behind the Tibetan monks and how it is linked with Samye Ling Monastery and Centre in Scotland and how the Buddhist group came to be using this place in Scarborough and finally what their hopes are for the community centre and how they want it to be of use for various groups in Scarborough.
We ended the evening with a look around the rest of the building, which is still currently undergoing complete renovation and rebuilding. It is a most amazing and huge project that they are undertaking and we wish them all well with their plans. We were all made to feel most welcome at the centre and were impressed by all the things that are planned for the centre and look forward to a return visit in the future to see how things are progressing there.
If anyone would like to see the centre for themselves but were unable to go on the visit just have a look at their website www.yorkshire.samye.org
Note: Since our visit we have been able to link the centre up with a number of volunteers to help paint and decorate. If anyone would also like to help or send Scarborough helpers along then please see the website above for Ani’s contact details. There will be a special painting day welcoming any willing volunteers on Saturday the 4th of March for starters…
● Sister Agatha – A Nun’s Story
York Interfaith Group’s very own, venerable Sister Agatha has been very busy; speaking on BBC Radio 4, providing interviews for the Guardian and doing the media rounds for her exciting book-launch.
A Nun’s Story, by Sister Agatha with Richard Newman, is published by John Blake Publishing and can be purchased on Amazon or by dropping into the Bar Convent on Micklegate. It looks a truly fascinating read…
· A Spiritual thought from York Interfaith Group member Elisa Main
In the Bible we read of several encounters that Jesus had with people of other faith traditions.
At Epiphany we hear of magi, astrologers from afar visiting at his birth.
In John's Gospel Chapter 4 we read of Jesus' encounter with a woman from Samaria; a woman brought up in a different way of worship from that with which he was familiar.He said to her, 'Yet a time is coming and has now come when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks.'
(The Bible, John Chapter 4 Verse 23.)
· A Cave in the Snow
7:30pm - Monday 6th March at the Friends Meeting House, York
During International Women’s Week there will be a film showing of: A Cave in the Snow:
The remarkable story of Western Tibetan Buddhist nun Tenzin Palmo and her quest for enlightenment
Organised by Tibet Support Group York www.tibetsupportgroupyork
For more details or to book a place 07761 762 967
Entrance fee: £5 / £3 Concessions Tibetan items on sale
· Religious festivals for March 2017
1 March - Ash Wednesday Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent for Western Christian churches and is a day of penitence. In some traditions, services are held on Ash Wednesday when worshippers are marked on the forehead with a cross of ashes as a sign of penitence and mortality.
1 March - 13 April - Lent Lent is the period of 40 days which comes before Easter in the Christian calendar. For Western Christian churches, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, and is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter. By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ's sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days. Lent is marked by fasting, both from food and festivities.
1 - 20 March - The Nineteen Day Fast A Bahá’í House of Worship is open to people of all religions for the worship of God. The last month in the Bahá'í calendar, Ala (meaning loftiness), is a time when Bahá'ís fast from sunrise to sunset and spend extra time in prayer. This month immediately precedes the Bahá'í new year, and the period of fasting is viewed as a time of spiritual preparation for the new year's activities.
12 March Purim - Purim celebrates the events told in the Book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible. The Jewish heroine Esther, wife of the king Ahasuerus, persuaded her husband to prevent a Persian nobleman, Haman, from massacring Jews in his kingdom. Purim is a time of praise and thanksgiving, and almsgiving is an important Purim tradition. The Book of Esther is read aloud in the synagogue and the congregation use rattles, cymbals and boos to drown out Haman's name whenever it appears.
13 March - Holi / Getty Images
An Indian woman is covered with coloured powder during Holi celebrations in Kolkata, India.
Holi is celebrated on the day after the full moon in the Hindu month of Phalguna (early March). At Holi Hindus celebrate spring and certain events in Hindu mythology. It’s also known as the ‘Festival of Colours’ due to the practice of throwing and applying coloured water and powder on friends and family. This ritual is said to be based on the story of Krishna and Radha. Krishna would ask his mother why Radha was fair while he was dark, and she advised him to apply colour to Radha's face to see how her complexion changed. At Holi images of Krishna and Radha are carried through the streets.
13 March - Hola Mohalla Hola Mohalla is a festival celebrated by Sikhs in the city of Anandpur Sahib in the Punjab, which is known as ‘the holy City of Bliss’. Hola Mohalla follows the Indian festival of Holi and celebrates Sikh martial skills with displays of horsemanship and mock battles. It was established by Guru Gobind Singh in 1701. The festivities are followed by music and poetry contests.
14 March - Nanakshahi New Year This day marks the beginning of the year 549 in the Sikh Nanakshahi calendar. The Nanakshahi calendar was instituted by Sikhs in AD1999 and has been used since then to determine the dates of their feast days, replacing the Indian lunar calendar. The Nanakshahi calendar is related to significant events in Sikh history and dates from the birth of the first Guru, Guru Nanak Dev, in AD1469.
21 March – Noruz Historically, Noruz is the traditional Iranian new year holiday, and is celebrated by more than one religious group. It marks the start of the Zoroastrian new year and is dedicated to fire. It was also adopted by the founder of the Bahá'í faith as the start of their new year. It coincides with the first day of spring.
25 March Annunciation - Annunciation celebrates the day when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to tell her she'd been chosen to be the mother of Jesus. It's celebrated on 25 March, nine months before Christmas when Christians celebrate the birth of Christ.
26 March - Mothering Sunday Mothering Sunday falls on the fourth Sunday in Lent. It is often called Mother's Day but has no connection with the American festival of that name. Before the Reformation it was considered important for people to visit their mother church, or cathedral, once a year and it became the custom to do this on the fourth Sunday in Lent. Historians believe this was the origin of the tradition for those working as domestic servants to be given a day off on the fourth Sunday in Lent to visit their mothers and families and bring small gifts. It became known as Mothering Sunday.
28 March - Khordad Sal Khordad Sal is celebrated by Zoroastrians and Parsis as the birthday of their founder, Zoroaster. The date is symbolic as the actual date of Zoroaster's birth cannot be accurately identified. The festival is one of the most important in the Zoroastrian and Parsi calendar, when they gather in fire temples for prayer and celebrate with feasting.
31 March - Hanuman Jayanti At Hanuman Jayanti, Hindus celebrate the birth of the god Hanuman. It falls in the month of Chaitra in the Hindu calendar (April). Hanuman is an ardent devotee of Lord Rama, and is revered for his dedication to him. As he’s believed to have been born at sunrise, celebrations in his honour begin early in the morning. Devotees visit the temple and apply sindoor (red powder) to their foreheads, as Hanuman’s image is always coloured red. Hanuman is the symbol of strength and energy and he can assume any form, a power which he uses to conquer evil.