November - Contemporary Paganism

We are pleased to announce that our November speaker is Wiccan High Priestess Judy Harrow. Published author and Chair of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Cherry Hill Seminary, Judy will give an overview of Paganism and the various beliefs and practices of its practitioners today. Her talk is entitled, "Contemporary Paganism: Living an Ancient Faith in the Modern World." Please join us on November 21st at 7pm at the Rubin Museum of Art. We look forward to seeing you at the event.

"Contemporary Paganism: Living an Ancient Faith in the Modern World."

Paganism, Neo-Paganism, Wicca, Witchcraft: these words carry a whiff of weirdness. Are we talking about harmless eccentrics, people in the grip of dangerous delusions, defiant social misfits, or maybe even worse? Actually, Pagans look just like anybody else in the supermarket or on the subway. They have ordinary jobs, homes, and families, and the normal range of other interests. But they base their spiritual practice on some different core assumptions. Modern Paganism is a new religious movement, small but growing fast, that seeks to revive the long-suppressed shamanic, nature-based, polytheistic spiritual traditions of Europe, to live in a modern, urban environment while honoring Mother Earth and Father Sky, and following the Sacred cycle of the Seasons and the phases of the Moon. And, yes, they practice magic.

The Greening of Faith & Why It Matters

We are very pleased to announce that the Reverend Fletcher Harper will be leading our October 24th event. With global warming and climate change an ever increasing concern, Rev. Harper will discuss the role of religion in the environmental sustainability movement from an interfaith perspective.

Fletcher Harper, an Episcopal priest, is Executive Director of GreenFaith, an interfaith environmental coalition based in New Jersey. An award-winning spiritual writer and nationally-recognized preacher on the environment, he has developed a range of innovative programs to make GreenFaith one of the most respected religious-environmental groups in the US. A graduate of Princeton University and Union Theological Seminary, Harper served as a parish priest for ten years and in leadership positions in the Episcopal Church prior to joining GreenFaith.

Founded in 1992, GreenFaith is New Jersey’s interfaith coalition for the environment. GreenFaith inspires, educates and mobilizes people of diverse spiritual backgrounds to deepen their relationship with the sacred in nature and to restore the earth for future generations. At a time when religious conflicts dominate the headlines, GreenFaith unites people of diverse faiths toward the shared value of caring for the earth.

Through religious-environmental education programs, by greening the operation of religious institutions and the homes of their members, and through legislative advocacy and values-based environmental activism, GreenFaith helps religious institutions and people of all faiths put their belief into action for the earth and all its inhabitants.

Fall Kickoff - September 26th - Join Us!

We hope that everyone had an amazing summer as we are very excited for the upcoming fall season of the Interfaith Experience. The first event of the season is this Friday, September 26th at 7pm. Please join Seton Hall professor Peter Savastano as he discusses the African-based religions in the diaspora. Our October event will be held on the 24th with the Reverend Fletcher Harper of GreenFaith, an interfaith coalition for the environment.

"African-Based Religions in the Diaspora: An Exploration of Fluidity, Ambiguity, Relationality and Transformation."

When most people are asked to define religion, their response is often "religion is a set of beliefs", especially in those cultures historically associated with the Abrahamic traditions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam). While "belief" plays a role in the African based traditions in the Diaspora (i.e., Haitian Vodou, Cuban Santeria or Lucumi, Brazilian Candomble, and others), it is not dominant. Rather, in the African-based Diasporic traditions the focus is on the dynamics of healing ritual activity not creedal statements and/or doctrinal theological formulations.

In the African based traditions in the Diaspora, there is no Pope (to borrow from a Roman Catholic model), no cannon law, and no formal creed; they are African-based Diasporic traditions resisting institutionalization and centralization. They are dynamic and fluid, constantly expanding and contracting as the need arises. The African-based traditions in the Diaspora absorb and transform what is external to their ritual and symbol system, welcoming the "other" rather than building doctrinal walls to keep out that which is foreign. They are open-ended, rooted in the ritual action of the body, emotions, and intuition. They are innovative, improvisational and have a great capacity for ambiguity, while at the same time having a distinct world view, and a common set of symbols and ritual patterns on which practitioners draw in unique and different ways. These are traditions whose primary focus is on maintaining balanced relationships between the world of the living, the world of the ancestors, the world of the Deities (i.e., the Orisha, the Lwa or the Spirits) and when a practitioner's relationships is out of balance with any of these worlds, re-balancing is sought through divination, trance/possession, and various healing activities.

This lecture will explore the dynamic character of these traditions and the valuable contribution that they make to human spiritual life and to a richer understanding of religion.

Juliet Hollister Awards - September 18th

We are currently planning our events for the fall season and will have some announcements on our speakers very soon. Trust me, we are going to have some amazing guests for the fall.

In the meantime you may be interested in the Temple of Understanding's Juliet Hollister Awards Gala. The event is going to be held at the UN Delegates Dining Room on Sept 18th at 7pm. It will be an incredible evening of music and memorable honorees. Linus Roache, who presented at the Interfaith Experience in May, will be Master of Ceremony. This years honorees are:

Majora Carter will be honored for her work to bring social and environmental justice to poor and disenfranchised communities around the world. She is a leading urban revitalization strategist, the founder of Sustainable South Bronx, and a 2005 MacArthur “Genius” Fellow. Russell Simmons, music industry pioneer, entrepreneur and philanthroper, will be honored for his work to bridge the divide between people of different religions and cultures. Bhai Sahib Dr. Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia is the leader of the largest registered Sikh community in the United Kingdom. He will be honored for his work as an intra- and inter-faith educator and for his dedication to advancing interfaith issues at the United Nations.

In 1996 the Juliet Hollister Award was created to honor the Temple of Understanding's founder, Juliet Hollister, and to acknowledge the work of a religious leader whose work brings interfaith values into the place of worship and secular leaders who promote greater understanding of spiritual values in areas such as the arts, education, media, government, science, law and the environment.

Past awardees include Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, the Very Reverend James Parks Morton, His Holiness Sri Swami Satchidananda, President Nelson Mandela, His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, Maestro Ravi Shankar, Wangari Maathai, Fr. Thomas Berry, Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, and Hans Kung.

A pre-purchased ticket to the event is required.

To order tickets or for more information: info@templeofunderstanding.org or call 212-573-9224, ext 22

A special thanks and a Survey

A very special thanks to Linus and to all those that attended our final event of the spring/summer season. Thanks to Linus for his enlightening and entertaining talk, as well as for joining us for dinner and laughs after the event. It was a fabulous way to close out our first full year at the Rubin Museum of Art. We're looking forward to bringing you more great events in the fall and hope that you all have an amazing summer.

Please take a couple of minutes to take a very brief, anonymous survey to help us improve the Interfaith Experience.
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Law and Order star Linus Roache joins us in May

We are pleased to announce that Law and Order's newest star Linus Roache will present at the Interfaith Experience on May 30th at 7pm. Linus will share how his spiritual practice of Evolutionary Enlightenment has impacted his life and career.

"Being in the World but not of the World. "

In this talk the acclaimed British Actor Linus Roache, currently appearing as Law and Order's Chief Executive ADA Michael Cutter, will share how the perspective of Evolutionary Enlightenment is helping him navigate through the seductive world of success, celebrity and the intensity of the entertainment industry. As well as performing for over 24 years on stage, TV and screen, Linus has been a student of Evolutionary Enlightenment for the past 14 years and is now the Managing Director of the New York Center for EnlightenNext. EnlightenNext is a global network dedicated to creating a revolution in Consciousness and Culture and is founded on the vision of Spiritual Teacher Andrew Cohen and his teaching of Evolutionary Enlightenment.

Creation Spirituality: A Way Forward Together

Please join us on April 25th at 7pm on the 6th floor of the Rubin Museum of Art for a fascinating discussion on "Creation Spirituality" presented by the Reverend Masud Ibn Syedullah, TSSF.

The events of 9/11 forced many of us to consider, and reconsider our attitudes and opinions about “the other” regarding race, ethnicity, culture, and religion. Many of us who previously felt secure within the realm of those “like us” are increasingly challenged to think about and even interact with those who differ from ourselves. Join the Reverend Masud Ibn Syedullah, TSSF, for a discussion of how we can break down barriers and find the common ground between us all. Drawing upon his life experiences from growing up in a Christian and Muslim family to his many years in the Franciscan movement, Reverend Syedullah will discuss universal principals that cut across all the faiths leading us forward together in our common humanity.

An Episcopal priest, musician, and educator, the Rev. Masud I. Syedullah, TSSF integrates resources of the Christian spiritual tradition, the arts, and liturgical worship to create experiences that facilitate spiritual growth. Born into an interfaith family (Christian and Islamic), and a professed member and pastoral officer of The Third Order, Society of Saint Francis (TSSF -- an international religious community in the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion), Father Syedullah has acquired a profound appreciation for the many ways people experience and relate to God. His work invites persons to discover the everywhereness of God – the ways God can be experienced in persons and places beyond ones expectations.

Pastor of the Church of the Atonement, Bronx, New York, and member of the Liturgical Commission and the Episcopal-Muslim Relations Committee of The Episcopal Diocese of New York, his ministry encompasses the concerns and realities of both the local congregation and the broader faith community.

Friday and Interfaith Dialogue

We are looking forward to part 2 of Dr. Kurt Johnson and Loch Kelly's talk this Friday night at 7pm. Please note that the event will take place on the 5th floor, not the usual 6th floor location which is temporarily closed for an installation at this time. Please arrive early to get a good seat as their January event was standing room only.

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In today's news, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, who visited Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican in November, called on Muslims, Jews and Christians to engage in Interfaith Dialogue. He said, "The idea is to ask representatives of all monotheistic religions to sit together with their brothers in faith and sincerity to all religions as we all believe in the same God." Let's hope that leaders follow through on this call which can pave the road to peace in the Middle East. If you want to read the full article, please visit www.abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=4518593.

Thanks to Alex Grey

A very special thanks to Alex Grey for his visually stunning presentation on Friday night. It was an honor to have him as our guest and the event went above and beyond our expectations. Thanks to all those that braved the snowy winter day and were treated to such an entertaining and enlightening talk. If you haven't been to the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (542 27th street between 10th and 11th), you have to check it out before it moves north of the city.

We look forward to seeing everyone next month for part 2 of Dr. Kurt Johnson and Loch Kelly's presentation on Spirituality, Science and Consciousness.

The show must go on...

Despite the early snowfall, tonight's event with Alex Grey will still go on. Please note that our event will not take place at our usual 6th floor location, but we will be in the museum's theatre. Seating will begin at around 645pm and the presentation will start at 7pm. Hope to see you there.

Visionary artist Alex Grey joins us Februrary 22nd

Visionary artist and co-founder of the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors in NYC, Alex Grey's paintings “X-rays” multi-dimensional reality. His visual meditations on the nature of consciousness interweave biological anatomy with psychic/spiritual energy. From rock stars to scientists, Grey's art inspires, informs and illuminates the inexplicable. Join us for an evening, February 22nd at 7pm, of discussion with this icon and discover the next level of your own divinity. If you want a sneak peek of Alex, you can click on the YouTube links on the bottom right to a few videos featuring Alex.

This is event is part of "Brainwave" which takes place at six NY institutions and asks how art, music, and meditation affect the brain and offers countless answers in more than a hundred public events, ranging from an exhibition of contemporary art and a cinema series to cutting-edge concerts, performances, talks, and panels.

Here are a couple of reviews of Alex's work:

"Mr. Grey's paintings, as detailed and anatomically accurate as
medical illustrations, present man as an archetypal being struggling
toward cosmic unity...Grey's vision of a flawed but perfectible
mankind stands as an antidote to the cynicism and spiritual malaise
prevalent in much contemporary art."

--New York Times

" Alex Grey is making some of the most beautifully refined imagist
work in the country today."

--Walter Hopps, senior curator, Guggenheim Museum and Menil Collection

Theologue by Alex Grey

Thanks to everyone

Thanks to everyone for making our first event of 2008 a great success! With over 100+ people in attendance, it was our biggest audience to date and it's safe to say that it was a tremendous evening on many levels. Thanks to Dr. Kurt Johnson and Loch Kelly for their enlightening talk and we look forward to the second part of their talk on March 28th. Here are some links to some of the topics discussed: Red rain in Kerala, Ken Wilber, Don Beck/Spiral Dynamics, extremophilic microbes, "The Joy of Living" by Mingyur Rinpoche, Stephenville UFO sighting.

We hope to see you all on February 22nd for visionary artist Alex Grey!

Come kick off the 2008 season on Friday January 25th!!!

We are very excited to announce a two-part series to kick off our 2008 season. Dr. Kurt Johnson and psychotherapist Loch Kelly will lead us in a discussion that will highlight key contemporary insights across the fields of consciousness studies, science and spirituality. Dr. Johnson and Mr. Kelly will join us in both January and March to share with us the most cutting edge research and frontier studies. Come join us at the Rubin Museum of Art at 7pm on January 25th (Part 1) and March 28th (Part 2).

Left: Dr. Kurt Johnson

Right: Loch Kelly, psychotherapist and Buddhist meditation teacher

January 25, 2008: Spirituality, Science and Consciousness: Wisdom from the Cutting Edge

At a tipping point in history, understanding the intricate but profound synchronicity of our subjective and objective experiences of reality could be the difference between humanities continued existence and extinction. Join biologist Dr. Kurt Johnson and psychotherapist Loch Kelly for a discussion that will highlight key contemporary insights across the fields of consciousness studies, science and spirituality. The first of a two-part presentation, January’s discussion will draw on the holistic views of Ken Wilber’s Integral Vision, Don Beck’s Spiral Dynamics, Bro. Wayne Teasdale’s Universal View of World Religions and recent research by the Mind and Life Institute in dialogue with the Dalai Lama and synthesized by Mingyur Rinpoche in his new book, The Joy of Living.

March 28, 2008 Spirituality, Science and Consciousness: Exploring the Deepest Meeting Place

The second of a two-part presentation, will explore current frontier studies in consciousness, science and spirituality. The speakers, Dr. Kurt Johnson and Loch Kelly, will highlight and explore pivotal points and their implications regarding humanity’s subjective and objective understanding and appreciation of a wider reality. Subjects to be discussed will include present day movements, including movements identified in Paul Hawken’s book, Blessed Unrest.