Religion and Spirituality – Page 10 – Glen's Parallax Perspectives

Prayers sponsored by governments or schools UNDERMINE authentic religion!

February 24, 2018 GlenAnderson 0

Many conservative persons, religious advocates, government officials (including some in charge of public schools, as well as local, state and federal governments) want prayers at local government or legislative meetings – or in public schools. ACTUALLY, THESE GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED PRAYERS UNDERMINE authentic religion. Prayer should be a personal communication with God, but making it mandatory or obligatory – or a mindless public ritual – destroys the personal faith aspect and makes it a meaningless governmental routine. It’s ironic that conservatives who oppose “big government” want government to cram someone’s religion down everyone else’s throats. Instead of protecting liberty, they are taking […]

TV: “Interfaith Voices for Peace”

December 2, 2017 GlenAnderson 0

When discussing current events – in news media and in comments by politicians and ordinary people – we often hear people speak negatively about other people’s religions. They make broad accusations based on the actions of one or a few persons. Actually – even though some individuals fall short – the authentic beliefs and teachings of various religious faiths actually support profound respect for all human beings, profound compassion, and peace. The Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation’s June 2012 TV program explores humane truths in four different faiths: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. We explore how the scriptures and other writings […]

TV: “Let’s Meet Our Arab Neighbors”

December 2, 2017 GlenAnderson 0

Although the whole world is interconnected in many ways, most Americans do not know enough about Arab culture, and most Americans don’t have enough friends from countries in the Arab world. If we did, we would be more likely to make peace instead of war. The Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation’s September 2012 TV program is an enjoyable conversation with people whose roots are in different countries within the Arab world. We’ll learn something of Arab culture. And we’ll sow the seeds of peace. Locally, the Olympia-based Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice does a lot of good work, so […]

TV: “100 Years of FOR’s Bold Nonviolent Work for Peace and Justice”

November 17, 2017 GlenAnderson 0

The Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation’s October 2015 TV program celebrates highlights about the FOR’s 100 years of accomplishments in the United States. The national FOR has accomplished much, but usually has been too modest about promoting itself. The FOR works well with other organizations and wants to accomplish good work, regardless of who gets the credit for doing it. As a result, although the FOR is not very well known, it has actually accomplished quite a lot during the past 100 years. This TV program highlights only a few of the fascinating pieces of the past 100 years, but we […]

TV: “Nisqually Canoe Journey”

November 16, 2017 GlenAnderson 0

The Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation’s TV program for July 2016 explores a powerful regional tradition organized by our region’s Native American and First Nation tribes. In the saltwater areas and shorelines throughout Western Washington and SW British Columbia, special sum-mertime events have been happening since 1993 – after an earlier “Paddle to Seattle” in 1989. Tribal members paddle traditional dugout canoes from throughout our region and converge at the location of a different tribal host each year. Two guests – Hanford McCloud and Jeff Choke – help us explore the 2016 Canoe Journey, the “Paddle to Nisqually.” Both guests are […]