Different Religions Week starts this Friday, and I got an e-mail asking me to promote it, which I am happy to do because even though I am without faith, I think it is everyone's right to have one. What gets me aggitated is when one faith tries to nudge out all the others (such as posting the Ten Commandments in court rooms).
These past five months I have been taking a class in Electronics and Telecommunications. A guy from Bosnia is in the class. I had never been exposed to a Bosnian before and I wasn't sure what to expect. If you were to meet him, with his big build, slavic acccent, and caucasian looks, you'd think he has more in common with Arnold Schwarzenegger than, say, a typical stereotypical muslim. While I have some serious disagreements with him (i.e. he disputes the theory of evolution) I can tell he is a thoughtful and passionate humanitarian, and as such, I feel a bond with him. I think if people of different religions can identify with each other on such a level, they can see they have more in common than they may think.
Dear Tony,
I am a student at Rice University in Houston and the founder of Different Religions Week, a week during which people are encouraged to attend services of faiths different from their own. I read your blog (http://blog.veggiedude.com/) this January and determined that, based on the blog’s subject matter, you might be interested in posting a comment regarding the week — either agreeing or disagreeing with its concept or simply announcing that it is taking place.
Different Religions Week 2005 is July 15-22. I started the movement in 2003 to help curb people’s widespread ignorance of other faiths, which often leads to intolerance and which sometimes ultimately results in — or is used to justify — violence (consider, for example, 9/11 or the Bosnian conflict). More information about the how and why of the movement is available at http://www.differentreligionsweek.org.
There is no one “event” around which Different Religions Week is based; rather, people are simply encouraged to find and attend an unfamiliar religious service at their convenience during the week. (Atheist and agnostic meetings count too.) The movement’s Web site has links under “World Religions” to directories where people can get started finding a service.
Please consider posting a comment on or announcement of Different Religions Week 2005 on your blog, and e-mail me if you do so I can keep track of the Web presence of the movement. Thank you for your consideration and your time.
Sincerely, Nathan Black School e-mail: nwblack@rice.edu Movement e-mail: differentreligionsweek@yahoo.com
Location
San Francisco Bay Area, California, United States
I am a born-again atheist who is pro-life (I don't eat animals) and I agree with the Dalai Lama when he says "There is no creator".
Those are certainly good words of common sense. It tells us that "spirituality" has nothing to do with a belief in things supernatural. But then, those of us who grew up in the seventies watching "Kung Fu" already knew that being a vegan, atheist who follows the path of the buddha can reach enlightenment.
All kidding aside, what does a vegetarian atheist have to say? Stick around and you'll find out! Politically I'm rather liberal, but I do like to listen to staunch conservative talk show host Michael Savage (real name 'Wiener') so I'll probably be mentioning him from time to time in my weblogs. So for now, how about some talk of broccoli, carrots and peas? Recipe's anyone??
free books for students, teachers, and the classic enthusiast.
"As mankind becomes more liberal, they will be more apt to allow that all those who conduct themselves as worthy members of the community are equally entitled to the protections of civil government. I hope ever to see America among the foremost nations of justice and liberality."
- George Washington
"Maybe happiness is a fragment of existence, but with better packaging."
