Reflections After The Tsunami Tragedy

Over the last few months hundreds of thousands of people have reached out with genuine concern and hard cash towards the people of SE Asia. The tsunami was no respecter of a person's religion in an area where Muslims and Christians, Hindus and Buddhists, have been killed or traumatised. Our respective religions are an integral part of our self identity but so is the common spirituality that we share as human beings. Surely now is the time to reach out in a new way, with the same love and respect, in order to get to know one another better. Integral to this process is getting to know more about our different religions and learning how to honour each one. We need shared sacred space to help do this.

Anglican Christians throughout Britain in particular are ideally placed to help facilitate such a process, primarily because we already have buildings in every community, sacred spaces set apart for communal use, our 'parish churches'. I see this as part of the unique ethos of Anglicanism. One of my own churches has the prophetic words from Isaiah above its main entrance: 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples'. This is our way of saying 'Welcome' in addition to the religious objects from other faiths that adorn the church and the copies of their holy books available in the sanctuary. In addition, prayers from all faiths are used regularly in our Christian worship. After all, Paul made it quite clear in one of his letters that Christians are meant to be committed to 'the fellowship of reconciliation' (2 Corinthians 5).

Space can and should be made available for regular interfaith gatherings in all our churches and with an increasing number of churches becoming redundant and converted for community use, religious leaders need to meet as a matter of urgency to make sure that one room at least is set apart for use by faith-communities. Many hospitals of our land already have such spaces. Furthermore, the thousands of small rural churches in Britain are also ideally placed to offer living quarters for holy men and women, contemplatives from a wide range of faith-communities, who can pioneer new ways of celebrating our common spirituality in an increasingly secular age. I hope that my Anglican colleagues worldwide share the exciting potential of such an inter-faith project.

Complementing this kind of practical spirituality is the Indian ashram movement, another catalyst to help us think and behave globally with our spirituality. The tsunami has reminded us of the reality of 'Oikumene', the Greek word for 'one world'. An authentic ecumenism is no longer just about different types of Christians coming together but about members of all religions making a fresh start on working together and celebrating their unity-in-diversity.On 1 February 2005, "Hagia Soffia", our Ashram of the Divine Wisdom, was dedicated to the memory of Fr Bede Griffiths of Shantivanam in India. An Anglican who became a Benedictine monk, Fr Bede spent most of his life bridging the great traditions of Hinduism and Christianity. His vision of an inclusive, open church is served by a sangha (community) of men and women committed to the search for truth at the heart of all religions. It is a vision with a long and noble pedigree. One of the early Christian sages, Clement of Alexandria, wrote in the 2nd Century AD that 'One indeed is the Way of Truth, but into it, as into an ever-flowing river, streams from everywhere flow.' Raimon Panikkar, the octogenarian Spanish priest-theologian, puts its even more succinctly 'Truth is many faceted.'

An ashram is about ordinary religious people coming together and although it is not as structured as a monastery, being open and flexible in its orientation, the daily pattern of an ashram is the same the world over. It is as simple as it is profound. People share a sacred space that is dedicated to every religion: they take part in common prayer and share meditation; they listen to each other's scriptures and study them; they share that silence that our world craves, listening to the Divine Wisdom deep within as well as to the needs of our world. They enjoy being together, sharing table fellowship, as well as service in the community at large.

Candlemass Eve this year (01.02.2005), was an extra special one in Pennal, as we re-dedicated Hagia Soffia (burnt to the ground eighteen months ago), the small inter-faith chapel that serves the Ashram. Members of faith-communities came together with lanterns and candles, for the dedication. In the words of Jalalu'l-Din Rumi: 'The lamps are different but the light is the same .... Fix thy gaze upon the light.'

The words above the doorway into our chapel are in Welsh and come from our ancient native literature 'The Mabinogion': "a fo ben bid bont" (the one who'd be a leader must be a bridge). As 2005 gets underway, the challenge to faith communities in Britain is to craft a new kind of sacred space and community to combat religious ignorance, bigotry and tyranny worldwide. Fr Geraint ap Iorwerth

Geraint Ap Iorwerth

---

Compassion and Plenty

He Showed 'Compassion'He made lots where there was only little.... Read More

We Are From Jesus Christ

Most people wonder at one time or another where do... Read More

Crazy in Love

Several years ago my cousin was pleased to find out... Read More

Biblical Hermeneutics ? Part 2

Should we be tempted to believe that our system of... Read More

The Rapture, A coming Event; Part 2

The Rapture. Part 2.Revelation 3:10-22:19So far we see in looking... Read More

Iesa and Jesus in the Pyramid

The Sun god, Mithras, was the most widely worshipped deity... Read More

Gods People Are Destroyed For Lack of Knowledge

These next two verses are extreme - and I mean... Read More

Prophetic Ministry: Affirmations From Scripture to Teach Us Who We Are In Christ

To learn who you are in Christ, you must know... Read More

Comparative Religion 101 ? What They Wont Tell You in That Class

If your view of religion is like most people, you... Read More

British B. S.

CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE: -MacDari was a Mason but his Masonry deplored... Read More

Story of Solomon

Without question, the greatest story in the Bible of someone... Read More

The Gospel Of Convenience

The subject of this document is so unpleasing to the... Read More

War of the Worlds: Signs of the End of the Age

Jesus said there'd be days like this.The disciples came to... Read More

Rudraksha Beads - For Health, Wealth & Spirituality

The Tears of Lord Shiva that are Rudraksha, are the... Read More

Possibilities in Prayer

Prostrateology is the theological term for the doctrine of prayer.... Read More

Fruit-Bearing Christians

This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much... Read More

Theology, Hollywood Style

After years of watching TV shows and movies, I think... Read More

Amos And Social Justice Part 2

Amos was summoned by God to warn the Northern Kingdom... Read More

Holy Communion: Key to Spiritual Healing

Chronically-ill Christians who do not believe in spiritual healing of... Read More

Reconstrictionism + Dominionism = Warfare Theology

The Christian Church believes that at the close of the... Read More

Russia and Her Allies Will Attack Israel

This next event will be a major one! The Bible... Read More

A Partnership With God

Hey, God is trying to partner with you! He wants... Read More

Divine Power/Jesus is over Everything

Divine power is so great, Paul an apostle of Christ... Read More

The Christian Community Tries To Take Back What Belongs To Them!

"See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs... Read More

Jesus Christ: The First, The Last, The Eternal

Luke 17:20-17:24 Jesus Christ. The First, The Last, The Eternal.... Read More

Loyola the Luciferian

Ignatius Loyola ? Luciferian or Heliopolitan:I kid you not! Lucifer... Read More

What Is The Most Important Righteous Requirement Of Gods Law?

To live "under the law" is to live under the... Read More

The Lost and Found

When we think in terms of what it means for... Read More

Does Society Need a St. Bernard?

You all know the big dogs that carry rum to... Read More

The Great White Throne Judgment

Before we get the new heaven and new earth, there... Read More

The Goodness of His Strength

The dictionary explains strength as being endurance, force, bravery, spirit... Read More

Are These People Putting You In Danger Of Eternal Hell Fire?

Most people put a lot of effort into being like... Read More

Here?s Help for the ?I Can?t Say ?No? Blues?

I hear it all the time. Cries from Christian women... Read More