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Cincy Multi-Faith Calendar Launch
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on Cincy Multi-Faith Calendar LaunchThe Cincy Multi-Faith Calendar was launched at the Second Annual Festival of Faiths
https://www.cincifestivaloffaiths.org/We invite people from all faith traditions to send suggestions, corrections, comments, additions, etc.We also welcome suggestions of ways in which we can make the calendar a more effective educational tool for all age groups.Please contact us at [email protected] ContactWe would like to hear from you. Please send us a message and we will get back with you shortly.
In the summer of 2019, people from a dozen different faith traditions sat together at a table to create a calendar together. This collaborative act felt special in a time where our communities sit in silos, and people build walls separating themselves from others. In this room, at this table, each of these people shared in the power of vulnerability when they each shared their ideas, concerns, and fears with people who were barely more than acquaintances.This project was inspired by the inaugural Cincinnati Festival of Faiths held June 24th, 2018, on the campus of Xavier University. That amazing event, which attracted 25 faith communities representing 13 world religions, was the most inclusive gathering of faith traditions ever assembled in the region’s history. Within days of that historic event, ideas for more multi-faith learning and experiences emerged, among them the idea of producing a multi-faith calendar. The purpose and hope of the calendar is that people of different faith traditions, or without a faith tradition, might learn more about one another. We all hold the hope that we could create a tool to help open the eyes of young people who could understand one another and break down those silos that segregate our world.Our creation is a calendar. However, the value comes from the layers of information. The first layer simply represents a month, with holidays of our traditions placed besides one another. A hovering mouse uncovers a description of that holiday and the faith tradition it comes from. A click uncovers more detail, with external links chosen by members of the faith tradition this holiday comes from, ensuring insider insight into the practices and observances. Additionally, there are some programs so that educators can use this tool in their classrooms.Putting this together was not so straightforward. Although each of us approached the table with open hearts, we still needed to do the hard work of listening to one another and understanding perspectives we had never encountered. We approached problems of how to ensure representation of the diversity of faith traditions in Cincinnati, as well as how to express the nuance of diversity within each tradition. We tried to consider the audience, and acknowledged that although we live in a Christian majority nation, many immigrant communities may still need an understanding of Christian traditions. Our discussions touched on what are the differences between an ethnic observance and religious holiday, and how much overlap should we include. And above all, we felt the tension of trying to put holidays of many different traditions on the Gregorian calendar, which comes from Christianity.In the end, we did our best to resolve these questions together with the resources at hand. We acknowledge that we will never truly be able to capture the diverse practices of each faith tradition or what they symbolize to the people who observe these special days. This is the first iteration of this project that we hope will evolve over the years. We are still actively seeking information, especially from groups that were not represented in our first attempt. Regardless, we hope that what we tried to create will begin the work of informing one another of our traditions. We also encourage all those who use this resource to become partners in its creation through constructive feedback. This is a first step, and we leave you with an open invitation to help us grow and make this complete.Calendar Project Co-Chairs: James Buchanan, Umama Alam, Becca Diamond
In the summer of 2019, people from a dozen different faith traditions sat together at a table to create a calendar together. This collaborative act felt special in a time where our communities sit in silos, and people build walls separating themselves from others. In this room, at this table, each of these people shared in the power of vulnerability when they each shared their ideas, concerns, and fears with people who were barely more than acquaintances.This project was inspired by the inaugural Cincinnati Festival of Faiths held June 24th, 2018, on the campus of Xavier University. That amazing event, which attracted 25 faith communities representing 13 world religions, was the most inclusive gathering of faith traditions ever assembled in the region’s history. Within days of that historic event, ideas for more multi-faith learning and experiences emerged, among them the idea of producing a multi-faith calendar. The purpose and hope of the calendar is that people of different faith traditions, or without a faith tradition, might learn more about one another. We all hold the hope that we could create a tool to help open the eyes of young people who could understand one another and break down those silos that segregate our world.Our creation is a calendar. However, the value comes from the layers of information. The first layer simply represents a month, with holidays of our traditions placed besides one another. A hovering mouse uncovers a description of that holiday and the faith tradition it comes from. A click uncovers more detail, with external links chosen by members of the faith tradition this holiday comes from, ensuring insider insight into the practices and observances. Additionally, there are some programs so that educators can use this tool in their classrooms.Putting this together was not so straightforward. Although each of us approached the table with open hearts, we still needed to do the hard work of listening to one another and understanding perspectives we had never encountered. We approached problems of how to ensure representation of the diversity of faith traditions in Cincinnati, as well as how to express the nuance of diversity within each tradition. We tried to consider the audience, and acknowledged that although we live in a Christian majority nation, many immigrant communities may still need an understanding of Christian traditions. Our discussions touched on what are the differences between an ethnic observance and religious holiday, and how much overlap should we include. And above all, we felt the tension of trying to put holidays of many different traditions on the Gregorian calendar, which comes from Christianity.In the end, we did our best to resolve these questions together with the resources at hand. We acknowledge that we will never truly be able to capture the diverse practices of each faith tradition or what they symbolize to the people who observe these special days. This is the first iteration of this project that we hope will evolve over the years. We are still actively seeking information, especially from groups that were not represented in our first attempt. Regardless, we hope that what we tried to create will begin the work of informing one another of our traditions. We also encourage all those who use this resource to become partners in its creation through constructive feedback. This is a first step, and we leave you with an open invitation to help us grow and make this complete.Calendar Project Co-Chairs: James Buchanan, Umama Alam, Becca Diamond
For young peopleInterfaith learning through participation.This adaptable program was designed with fifth graders in mind and can also be used in schools, camps, after-school programs, sports teams and other diverse youth communities. Its three parts may be used as a sequence or independently.Enduring understandings- Learning about one another’s faith traditions strengthens community.
- Each person’s traditions deserve equal representation and respect.
- Religious pluralism continues to shape American life.Part 1: Multi-Faith Calendar Scavenger HuntSmall groups explore assigned months, research unfamiliar holidays, consider school absences, fasting and greetings, then share what they learned about religious diversity.Part 2: Creating a Community CalendarParticipants identify the observances represented in their own community, research dates and greetings, create monthly calendar pages, and discuss what inclusion requires.Part 3: “My Traditions” VideosParticipants create short first-person videos about their own practices. The activity emphasizes speaking from personal experience instead of assuming that everyone within a tradition observes in the same way.Program goals: knowing more about observances, using the calendar confidently, recognizing that many traditions deserve visibility, and building belonging across differences.
For classroomsSupporting students with cultural competence.The guide helps educators understand how religious observances may affect students and how thoughtful recognition can reduce misunderstanding and alienation.How observances affect studentsFasting can affect energy and test-taking. Students may miss class for observances or feel unfairly penalized when their needs are not understood. Learning appropriate holiday greetings and acknowledging important dates can help students feel seen.There is immense diversity within every faith tradition. Families may observe the same holiday differently—or not at all—so educators should learn without assuming that a student follows every practice associated with a tradition.Classroom representationInclusive calendars and seasonal classroom materials can help students who may be the only member of their faith tradition in the room feel represented.Use in lessonsEducators may use the accompanying lesson plan, adapt it to their classroom, or use the calendar to strengthen existing lessons about culture, community and religious diversity.
Bahá’u’lláh (“The Glory of God”), Revealer of the Bahá’í message, proclaimed that we’re all united in spirit — there’s one God, one humanity and one common faith sent by God through great prophets Bahá’ís call Manifestations of God who have appeared periodically throughout the world. God is transcendent and can’t be known directly but through the spiritual teachings revealed by the Manifestations of God Who are united in proclaiming the need for us to educate our souls by acquiring spiritual attributes – such as love, compassion, justice, generosity, patience, etc. – that we need in this world and through all the worlds of God. As we sincerely humble ourselves, we become able to reflect God’s attributes, like mirrors reflect the sun. The purpose of our lives is to acquire these divine attributes that will continue to serve us in the life beyond this material plane.“As the child in the womb does not yet know the use of its members, it does not know what its eyes are for, neither its nose, nor ears, nor tongue — so also it is with the soul on earth. It cannot understand here the uses and powers of its spiritual gifts, but directly it enters the eternal kingdom, it will become clearly apparent.” –Abdu’l-BahaThe object of all religion is and has been to transform the inner and outer character of humankind to promote the unity of the human race that we may carry forward an ever-advancing civilization. Spirit emanates from God and at birth it acquires a soul that enables it to explore creation. All human beings should unite as one, no matter what sex, race, nationality or creed. Baha’u’llah said “the earth is one country and mankind its citizens.”Manifestations of God differ only in the social laws they reveal, that necessarily change across time and place. As the most recent of the Manifestations, Bahá’u’lláh has brought social teachings for today and for the entire planet. The Bahá’í Faith accepts other revealed religions as true and valid, seeing each as a stage in the progressive revelation of God. That is, although religions all have the same spiritual foundations, social laws change as humanity evolves individually and collectively.Baha’u’llah has revealed a system that is God-centered in justice, love and unity in diversity. Rather has abolished clergy and replaced it with local and national assemblies of nine individuals as well as a world body. People are elected in an atmosphere of prayer, anyone over the age of 21 is eligible to be elected to serve. Elections to the local and national administrative bodies and an international one occur without campaigning or discussion of names.Baha’is are expected to study the vast library of scripture and are free to express their own understanding. However, the only authorized interpreters have been the son of Baha’u’llah, Abdu’l-Baha; the late Guardian Shoghi Effendi and now the world body called the Universal House of Justice, residing at the Baha’i World Center in Haifa, Israel. “Immerse yourselves in the ocean of My words, that ye may unravel its secrets, and discover all the pearls of wisdom that lie hid in its depths.” – Baha’u’llahRegular Bahá’í meetings, called Feasts, occur once every Baha’i month. The Baha’i calendar comprises 19 months of 19 days with 4 or 5 extra days of celebration. The Feast includes a spiritual portion consisting of readings and prayers from Baha’i scripture, a business portion where local Bahá’í communities consult about social engagement and service, and a social portion of food and fellowship. where we worship, socialize and consult together on actions to be carried out. Such consultation requires eliminating all prejudice to let all voices be heard as we build a loving, just community. Baha’u’llah said, “Deny not My servant should he ask anything from thee, for his face is My face; be then abashed before Me.”Because Baha’i teachings focus on the oneness of God, religion and humanity, Baha’is engage in service and social action that will help put such principles into reality with such actions as eliminating all prejudices, realizing equality of sex and race, ministering to the poor, developing an economy based on spiritual principles.There is presently one House of Worship per each continent which are offered to the world as places of prayer. Baha’is in localities decide whether to buy or rent a meeting place, depending on their circumstances.There are about 6 million Bahá’ís in the world across 235 countrieshttps://www.bahai.org/Bahaiteachings.org God, who is love, created all people in his image—male and female he created them—to share His love and therefore to reflect His love in the world and in their lives. Jesus Christ fully reveals who God is as a Triune communion of love—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He shows us the face of God, and shows us who we are, and who we are called to be.“Our profession of faith begins with God, for God is the First and the Last, the beginning and the end of everything. The Credo begins with God the Father, for the Father is the first divine person of the Most Holy Trinity; our Creed begins with the creation of heaven and earth, for creation is the beginning and the foundation of all God’s works.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 198The teaching authority of the Catholic Church, called the Magisterium, lies with all of the bishops who are led by the pope and guided by the Holy Spirit. The pope and bishops are the authoritative teachers in the Church.The most basic principle of the Christian moral life is the awareness that every person bears the dignity of being made in the image of God. He has given us an immortal soul and through the gifts of intelligence and reason enables us to understand the order of things established in his creation. God has also given us a free will to seek and love what is true, good, and beautiful. Sadly, because of the Fall, we also suffer the impact of Original Sin, which darkens our minds, weakens our wills, and inclines us to sin. Baptism delivers us from Original Sin but not from its effects—especially the inclination to sin, concupiscence. Within us, then, is both the powerful surge toward the good because we are made in the image of God, and the darker impulses toward evil because of the effects of Original Sin.But we should always remember that Christ’s dying and rising offers us new life in the Spirit, whose saving grace delivers us from sin and heals sin’s damage within us. Thus we speak of the value, dignity, and goal of human life, even with its imperfections and struggles. Human life, as a profound unity of physical and spiritual dimensions, is sacred. It is distinct from all other forms of life, since it alone is imprinted with the very image of its Creator.Catholic social teaching is a central and essential element of our faith. Its roots are in the Hebrew prophets who announced God’s special love for the poor and called God’s people to a covenant of love and justice. It is a teaching founded on the life and words of Jesus Christ, who came “to bring glad tidings to the poor . . . liberty to captives . . . recovery of sight to the blind”(Lk 4:18-19), and who identified himself with “the least of these,” the hungry and the stranger (cf. Mt 25:45). Catholic social teaching is built on a commitment to the poor. This commitment arises from our experiences of Christ in the Eucharist.“The whole liturgical life of the Church revolves around the Eucharistic sacrifice and the sacraments. There are seven sacraments in the Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony.” “Sacraments are “powers that comes forth” from the Body of Christ, which is ever-living and life-giving. They are actions of the Holy Spirit at work in his Body, the Church. They are “the masterworks of God” in the new and everlasting covenant.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1113 & 1116
Hinduism has one billion adherents; it is the oldest of living religions. Hinduism represents over 5000 years of development in the Indian sub-continent. Hindu time scale spans trillions of years. It was always there (eternal). No single founder. Directly taught by God to some seekers (Example: The Bhagavadgita) and revealed indirectly to several other seekers (Example: The Vedic seers). Primary scriptures are Vedas, Upanishads, Brahmasutra and Bhagavadgita. Secondary Scriptures are numerous; they include Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas, Itihasas, Dharma Sutras, etc.Basic tenets are: 1. May Noble inspirations come to us from everywhere; 2. God is ONE, names are many; it has both respect and tolerance of different paths; 3. God incarnates as needed to set things right on Earth; 4. All creation is part of God. World is one sacred unit like a bird’s nest or one family! Relish life with humility, reverence and righteousness; ultimate goal is union with GOD (many opportunities and ways for that; surrender to God being the easiest). May all be happy, healthy and prosperous. May Peace prevail in all realms.The essential principles of Hinduism can be summarized as A-E-I-O-U-Y of H-I-N-D-U-I-S-M“AnO bhadrAh kratavO yantu vishvatah” (Rg Veda): Let noble inspirations come to us from everywhere.“Ekam sat, viprAh bahudhA vadanti” (Rg Veda): GOD is One; sages speak of it in numerous ways.“Isha avAsyam idagam sarvam, yat kincha jagatyAm jagat, tEna tyaktEna bhunjItA, mA gridhah kasyasviddhanam” (Isha upanishad): God permeates everything in this everchanging universe; enjoy your share with detachment, don’t be greedy after someone else’s share.“Om iti brahma, Om itIdagam sarvam” (taittireeya Upanishad): Om is God, Om is everything! Om represents our birth (spring), growth (summer), letting go (autumn/fall), and immortality (the silence of winter)]. Om is the most sacred mantra (chant) of Hinduism.“UddarEt Atmana AtmAnam, AtmAnam avasAdayEt, Atma Eva hi AtmanO bandhuh, Atma Eva ripuh Atmanah” (Bhagavadgita): We should elevate our self by our own effort, we should not put down our self. We are our friend and enemy.“YopAm Ayatanam vEda, AyatanavAn bhavati” (Krishna Yajur Veda): One who realizes the sustaining power of Lord, he indeed is in good hands.“H” for harmony: Hinduism respects all religions and thus aspires for mutual tolerance and respect This does not mean that all religions are same. It does not encourage hate (intolerant of intolerance!) or actively seek converts. It has the capacity to assimilate all the faiths and the Philosophies.“I” for Incarnation (Avataar): God descends to Earth in any form and under any sky as may be needed to uphold DHARMA (righteousness). There is no space, time, form or limitations to an avataar.“N” for nonviolence (Ahimsa). Hinduism recognizes that life supports life. One should avoid causing unnecessary injury (in thoughts, words or deeds) to one-self or other fellow beings including all life forms. Some Hindu sects stress vegetarianism, but it is not a prerequisite to be a Hindu.Attitude of gratitude (to Almighty) with which we take food is more important!“D” for Dharma. Always support what is right. To help others is Good to hurt others is sin.“U” for Unity of existence. Everything and all beings are inter connected and are essentially the manifestation or extension of the one Supreme Being (God). The world is one big family.“I” for Inherent Value. God is Omnipresent & Omnipotent. God can be worshipped in any ‘Form’ or ‘No Form’. Just as the Flag is a symbol of a Nation, an Idol for the Hindu is symbolic of the God.“S” for Supreme Reality is God. It is transcendent and immanent. It is known by many names.“M” for Moksha & Mantra. Dharma (Virtue), Artha (Material prosperity), Kama (pleasures) & Moksha (liberation from cycles of birth & death, harmonious union with God) are the goals of life. Adherence to svadharma [one’s own inherent talents (attitudes & aptitudes)] in achieving these goals is suggested. There are numerous paths and innumerable opportunities for liberation. It can happen by one way or the other and in one life or the other. The various paths for liberation are:- Selfless good deeds;
- Knowledge of God;
- Faith or devotion;
- Control of body, mind and intellect;
- Easiest being total surrender.The Hind universal prayer is: May all be happy, healthy and prosperous. May none suffer). “Om shaantih shaantih shaantihi” (Om peace, peace, peace; peace in all our 3 realms (Surroundings, body and mind). If you like to discuss further, please contact: Koti Sreekrishna ([email protected]). Islam is the submission to the will of God and derives from the word, peace. Those that practice the faith or submit their will to God through peace are called Muslims. As one of the Abrahamic faiths, Islam centers on the belief in the one Almighty God, or Allah in Arabic, and focuses on doing good by treating others with dignity, respect and kindness. There are an estimated 1.6 billion Muslims in the world from varied ethnicities and nationalities.The basic tenets include:- Shahada, or Declaration of Faith is the Muslim belief that there is no God but the One God and Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the last messenger of God,
- Salat is prayer and mindful meditation that Muslims perform five times a day while facing towards Mecca, Saudia Arabia that includes reciting verses from the Quran, the Islamic text comprised of literal words of God conveying Divine guidance.
- Siyam is fasting in the month of Ramadan for 30 days from the break of dawn to sunset while abstaining from all food and drink in order to gain in spiritual strength, self-purification, and doing good for others.
- Zakat, or charity, is giving 2.5% of one’s savings accumulated within a year to those in need.
- Haaj, or pilgrimage, to the holy city of Mecca for those that are financially and physically able once in their lifetime.The Islamic beliefs include the belief in the One God, the angels that God created, all the Prophets that brought the message and revelations to humankind, the revered holy books including the Torah and Bible however Muslims follow the Quran as the main source of guidance, the Day of Judgment, Life after Death and the belief in destiny that all good/bad comes from God.To learn more about Islam:
www.discoverislam.com/the-reader-details Judaism is the way of life of the Jewish people and the first recorded monotheistic faith. In the English-speaking Western world, “Judaism” is often considered a “religion,” but there are no equivalent words for “Judaism” or for “religion” in Hebrew; there are words for “faith,” “law,” or “custom. As a way of life, it includes the social, cultural, and religious history of a widespread and diverse community, including people who do and do not think of themselves as “religious.”Core values that are consistent across the spectrum of the Jewish people include the concept of Kehillah (community) – the responsibility to care for everyone within the community; Welcoming and aiding the stranger; and Recognizing that every person is created in the image of God.Judaism centers around three fundamental ideas:- GOD: Belief in a singular Supreme Being and Creator who has an ongoing relationship with the Jewish people.
- TORAH: The Five Books of Moses. Torah also refers more broadly to the entire body of Jewish teaching including future words of Jewish scholarship.
- ISRAEL: God formed a Covenant with the Jewish PEOPLE Israel, at Mount Sinai. Israel can also refer to the connection Jews have with the historic land of Israel and to the modern State of Israel.Jewish religious practice is based on following a set of commandments as delineated in the Torah and then interpreted (and argued over!) for millennia. Encompassing a diverse people, Jews may interpret and practice differently from one another. Two of the most notable observances practiced by a portion of the Jewish people are: Kosher – a system of eating according to specific laws and Sabbath -observing a weekly day of rest that begins on Fridays at sundown and concludes Saturday night.For more information:
www.MyJewishLearning.org; https://rlp.hds.harvard.edu/religions/judaism Sikhism, or Sikhi, is a distinct monotheistic spiritual tradition founded over 500 years ago in the Punjab region of South Asia. There are more than 25 million Sikhs around the world, which makes Sikhism the world’s fifth largest world religion. Sikhs first came to the United States in the late 1800s and there are an estimated 1 million Sikhs living in America today. The three core pillars of the Sikh way of life are: 1) To work hard and earn an honest living, 2) Share wealth and resources with those in need, and 3) Remember the blessings of the One Divine Being at all times.The Sikh worldview centers around the idea of Oneness. Sikhs believe that people of all faiths worship one Divine Being who created this world and lives within all. Every human being is equal in the eyes of God. From the Sikh perspective, there are no theological grounds to discriminate against people on the basis of their social identities, whether gender, caste, ethnicity, or otherwise. For example, as Sikhs believe all people are equal, the Sikh community does not have clergy or priests; each person can connect with the Creator directly and all positions of leadership and authority in Sikh religious and political life are open to people of all backgrounds.Sikhs aim to recognize the divine presence in all aspects of life, and this constant recognition contributes to the cultivation of a loving self. A natural corollary of recognizing the Oneness of the world and practicing love is to serve society. In the Sikh tradition, service is a way of expressing gratitude to the Divine. Service is prayerful action. The concept of love-inspired service is called seva, and it is a core part of the Sikh practice. All Sikhs are expected to serve humanity while also cultivating their own spirituality, at once both internally focused while also contributing to the world around them. Serving the world is a natural expression of the Sikh prayer and worship exemplified in the concept of Sant-Sipahi, or Saint-Soldier. This Saint-Soldier ideal applies to women and men alike. In the Sikh tradition, a truly religious person is one who cultivates the inner spiritual self while also serving the external world around them.Today, Sikhs all over the world are embedded within their local and national communities and remain committed to the core values of spiritual growth and social justice. Sikhs continue to establish Gurdwaras (Spiritual Community Centers) with and for their local communities.
As Christians, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe in learning all we can about Jesus. The greatest happiness in life comes from following the Savior. You will feel His love for you as you seek to understand His life and teachings.There are just over 16 million members of the church worldwide. Some of the basic tenants of the faith are:Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. Because of Him, we can live with God again. By learning and following His example, we can discover the blessings God has for us.
The Bible
The Bible is the word of God. It leads us to Jesus and shows us how to follow His perfect example.The Book of Mormon
Like the Bible, The Book of Mormon is a book of scripture that teaches about Jesus. It is the word of God and answers questions about life and the gospel.
Eternal Families
In addition to being the bedrock of society, the family is central to God’s plan for the eternal happiness of all His children. He has made it possible for family relationships to last beyond this life, not merely until our mortal deaths.The Purpose of Life
God has a plan for each of us. He created this earth and sent us here so we could have faith and find joy. Our challenges help us grow and prepare us to live with Him again.Coming Closer to God
God is real. He is our Father in Heaven. He knows and loves each of us perfectly. He wants us to pray to Him and promises that He will hear and answer us.To learn more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, visit: www.ComeUntoChrist.org Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religious tradition, founded in America in 1794. In sixteenth-century Transylvania, Unitarian congregations were established for the first time in history. These churches continue to preach the Unitarian message in present-day Romania. Like their heretic forebears from ancient times. these liberals could not see how the deification of a human being or the simple recitation of creeds could help them to live better lives. They said that we must follow Jesus, not worship him.Today there are almost 200,000 UUs worldwide: people of all ages, backgrounds and beliefs. They are brave, curious and compassionate thinkers and doers. They create spirituality and community beyond boundaries, working for more justice and more love in their own lives and in the world. UUs may be atheists, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Humanist, Jewish, Muslim, Pagan or agnostic. UUs have been on the forefront of LGBTQ inclusion for more than 40 years, and are people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.Unitarian Universalism affirms and promotes seven Principles, grounded in the humanistic teachings of the world’s religions. UU spirituality is unbounded, drawing from scripture and science, nature and philosophy, personal experience and ancient tradition.The 7 Unitarian Universalist principles:- The inherent worth and dignity of every person
- Justice, equity and compassion in human relations
- Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations
- A free and responsible search for truth and meaning
- The right of conscience and the use of the democratic progress within our congregation and in society at large
- The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all
- Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a partSeven days a week, Unitarian Universalists (UUs) live their faith by doing. Whether in community with others or as individuals, UUs know that active, tangible expressions of love, justice, and peace are what make a difference. Embracing peace, love, and understanding that goes beyond individual belief systems, UUs are creators of positive change in people and in the world. Worship and inspiration occur on Sunday mornings and beyond. Action and service work for justice. Connection and caring includes small groups for adults, youth, families and children. Celebrations and rites of passage include weddings, memorials/funerals coming-of-age and child dedications.There are 1070 UU congregations worldwide; 7 of these churches and fellowships are in the Greater Cincinnati area.The symbol of Unitarian Unitarianism is the flaming chalice.The UUA is headquartered in Boston MA.For more information, contact www.uua.org or [email protected] Vedanta is one of the oldest spiritual philosophies of the world and one of the broadest. It is based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of Hinduism. Vedanta is universal in its nature and is equally relevant to all cultures and religious backgrounds.Vedanta affirms:- The oneness of existence,
- The divinity of soul, and
- The harmony of all religionsVedanta teaches that our real nature— our real Self— is pure, luminous, immortal, and free — a manifestation of the Infinite Divine Reality or Godhead. The aim of our life on earth is to realize this divinity. To help us achieve this goal, Vedanta teaches various methods suited to individual needs and capacities, by which this divine perfection of the Self can be actually experienced.
The religion was revealed to Zarathushtra (Zoroaster to ancient Greeks) around 1,400 BCE in eastern Persia. Zarathushtra’s vision of the world and way of life therein is enshrined in highly poetic hymns – the Gathas. The Gathas are part of a larger holy book, the Avesta. Acknowledged as one of the earliest monotheistic faiths, Zarathushtis (Zoroastrians) embrace the worship of One God, Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord) through Vohu Manah (Good Mind).The fundamental tenet Zarthushtis commit to is a morally and ethically excellent way of life through the three-fold path:- Good Thoughts (Humata)
- Good Words (Hukhta)
- Good Deeds (Huvareshta)In the Zarathushti way of life; first there is moral perception where one becomes aware of the moral nature of a situation one is confronting or anticipating. One’s mind is capable of recognizing to what degree it is in accord with or fails to be in accord with Asha (Ideal Truth). One now ought to actualize the situation according to Asha and come to a rational and morally worthy decision. This reflective activity is called Humata (Good Thoughts). One now presents this thought, with reasons, to those persons who might be affected by the proposed actions and listen to their thoughts on the proposed action. This communication is called Hukhta (Good Words). Then, taking all rational consideration into account, one performs the act which maximizes Asha. Such an act derived from a moral decision and willed into action is called Huvareshta (Good Deeds). Not only is this tenet the central ethical imperative of the faith, it is the central religious offering one makes to Ahura Mazda.As an ethical religion, there is no concept of redemption, intercession or plea for mercy for wrongdoing. Each person is divinely endowed with a free will to choose right from wrong; arrive at the one decision and face the appropriate ultimate consequences thereof. Thus, determining the ethical thing to do becomes the responsibility of the individual under requirement of Good Thoughts.To learn more about Zoroastrianism:
http://www.heritageinstitute.com/zoroastrianism/index.htm
http://www.avesta.org/ 
