By Laura Salinger
Christmas is everywhere. A whole troop of Santa Clauses hang out at stores and plastic ones adorn lawns. Lights are strung and car roofs are weighed down by
shedding fir trees. Christmas carols reverberate from pulsing speakers in offices, banks, and shopping centers. Many enjoy the cheer that has become a trademark
of the Christmas season, but there are those that would like to remind everyone that December is not only the month of Santa Claus, but also a very spiritual and
holy time for varying religions and cultural organizations. There is the Wiccan Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, the cultural celebration Kwanzaa, and the Muslim
Holiday Eid-Ul-Adha — to name a few. There is also a sense that rather than becoming all-consumed with the holiday season, we need to take a step back and
remember the spirit of unity and goodwill that is reminiscent of this time of year.
The second floor rotunda in the Wisconsin State Capitol was a reminder of this. But one had to first avert their gaze from the huge edifice that is hauled to
the Capitol each December. It’s impossible to miss the 35-foot balsam fir State Christmas Tree (donated by the people of the Menominee Nation) standing
stoically in the center of the first floor Capitol Rotunda. Traveling up the stairs one flight will give you a second story view of the tree, which peaks up through the
balcony of the second floor Capitol Rotunda. But from early- to mid- December, a display created for the 10th annual Interfaith Awareness Week also shared
space with the giant tree.
From Dec. 9-15, numerous events and religious/cultural activities marked Interfaith Awareness Week — a week devoted to promoting awareness,
understanding and respect for the many different religions in Madison and beyond. Organized by Rev. Father John Brian Paprock, priest of the Holy Transfigu-
ration Malankara Orthodox Mission in Madison and director of Inroads Interfaith Ministry, the weeklong event celebrates religious diversity and unity among
different religions.
Rev. Paprock stands firm in his assertion that recognizing and appreciating other faiths does not diminish one own’s faith. In fact, he stresses, it further affirms
a person’s faith. “We have this opportunity to recognize that people are all different,” Rev. Paprock said. “Most religions say we should treat people who are
different with love, trust, honor, and respect.”
He further adds that when people reach out to groups practicing different religions, they often find that they have more in common than they thought.
“We are trained from very young to discern differences,” Rev. Paprock said. “The truth is, we have more in common than we have different. The only way to
overcome ignorance and fear is through knowledge.”
The Dane County executive, Madison’s mayor, and Middleton’s mayor have all signed proclamations declaring Dec. 9-15, 2007 Interfaith Awareness Week.
The week deliberately coincides with Human Rights Day (Dec. 10), a day created by the United Nations 60 years ago.
A wide variety of religions and organizations were represented as part of Interfaith Awareness Week as a testament to the rich religious diversity that resides right
in our own backyards. Here is a small sampling of such organizations and what they stand for:
The American Hindu Association
The American Hindu Association (AHA) is a non-profit organization founded to serve Hindus. This Association was established in July 1998 with the initiative
of a few devotees. The devotees attending weekly services are from various ethnic origins such as Canada, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the United
States.
Hinduism is the ceaseless quest of perfection of the human personality, at the innermost depth of which is found the truth of God. The sages of Bharath
(ancient India) understood the psychology of the human mind and devised methods for an individual to attain this knowledge based on his temperament,
background and the time of his existence. This makes the religion very diverse and maybe even very complex if not seen with an open mind. But a sincere
aspirant will definitely achieve the purpose, if he can think and apply the wisdom of the sages. This is what the religion is all about - Practical application of
time tested ancient wisdom. Time and again highly evolved souls enter the realm of our existence to practically guide and encourage us, they could be avatars
(divine incarnations) like Rama and Krishna or spiritual masters like Sankara, Ramanuja or in more recent times like Swami Vivekananda, Swami Sivananda or
Mata Amritanandamayi. Bharatavarsha (India) is a spiritual land, many great saints have walked its soil since time immemorial. The lives of these great souls will
inspire and motivate anyone aspiring for the knowledge of the truth. — (From the American Hindu Association Website)
The Baha’i Faith
The Baha’i Faith is an independent world religion with adherents in virtually every country. Baha’is around the world represent nearly all nationalities, classes,
trades, and professions. Its membership of over 5 million is comprised of people living in more than 116,000 localities in over 188 countries and 45 territories.
The central principles of the Baha’i Faith are the oneness of God, the oneness of religion, and the oneness of humankind. The Baha’i Faith promotes the unity of
humankind and the establishment of worldwide peace providing solutions to problems that have been barriers to the achieving these goals. — (From the
National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’i of the United States)
Westminster Presbyterian Church (on Interfaith Dialogue)
We are called to relate to people of other faiths in full humility, openness, honesty, and respect. We respect both others’ God-given humanity and the
seriousness of their spiritual quests and commitments. It is our Christian faith in the Triune God and our intention to live like Jesus, not our cultural standards, that
require this of us. — (From “Interfaith Dialogue,” Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.)
Temple of Diana
We are a Goddess and woman-centered, earth-based, feminist denomination of Wiccan religion. A vibrantly creative and evolving Women’s Mystery tradition,
Dianic feminist Wiccan tradition is named after the Roman Goddess Diana (and Her predecessor, the Greek Goddess Artemis) guardian of women and wild
nature. Dianic rituals celebrate the mythic cycle of the Goddess in the earth’s seasonal cycles of birth, death, and regeneration and as Her cycles reflect women’
s own life-cycle transitions. — (From Temple of Diana, Inc.)
Unity of Madison
Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community. We live the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace, and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire,
nurture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live the
message of Jesus. — (From Unity of Madison)
Holy Transfiguration Malankara Orthodox Syrian Mission Parish
Led by Rev. John Brian Paprock
Simply put, Orthodox Christianity is the most ancient expression of Christianity, kept alive in historical continuity, to the present day. Neither “liberal” nor
“conservative” in the common use of those terms, Orthodox theology predates many of the current issues dividing churches that follow a variety of interpretations
of Scripture. Much of our faith is based on oral traditions that continue in the Orthodox Church. If you are visiting our Sunday service, you will experience a form
of worship that dates back to before the Fifth Century. — (From Holy Transfiguration Malankara Orthodox Syrian Mission Parish)
Other religions and organizations that were represented included Deer Park Tibetan Buddhist Center, Dialogue International, Episcopal Church of Wisconsin,
Greater Madison Interreligious Association, Islam, Judaism, Moravian Church, Roman Catholic Church, Sikh, the Sufi Order of the West, United Methodist
Church, Wisconsin Satsang Society, Yuletide by Circle Sanctuary, and other area Pagan churches.
Based on this list, it is obvious that the intention to gather a very diverse group of religious organizations has been successful. Peace and understanding, despite
differences, seem a common goal. Rev. Paprock best sums it up in a blog for the Interfaith Society; “We live in a global society where faith traditions, religions,
spiritualities collide,” he wrote. “We need to engage in the space between our faith traditions, so that rather than colliding and fighting, there can be peace.”
Christmas is everywhere. A whole troop of Santa Clauses hang out at stores and plastic ones adorn lawns. Lights are strung and car roofs are weighed down by
shedding fir trees. Christmas carols reverberate from pulsing speakers in offices, banks, and shopping centers. Many enjoy the cheer that has become a trademark
of the Christmas season, but there are those that would like to remind everyone that December is not only the month of Santa Claus, but also a very spiritual and
holy time for varying religions and cultural organizations. There is the Wiccan Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, the cultural celebration Kwanzaa, and the Muslim
Holiday Eid-Ul-Adha — to name a few. There is also a sense that rather than becoming all-consumed with the holiday season, we need to take a step back and
remember the spirit of unity and goodwill that is reminiscent of this time of year.
The second floor rotunda in the Wisconsin State Capitol was a reminder of this. But one had to first avert their gaze from the huge edifice that is hauled to
the Capitol each December. It’s impossible to miss the 35-foot balsam fir State Christmas Tree (donated by the people of the Menominee Nation) standing
stoically in the center of the first floor Capitol Rotunda. Traveling up the stairs one flight will give you a second story view of the tree, which peaks up through the
balcony of the second floor Capitol Rotunda. But from early- to mid- December, a display created for the 10th annual Interfaith Awareness Week also shared
space with the giant tree.
From Dec. 9-15, numerous events and religious/cultural activities marked Interfaith Awareness Week — a week devoted to promoting awareness,
understanding and respect for the many different religions in Madison and beyond. Organized by Rev. Father John Brian Paprock, priest of the Holy Transfigu-
ration Malankara Orthodox Mission in Madison and director of Inroads Interfaith Ministry, the weeklong event celebrates religious diversity and unity among
different religions.
Rev. Paprock stands firm in his assertion that recognizing and appreciating other faiths does not diminish one own’s faith. In fact, he stresses, it further affirms
a person’s faith. “We have this opportunity to recognize that people are all different,” Rev. Paprock said. “Most religions say we should treat people who are
different with love, trust, honor, and respect.”
He further adds that when people reach out to groups practicing different religions, they often find that they have more in common than they thought.
“We are trained from very young to discern differences,” Rev. Paprock said. “The truth is, we have more in common than we have different. The only way to
overcome ignorance and fear is through knowledge.”
The Dane County executive, Madison’s mayor, and Middleton’s mayor have all signed proclamations declaring Dec. 9-15, 2007 Interfaith Awareness Week.
The week deliberately coincides with Human Rights Day (Dec. 10), a day created by the United Nations 60 years ago.
A wide variety of religions and organizations were represented as part of Interfaith Awareness Week as a testament to the rich religious diversity that resides right
in our own backyards. Here is a small sampling of such organizations and what they stand for:
The American Hindu Association
The American Hindu Association (AHA) is a non-profit organization founded to serve Hindus. This Association was established in July 1998 with the initiative
of a few devotees. The devotees attending weekly services are from various ethnic origins such as Canada, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the United
States.
Hinduism is the ceaseless quest of perfection of the human personality, at the innermost depth of which is found the truth of God. The sages of Bharath
(ancient India) understood the psychology of the human mind and devised methods for an individual to attain this knowledge based on his temperament,
background and the time of his existence. This makes the religion very diverse and maybe even very complex if not seen with an open mind. But a sincere
aspirant will definitely achieve the purpose, if he can think and apply the wisdom of the sages. This is what the religion is all about - Practical application of
time tested ancient wisdom. Time and again highly evolved souls enter the realm of our existence to practically guide and encourage us, they could be avatars
(divine incarnations) like Rama and Krishna or spiritual masters like Sankara, Ramanuja or in more recent times like Swami Vivekananda, Swami Sivananda or
Mata Amritanandamayi. Bharatavarsha (India) is a spiritual land, many great saints have walked its soil since time immemorial. The lives of these great souls will
inspire and motivate anyone aspiring for the knowledge of the truth. — (From the American Hindu Association Website)
The Baha’i Faith
The Baha’i Faith is an independent world religion with adherents in virtually every country. Baha’is around the world represent nearly all nationalities, classes,
trades, and professions. Its membership of over 5 million is comprised of people living in more than 116,000 localities in over 188 countries and 45 territories.
The central principles of the Baha’i Faith are the oneness of God, the oneness of religion, and the oneness of humankind. The Baha’i Faith promotes the unity of
humankind and the establishment of worldwide peace providing solutions to problems that have been barriers to the achieving these goals. — (From the
National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’i of the United States)
Westminster Presbyterian Church (on Interfaith Dialogue)
We are called to relate to people of other faiths in full humility, openness, honesty, and respect. We respect both others’ God-given humanity and the
seriousness of their spiritual quests and commitments. It is our Christian faith in the Triune God and our intention to live like Jesus, not our cultural standards, that
require this of us. — (From “Interfaith Dialogue,” Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.)
Temple of Diana
We are a Goddess and woman-centered, earth-based, feminist denomination of Wiccan religion. A vibrantly creative and evolving Women’s Mystery tradition,
Dianic feminist Wiccan tradition is named after the Roman Goddess Diana (and Her predecessor, the Greek Goddess Artemis) guardian of women and wild
nature. Dianic rituals celebrate the mythic cycle of the Goddess in the earth’s seasonal cycles of birth, death, and regeneration and as Her cycles reflect women’
s own life-cycle transitions. — (From Temple of Diana, Inc.)
Unity of Madison
Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community. We live the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace, and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire,
nurture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live the
message of Jesus. — (From Unity of Madison)
Holy Transfiguration Malankara Orthodox Syrian Mission Parish
Led by Rev. John Brian Paprock
Simply put, Orthodox Christianity is the most ancient expression of Christianity, kept alive in historical continuity, to the present day. Neither “liberal” nor
“conservative” in the common use of those terms, Orthodox theology predates many of the current issues dividing churches that follow a variety of interpretations
of Scripture. Much of our faith is based on oral traditions that continue in the Orthodox Church. If you are visiting our Sunday service, you will experience a form
of worship that dates back to before the Fifth Century. — (From Holy Transfiguration Malankara Orthodox Syrian Mission Parish)
Other religions and organizations that were represented included Deer Park Tibetan Buddhist Center, Dialogue International, Episcopal Church of Wisconsin,
Greater Madison Interreligious Association, Islam, Judaism, Moravian Church, Roman Catholic Church, Sikh, the Sufi Order of the West, United Methodist
Church, Wisconsin Satsang Society, Yuletide by Circle Sanctuary, and other area Pagan churches.
Based on this list, it is obvious that the intention to gather a very diverse group of religious organizations has been successful. Peace and understanding, despite
differences, seem a common goal. Rev. Paprock best sums it up in a blog for the Interfaith Society; “We live in a global society where faith traditions, religions,
spiritualities collide,” he wrote. “We need to engage in the space between our faith traditions, so that rather than colliding and fighting, there can be peace.”
Interfaith Awareness Week
Celebrating spiritual diversity and unity
Celebrating spiritual diversity and unity