featured image | Healing, by Autumn Skye Morrison
Dear Reader,
World Interfaith Harmony Week is coming up. It’s a reminder that, in many ways, the world’s spiritual traditions may be our greatest hope for realizing our essential unity and healing (image) our planet. Yes, I realize that ‘religion’ has often been used to divide us, and that religious extremism is to blame for numerous atrocities. But that kind of gross corruption should not be confused in any way with the spirituality of goodwill that the great majority of humanity embraces. We have far more in common – our feelings of deep connection toward each other and with the universe – than that which divides us.
Spiritual institutions, congregations, foundations and coalitions have vast organizational and physical infrastructure worldwide that can be activated for common purpose – to uphold human rights and promote social justice, for example – and to perform community service and Earthwork at the hyper-local level. This is why we at Kosmos feel it is so important to practice with a spiritual community, be it religious, secular, indigenous, or other cooperative way.
Learn more about World Interfaith Harmony Week below, and contemplate how the combined energy of goodwill can manifest the preferred futures our hearts so ardently long for.
Kosmos Quarterly Call for Essays and Other Works | Rising Earth Consciousness
Our Kosmos Quarterly Spring theme is focused on Earth and her wonders, with a deep awareness of the harm human activity is causing. How will the next chapter of our human story unfold, and how do our practices and personal relationships with the living Earth help guide that future? Could an elevated collective consciousness literally save our Home?
(image) While there is a growing consciousness about the Earth, some suggest the Earth is also increasingly aware of us and communicating her pain. Animals, plants and minerals are members of the planetary family, in distress. What are the rights of Nature, and how do we cope with our grief, fear and anger about species loss, ecosystem destruction, and climate change?
We invite you to submit an essay up to 1000 words, a poem, or other artwork, in response to any of these prompts or what Rising Earth Consciousness means to you. We will choose several works to publish in our Quarterly and on our website.
Deadline: February 15, 2019 | Use our Submission Form for written works. For all other media, contact info@kosmosjournal.org directly, with the subject line: Submission Inquiry. Before you submit, please take a look at our guidelines.
In the Light | World Interfaith Harmony Week: 2/1-7
(image) In 2010, King Abdullah II of Jordan proposed a World Interfaith Harmony Week at the Plenary Session of the 65th United Nations General Assembly in New York City. In the speech King Abdullah said:
- “The fact is, humanity everywhere is bound together, not only by mutual interests, but by shared commandments to love God and neighbour; to love the good and neighbour. …What we are proposing is a special week, during which the world’s people, in their own places of worship, could express the teachings of their own faith about tolerance, respect for the other and peace.”
The World Interfaith Harmony Week provides a platform—the first week of February—when all interfaith groups and other groups of goodwill can show the world what a powerful movement they are.
Plan Your Event. You Might Win a Prize!
The Royal Aal Al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought in Jordan established the World Interfaith Harmony Week Prize in 2013 to recognize the three events which best promote the goals of World Interfaith Harmony Week. Prizes are awarded to each event that is judged to have been most successful in promoting interfaith harmony and impacting religious understanding.
To enter the prize:
- the event must be held between the given dates (usually the last weekend of January and the first weekend of March)
- the Event submitted on the WIHW website (see HERE)
- an Event Report submitted (see HERE for last year’s Reports and HERE for what they should contain)
If this is your first WIHW, it is suggested that you gather with fellow lovers of harmony nearby and plan just one simple event. Don’t worry about making a big splash this year; a simple breakfast or dialogue is a great first step. Click here for more great ideas.
New Kosmos Quarterly releases, thanks to our generous Subscribers
Playing for Change, by Kari Auerbach
Evolving Toward Cooperation, by Kurt Johnson
Toward a Global Ethic, by Dr. Hans Küng, et al
