American universities face up to religious pluralism

"I had never really awakened to the importance of interfaith relations in my own country until my university changed and was virtually a brand new place," said Harvard professor Diana Eck in a talk last month to the Religion Communicators Council of Boston.

She pointed out that Harvard has a very large Asian population (maybe a quarter of the university), a large Islamic society, a vibrant Jewish community, a variety of Christian groups including Korean, Asian, and Hispanic Christian Communities, and Hindu and Baha'i groups.

"All of them have contributed to a texture of religious difference at the university that's typical of what has happened in colleges across the country," she said. "Many colleges are equipped with one white chapel in the middle of campus that doesn't really do anymore. We have to refigure who we are and try to shape a chaplaincy that is up to the task of being part of a modern college in the US."

Since 1991, Eck has been heading a research team at Harvard to explore the religious diversity of the US through what is known as The Pluralism Project. A series of grants has made it possible for her students to map the landscape, not, she says, "by counting mosques," but by getting a better sense of where these communities are and encouraging people to make use of the human resources in their own area in teaching about religion.

"The other side of the world is right here!" she emphasizes. "Visit it. Get to know the people." Everybody has his or her own forms of exclusiveness, she admits, but she hopes this can be overcome.

"I encourage my students to enjoy the educational experience of visiting synagogue, or a Baptist church, or the Korean community, or a Christian Science church service. These experiences create a sense of human connection that is one of the most valuable resources in education."

Report by Kim Shippey, Sentinel staff

PRAYER—SIGNIFICANT PART OF US HISTORY

"I have in my office two paintings, one of George Washington kneeling in the snow at Valley Forge and the other of Abraham Lincoln kneeling in prayer in his office. Maybe we need reread the writings and speeches of these two men to be reminded that prayer and a divine God meant everything to these two men in our country's darkest hours. I worked with the families of Desert Storm, and I can tell you that the first thing they all requested was prayer. In this time we need to be reminded that it matters not whose side God is on; but rather are we on His side?

"The Old Testament writers also warned us not to put our hope and trust in chariots and horses (armaments) but in the God of our fathers who works in history even as we speak. Many prayers have been prayed in foxholes, because when all is said and done, we had better realize where the real power lies. Prayer is enough, especially in times of national crisis."

Gary W. Sheets
Letter to the editor
Peoria Journal Star
February 9,2003

WEBSITE FOR MILITARY MOMS POSTS APPRECIATION FOR SPIRITUALITY.COM E-CARD

Here are a few samples of responses to spirituality.com's animated electronic card that can be e-mailed. The card offers inspiration and comfort, based on the poem "Mother's Evening Prayer" by Mary Baker Eddy:

"This was sent to me today. Please click and check it out. Wonderful. Thought you might like this ... like I did." —Debbie

"Debbie, tissue alert here. That is truly amazing and very moving. Thank you so much for sharing." —Laurie

"There are no words as to what I am feeling after seeing that. Forget the tissue, bring on the bath towel. You made me cry with smile, and the presence of GOD is in that site. You can feel it for sure. Thank you for that special moment I will never forget."—Merinda

"Tissue alert noted. I had to send this on to my son. my daughter, and my own parents. It's just beautiful. Thanks for the great post."—Victoria

www.MilitaryMoms.net

(To view spirituality.com's e-card, go to
www.spirituality.com/framework/media/
 flash/military.jhtml)

Christian-themed media a multi-billion-dollar-a-year industry

"Members of CBA, the international trade association of Christian-product suppliers and retailers, met in Indianapolis last week to preview new products for this fast-growing market. The Christian retail industry is a $4 billion-a-year business; a recent survey of members showed $2.5 billion of the total is sold through Christian retail outlets, $1 billion through general retailers, and a half-billion is bought directly by consumers and through ministry sales channels. Books and Bibles make up the largest portion, at $1.77 billion. But the sales figures are not just about profits. ...

"The Bible is still the No. 1 bestseller in America. But The prayer of Jabez by Methodist minister Bruce Wilkinson that is based on two sentences in I Chronicles has sold more than nine million copies in the past two years. Two sequels account for another four million; it has sparked a video series, seminars, and even T-shirts and coffee mugs...

"Sure, publishers, authors, production companies, and retailers are cashing in on all this religious consumerism. That's the way our free-market economy works. Many of them, such as [educator and author] Dr. [Mary Manz] Simon, are truly dedicated to spreading the Word. Criticizing the profit motive or denigrating what some consider the Left Behind books' end-times paranoia misses the point. People are buying these products to fulfill a search for meaning in their lives—a way to connect with God, with themselves, with a world that's spinning out of control."

Jane Lichtenberg
"Consumers turn to popular culture to grow spiritually"
The indianapolis [Indiana] Star
February 7,2003