Tag Archives: interfaith

A Case Study in the Value of Interfaith Education for building Global Partnerships

The World House Global Network presents Gerald and Marita Grudzen

Speaker(s)

Gerald and Marita Grudzen, Global Ministries University

Date and Time

October 29, 2021 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Availability

RSVP Required.

Location

Online via Zoom. Register Now

FSI Contact

Alyssa Solomon

alyssajo@stanford.edu

On Friday, October 29th, 2021 at 10am PT, The World House Global Network is honored to have Gerald and Marita Grudzen, founders of Global Ministries University who will discuss: “A Case Study in the Value of Interfaith Education for building Global Partnerships.”
REGISTER NOW

The World House Global Network - Gerald and Marita Grudzen image

About Gerald Grudzen:

Gerald Grudzen, Ph.D. was one of the founders of Global Ministries University in 2001 shortly after the tragedy of 9/11. Grudzen has served as President of Global Ministries University since 2001 and has developed graduate interfaith education programs in collaboration with universities and research institutes in the United States, Africa, Turkey, India, and Thailand. Grudzen earned his Ph.D. in the history of Christianity and Islam from Columbia University.  He received a John Templeton award in 2003 for the development of the first scientific curriculum by Christian and Muslim scholars for the first major universities in Europe. He did this research in collaboration with the Ian Ramsey Center at Oxford University. In 2010 Grudzen co-led the largest American academic delegation ever sponsored by the US State Department for interfaith and intercultural dialogue with faculty members ‘at several Egyptian Universities throughout Egypt including Al Azhar University in Cairo, the leading Sunni Muslim education center in the world.

Beginning in 2012, Grudzen and Global Ministries Universities undertook a major effort to combat religious extremism in the coastal areas of Kenya where there had been frequent terrorist incidents.  The project brought together religious leaders and educators from both the coastal region and throughout Kenya to train these leaders in interfaith dialogue and methods of conflict resolution.  The success of this program led to its integration  with the Tangaza University Institute for Interreligious Dialogue and Islamic Studies in 2019. In 2021 Grudzen and his wife, Marita Grudzen,  co-chaired the US Hub for a three-day interfaith conference on Pope Francis’ encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, co-sponsored with Tangaza Univesity and other Christian and Muslim universities in Kenya and Indonesia in collaboration with the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue at the Vatican.  Over 3000 participants took part in this conference from 15 different countries. A second international, interfaith conference is scheduled for February of 2023. Grudzen has authored or co-authored several books on the role of interfaith dialogue and collaboration in promoting peace and reconciliation across the world.

About Marita Grudzen:

Marita Grudzen, MHS, is Associate Director Emerita and a founding member of the Stanford Geriatric Education Center, a national center in ethnogeriatrics within Stanford University School of Medicine. Ms. Grudzen was co-recipient with Chaplain Bruce Feldstein, MD, of the Templeton Award(2001-06) for the medical school required curriculum they developed, Spirituality and Meaning in Medicine. Ms. Grudzen chaired a qualitative study of diverse healing practices in six ethnic minority populations in the Bay Area which was translated into health professional educational programming. She also developed a relationship of trust with the Afghan leadership in Fremont, CA during a series of three focus groups she co-led with the Afghan elder women’s community. Most recently, Marita co-developed the curriculum for the Fremont Community Ambassador Program for Seniors, and 25 hour Hospital to Home Transition training for volunteers from the Ethnic Minority Senior Services Consortium of San Jose, CA. Marita has received an international award from the Prime Minister of Turkey for her contribution to the First International Care Congress in Istanbul from May 2-8, 2005.

Since August of 2011, every year Ms. Grudzen with her husband have co-developed, implemented, evaluated and revised a 40 hour Interfaith Leadership Program in partnership with Christian, Muslim and African Indigenous Religious leaders in Kenya. Recruiting local expert and community leaders as co-presenters they returned every August until the current Covid era and maintain communication through the year with their interfaith partners through Skype and email.

A MIGHTY FORCE FOR JOY  Global Celebration of Compassion

AUGUST 14-15; 5:00 pm – 5:00 pm Pacific Time

We hunger for peace and we need to hear good news.  On August 14-15, the Charter for Compassion webithon will be offering both.  We will delve into a little history to reflect on the road we have traveled.  There will be stories, poems, songs and presentations from partner organizations, individuals who have supported the Charter as artists and musicians and certainly from the frontlines of our compassionate community and city initiatives.  There is a lot of positive energy that is being shared in the world and our 24-hour webithon is just a preview of what is happening near and far.  We want to offer you moments of reflection, joy and perhaps a nudge to get involved locally to spread compassionate action locally so its threads can spread globally.

Of course, we want to make the webithon free for all, but we also want to entice you to contribute to keeping the work of the Charter for Compassion on-going.  We will be asking for donations throughout the 24-hours, but only through placards that will appear on your screen to remain you about the possibility of contributing.  There will be a chat box on Facebook going through the 24-hours.  Let us hear from you.  Please tell your friends, colleagues, organizations to which you are close to share the link. Most of the spots you will see are pre-recorded since we don’t have the vast capability to technically host live presentations, but we assure you that will not diminish the power of the moment.  Looking forward to your presence on August 14-15 and your support.  Register now.

 

03/26, 03/31 Spirituality in a Time of Crisis — FB Live Interfaith Panel Series

COVID-19 has affected all of us in ways that we would not have imagined just a few months ago. As we all work to cope with this challenge, we are offering a three-part series titled Spirituality in a Time of Crisis. This interfaith series, featuring female religious leaders as panelists in recognition of Women’s History Month, will discuss how to take a step back, reflect, and understand not only our current situation and the world outside but also ourselves and those we love. Join us in reflection on March 24th, March 26th, and March 31st on the ING Facebook page. To receive updates on the series, register below!

Thursday, March 26th 7:30 – 8:30 PM PST: Building and Inspiring Fellowship and Community in a Time of Crisis

In times of crisis, news reports are full of stories about neighbors and strangers going out of their way to share food, rescue pets, locate loved ones, and help rebuild what has been lost. In our second panel, we seek to understand how religious traditions contribute to the displays of compassion, altruism, and creative solution-seeking that blossom when disaster strikes communities.

Speakers: ING Executive Director Maha Elgenaidi (Muslim), Rabbi Amy Eilberg (Jewish), Lakshmi Subramanian (Hindu), Reverend George Anne McDonnell (Christian), and Venerable Tenzin Chogkyi (Buddhist). Facilitator: ING Bay Area Director Ishaq Pathan.

Tuesday, March 31st 5:00-6:00 PM PST: Reflecting on Gratitude and Faith in a Time of Crisis

Religious traditions can teach us a lot about the importance of gratitude as a foundation of our life, even—or perhaps especially—in times of crisis. By funneling our emotions into positive action, we grow our empathy with others. In our third and final installment of this series, we learn helpful techniques that allow us to slow down and recognize and give thanks for all the blessings in our lives.

Speakers: ING Content Manager Ameena Jandali (Muslim), Rabbi Melanie Aron (Jewish), Sheila Mohan (Hindu), Dianne Muller (Christian), and Venerable Tenzin Chogkyi (Buddhist). Facilitator: ING Bay Area Director Ishaq Pathan.

06/09/19 Green Action Day ChungTai Zen Center

Chung Tai Zen Center of Sunnyvale is proud to present Green Action Day on Sunday, 06/09/2019  from 10am to 4:30pm.

This event promotes an eco-friendly approach to ‘green’ living by providing practical information and easy-action steps. There are also programs of Seed and Plant Exchange, American Master Composter and an introduction to many edible garden plants. We will serve with a vegetarian lunch, video shows, take home samples, and souvenirs.

The Zen Center has long been promoting sustainable living with the “Pure Mind, Pure Land” philosophy. The Center has installed 223 solar panels for its electricity use, advocates plant-based diet in communities, and teaches meditation and mindfulness to the public.

This event will also explore sustainability from a spiritual point of view. A panel discussion, co-sponsored by SiVIC (Silicon Valley Religious Council), will present five spiritual traditions on “Sustainability and Spiritual Practice”. Another panel discussion will focus on sustainability from the view of different schools of Buddhism.

Chung Tai Zen Center of Sunnyvale is located at 750 E. Arques Ave., Sunnyvale, CA. 94085. This event is open to the public and free of charge. Mark your calendars and visit our website for more information and updates: http://ctzen.org/sunnyvale/  Tel: (408) 733-0750.

Jewel of Abundance Event with Yogacharya

The Jewel of Abundance: An Enchanted Evening of Readings & RagasLocation:                           Center for Spiritual Enlightenment – Temple

An Enchanting Evening of Readings & Ragas
Friday, November 30, 2018  /  7–9 PM
with Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian, Steve Oda, Michael Lewis, and Pushpa Oda
Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the door (Purchase ticket by clicking the link https://bit.ly/2EoZHMF)

Experience this extraordinary meeting of two shining gems of inspiration drawn from the stream of Vedic wisdom. Yogacharya O’Brian will read from her much-anticipated new book, The Jewel of Abundance: Finding Prosperity through the Ancient Wisdom of Yoga, paired with classical Indian music with masters of sarode and tabla, Steve Oda and Michael Lewis, accompanied by Pushpa Oda on tanpura. A night for the soul with ragas and readings that enchant the mind and speak directly to the heart.

This one-time event is the official release of The Jewel of Abundance: Finding Prosperity through the Ancient Wisdom of Yoga. Discover why bestselling author Deepak Chopra wrote that “This jewel of a book will show you how to tap into your inner intelligence, the ultimate and supreme genius that mirrors the wisdom of the cosmos.”

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Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian is an award-winning poet, Kriya Yoga teacher, writer, and the spiritual director of Center for Spiritual Enlightenment.
Steve Oda first learned to play slide guitar and then jazz guitar. His love of musical creativity led him to the classical music of North India and the sarode. He studied with the legendary Maestro Ali Akbar Khan.
Michael Lewis is one of the finest American tabla players today. He is a disciple of the late Ustad Allah Rahka, and longtime student of Ustad Zakir Hussain. He has accompanied many renowned Indian classical artists.
Pushpa Oda, a Kathak dance disciple of the late Sitara Devi, will accompany the ensemble on tanpura, a five-string drone instrument.