Churches/temples helping to bring communities together.

[metis]

Oh for sure. My hesitation is more 'Am I already booked solid into May at work?' lol.
Can you offer a short story on your most memorable discussion?

When one of my Muslim students got married, we went to her wedding and my student had me sitting at the same table with the imam from her mosque, and we talked about all sorts of things, including comparing Islamic and Jewish customs and beliefs-- no arguments. BTW, my wife sat at another table comprised on just women, which is traditional with Muslim weddings.

About four years ago, I was at an ecumenical interfaith meeting, and the table I was at had an imam, a Baha'i, a Catholic Archbishop, and a couple of Protestants, and the one that I was in more agreement with and liked the most was the imam.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

Awesome! If my synagogue had a D&D group, I'd be there far more often.

My husband is further involved with the program in that he teaches Dungeons and Dragons to kids between 7 and 12, and hosts games for kids with generalized anxiety disorders or on the autism spectrum. The place we do it also has a weekly public play for adults with like 7 come-as-you're-able open tables. It's pretty sweet.

Also, I would totally go play at your synagogue.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

Gotta tell ya a true story.

About 20 years ago, I was invited by one of my Sikh students to go to one of their functions, and since it was on Shabbat, I wore my yarmulke. One of them came up to me and asked if I would say a Jewish grace before dinner, and I said I would, and I did-- in Hebrew and then translated it into English.

But a couple of years before this, my very Catholic wife took a quiz called the "Belief-O-Matic", and her highest association on the test was "Sikhism". During a presentation at the above function, they explained the Sikh faith, and I kept sneaking peaks at her and saw her repeatedly nodding yes.

I tried to get her to convert-- I love the food!!! She didn't, bu now our favorite restaurant is one that is Sikh owned. Samozas anyone?

[drats, I just drooled on my keyboard. ]

*Starts googling Sikh restaurants!*

 

[metis]

BTW, to show my naivete at times, I was at another Muslim wedding whereas I noticed that the bridal couple was missing after about an hour or so, and I asked where they went-- getting a shrug as in "I don't know". A few minutes later one woman came up to me and whispered into my ear "They're in an upstairs room consummating their marriage".

So, I'm not the sharpest tack in the drawer, OK?

 

[Milton Platt]

I've remarked before that, though I'm not religious, I end up going to churches many times a week for various community activities. From gleaning (Gleaning - Wikipedia) to blood donations to free classes (on things like gardening or woodworking) to other charity functions.

These sorts of things need not be done through churches and temples but an overwhelming number of them are, and its ability to bring communities together no matter their beliefs is something I continue to admire and make use of.

So far nobody has minded that I don't stay for services, and my atheism he never come up. The focus stays on the activities and community.

Anyone have some stories of church/temple functions in their area they like?
As an atheist would you attend?
As a theist would you care if atheists were attending?

It is unquestionable that religious organizations do some good things. The question is, can all of those things be done as well or better without the expenses associated with religious organizations that do not pay taxes and have virtually no accountability to the population at large?

 

[ADigitalArtist]

It is unquestionable that religious organizations do some good things. The question is, can all of those things be done as well or better without the expenses associated with religious organizations that do not pay taxes and have virtually no accountability to the population at large?

Ideally, in my opinion, religious charities should be treated identically to other charities by the government. With the same paper trail and requirements to meet to receive charity tax code. (All charity organizations don't pay taxes.) But until that happens I'm happy to support those religious charities who are doing their part, since that's what I expect from them anyway.

 

[SomeRandom]

When I was a child, I often attended Temple with my ma. Mostly for free food but you know it was just something you did on a Thursday and/or Saturday night. I remember making friends with the other kids and we'd play around while the aunties all sat around gossiping after service.
I recall there was a few English gentlemen, who were either husbands dragged along or sincere Western converts. One such gentleman was a bit "rough" looking. Very lean, shabby clothes and kind of scruffy. As a kid, I just assumed he was training for some sort of priest type role. Turns out he was homeless, well sort of. He wasn't doing so well, let's put it that way.
Wasn't a convert, I remember once overhearing that he was an atheist. He literally only showed up because of the free meal given after service and would even help the temple staff prepare it. No one really cared that he was an atheist, such labels are rather meaningless in Temple anyway. And I remember he always left with at least 3 or 4 doggie bags filled with leftovers packed to the brim by said Temple staff.

Haven't seen him in quite some time, though I don't often attend Temple anymore. Because......indolence. I hope he's okay.

 

[SomeRandom]

I tried to get her to convert-- I love the food!!! She didn't, bu now our favorite restaurant is one that is Sikh owned. Samozas anyone?

Okay, Samosas are indeed delicious. But even as a half curry, I have to give props to the Philippine/Malaysian version, the curry puff. Just damn.

Funnily enough my ma is Hindu and her best friend is Sikh. They often swap into each others temples.

 

[Vinayaka]

What do you think the response would be if you proposed something like the adopt-a-highway program to the group?

But regarding the OP, Sikh Langars come to mind.

All the Sikh temples (at least 4, maybe more) here in my city will feed anyone daily. None of them are located in the downtown area, though, where there are more homeless in need. I've yet to go. One of these days.

 

[Reaper]

I'm going to start visiting a local UU church myself, and personally I wouldn't see an issue with atheists doing the same. We're social creatures after all and can all benefit from the community a church provides (even if you are an introvert like myself).

 

[David T]

I've remarked before that, though I'm not religious, I end up going to churches many times a week for various community activities. From gleaning (Gleaning - Wikipedia) to blood donations to free classes (on things like gardening or woodworking) to other charity functions.

These sorts of things need not be done through churches and temples but an overwhelming number of them are, and its ability to bring communities together no matter their beliefs is something I continue to admire and make use of.

So far nobody has minded that I don't stay for services, and my atheism he never come up. The focus stays on the activities and community.

Anyone have some stories of church/temple functions in their area they like?
As an atheist would you attend?
As a theist would you care if atheists were attending?

Church needs some atheist members!!! But hell they struggle.with homosexuality.
Now digital you have to see it's art through the artists eyes. This is not a.propaganda piece, for some theological nonsense it's a something else. seeing it through.the artists eyes is not easy but a wow.... and that's a big wow since it is Michelangelo after all.

James Cameron talks a lot about his atheism and then turns around and creates Avatar.

Below is Natiri at Jake's death as human into rebirth as Navi. This archetype story is old old old. Way way older than christianity. And deep and beautiful.... it is the same .story in different clothing. The statue female with dead male, into new life.

 

[metis]

Okay, Samosas are indeed delicious. But even as a half curry, I have to give props to the Philippine/Malaysian version, the curry puff. Just damn.

Never had 'em, but would be anxious to try them. There's a Filipino restaurant a few miles from our place here in the L.P. so I'll have to give it a go.

Funnily enough my ma is Hindu and her best friend is Sikh. They often swap into each others temples.

I've been to a couple of Hindu temples-- really nice people and great dinners afterwards.
[notice how so much of my evaluations center around food, which is a far cry from the meat and potato regiment I was brought up in]

 

[SomeRandom]

Never had 'em, but would be anxious to try them. There's a Filipino restaurant a few miles from our place here in the L.P. so I'll have to give it a go.

Mate, my friend is half Filipino and we all used to devour the homemade curry puffs she brought from home for school lunches. They're like a samosa, made from puff pastry with a kind of paste inside. Delish.

I've been to a couple of Hindu temples-- really nice people and great dinners afterwards.
[notice how so much of my evaluations center around food, which is a far cry from the meat and potato regiment I was brought up in]

I'm of the opinion that the true merit of a place of worship has a lot to do with food.

 

[BilliardsBall]

I've remarked before that, though I'm not religious, I end up going to churches many times a week for various community activities. From gleaning (Gleaning - Wikipedia) to blood donations to free classes (on things like gardening or woodworking) to other charity functions.

These sorts of things need not be done through churches and temples but an overwhelming number of them are, and its ability to bring communities together no matter their beliefs is something I continue to admire and make use of.

So far nobody has minded that I don't stay for services, and my atheism he never come up. The focus stays on the activities and community.

Anyone have some stories of church/temple functions in their area they like?
As an atheist would you attend?
As a theist would you care if atheists were attending?

We evangelicals are delighted to have atheists attend church events--if not--we need our heads examined.

Underscores how charity can get the job done better in the US and elsewhere than government.

 

[metis]

Underscores how charity can get the job done better in the US and elsewhere than government.

Not when serious recessions or depressions or national emergencies hit because donations to charities, including those religious, tend to dry up.

IOW, history shows us both are needed.

 

[Kenny]

My recommendation is to not even hesitate-- go! I've been to several mosques, talked with imams on a variety of issues and without any kind of negative hitch whatsoever.

I remember sitting across a Muslim over olives, cheese, bread, red pepper and great theological conversations.

A great time.

 

[metis]

I remember sitting across a Muslim over olives, cheese, bread, red pepper and great theological conversations.

A great time.

Where, may I ask?

BTW, since I have an Italian wife, we have that food above on a very regular basis. She converted me from meat and potatoes to having salads often enough to make me feel like a huge rabbit, while chugging olive oil by the gallon and having no problems in the bathroom.

 

[Kenny]

Where, may I ask?

BTW, since I have an Italian wife, we have that food above on a very regular basis. She converted me from meat and potatoes to having salads often enough to make me feel like a huge rabbit, while chugging olive oil by the gallon and having no problems in the bathroom.

Right here in neck of the woods. He had a Jiffy Mart that I frequented. We just started talking and fellowshipping until we broke bread together.'

He took me to an event where an Iman was speaking.

As far as food... when my wife isn't looking....

 

[metis]

Right here in neck of the woods. He had a Jiffy Mart that I frequented. We just started talking and fellowshipping until we broke bread together.'

He took me to an event where an Iman was speaking.

As far as food... when my wife isn't looking....

Right now, we're at out place in the Detroit area, so we do have a lot of Muslims nearby and a huge selwection of Middle Eastern restaurants to go to. Overall, nice people-- plus I love the food! [are you noticing a pattern here with me? ]

 

[Kenny]

Right now, we're at out place in the Detroit area, so we do have a lot of Muslims nearby and a huge selwection of Middle Eastern restaurants to go to. Overall, nice people-- plus I love the food! [are you noticing a pattern here with me? ]

LOL... FOOOOOD!

We have a mosque in our area. It's because of Florida Tech--an international school (I think they go where the money is)

LOVE Middle Eastern restaurants, and Greek, and Thai, and Japaneese and...........