Religious Diversity

 

 

Open Heart:

Kansas is home to Protestant Christians and Catholic Christians; to Jews and Muslims; to Native Americans who practice the traditional sacred ways of their religions; and to adherents of a variety of faiths of Asian origin, including Sikhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Baha’i.  African-American and Korean Protestants, Mormons and Christian Scientists, Unitarians and members of the Salvation Army, Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Amish all have significant communities of faith in our state.  Kansas has a history of respect and nurture for religious minorities, but there have been exceptions. Isolated incidents of harassment of Muslims have occurred in our state, both before and after Sept. 11, 2001.  Public events are sometimes scheduled on the holy days of our minority religious communities, and verbal and visual symbols of Christianity are sometimes promoted in ways that hurt our non-Christian neighbors.

Open Mind:

·           Leviticus 19:33-34

·           Colossians 3:11

·           Social Principles Para. 162 III B.

·           http://www.omsakthi.org/religions.html and its many links to books about major world religions.

·           The World Religions by Huston Smith.

·           The sacred writings of other religions, such as the Koran, the Talmud, the Torah, the Baghavad Gita, the Book of Mormon, etc. 

Open Doors:

Learn what worship and educational experiences in faith communities different from your own are open to outside visitors.  Then visit.  Confirmation classes, Sunday School classes, UMW and UMM groups might enjoy doing this together.

Purchase the sacred writings of other faiths and books about other faiths for your church library. Invite persons from those faiths to help you select appropriate books.

Invite leaders of the faith groups in your community to speak at your church.  Be sure to include speakers for your youth groups and children’s classes.

Be especially careful to avoid stories, examples, or language that stereotype, or might offend, persons whose religion differs from yours. Send greetings, as a church family, to the minority religious groups in your community during their holy days.