Our Magdalene Community meets in an interfaith chapel in Houston, The Rothko Chapel. We meet there because we want to make an interfaith statement about our community and have conversations about other spiritualities and religious traditions.

This summer we have been studying a variety of religious traditions. We spent two weeks studying Judaism and two, Buddhism, and tomorrow we will take up Islam and have some readings and instruction about that religious faith. You can find our recent services on line if you to go http://www.magdalenecommunity.blogspot.com/ and for our archives go to http://www.brigidsplace.org.

Our services typically follow the following framework:
Opening Music
Call to Silence and Opening Meditation
Opening Greeting and Dialogue
Readings and Meditation
Music
Readings and Meditation
Call to Conversation
Closing Music and Dialogue

Of course our gatherings vary each time as do the number of people and our conversations. We are small and our numbers vary from 12-40. The ambience is very open and we never really know what is going to happen. But when it is over, we feel very enriched and changed.

Keep writing to us. We have much to talk about,
Betty

When the writer of the New Testament John divided God it was to placate Greek and Roman critiques. A Pantheon was much more acceptable to the Greeks and Romans.

In response to the general question how do you pray from Betty:
The Church of Thomas holds Services and fellowships in homes. The Lord’s Prayer is the only prayer at this time. The majority of prayer follows the instructions to go to a private place to pray. We might have prayer suggestions at our fellowship but we do not lead people to pray for or about a concern in Services. If a person chooses to pray on the suggested topic it will be as it should be, between them and God.

Betty, I agree that there is way too much emphasis on spotlighting Preachers and pretty buildings. To Aman, Bridgett, and Betty: How do you worship?

Peace,
Angel Eliza

I would like to continue our conversation. This is an unusual opportunity for real talk I think.

Aman, may I be so bold as to ask you about your daily prayer life. How would you instruct, say a child, in your pattern of prayer? How would you explain the importance of prayer in your tradition?

I visted a mosque here in Houston, and when it came time to pray, I followed the pattern of the women and children around me. I was astonished how dramatic it is to be on the floor in prayer. This is not something that Christians know much about. We kneel in some traditions and in others we stand - some marginalized groups prefer to stand (in a pose of resurrection) rather than kneel, and I find that fascinating. Some just remain seated. Some Christians prefer spontaneous prayer while others have a prayer book with elaborate prayers set out according to a particular plan.

And of course there are various meditative practices that some Christians regularly engage in. For some, an object of concentration is preferred - perhaps an icon or a candle, while some close their eyes and systematically clear away thoughts that cloud the mind.

But Muslims seem to be together in their manner of prayer. It seems to be the hallmark of your tradition - or at least that is the way the TV usually portrays your tradition. Sometimes Christians are seen in prayer on the TV but mainly I would say the news spotlights preachers or musicians or perhaps holy communion. Church buildings and stained glass windows and domes also get attention. I know we have great differences regarding the helpfulness of visual in our meditation.

Well, let me hear back from you, Aman. Hope there will be others who wouldn’t mind talking about prayer. Betty

As the Magdalene Community member who volunteered to study and lead the community in the conversations on Islam, I am deeply interested in this discussion. I almost don’t know where to start, except to take the “Peace Village” as my inspiration. I, too, have had a recent experience with antagonism toward the unknown and misunderstood. I happened to mention to an older family member that one of my friends was Muslim; the reaction was extremely negative. I was so taken aback that I didn’t know how to respond. I mumbled something about believing in the same God, but was met with silence. I changed the subject. I didn’t want to cram my now unorthodox beliefs down the throat of this particular family member and cause a rift.

As a Christian who longer considers herself a trinitarian (is that a contradiction?), I, too, stuggled with the concept. One of the best explanations I heard was from an Episcopal priest who compared the Trinity to a mountain. A mountain has different faces depending on from which direction it is viewed, but it is still the same mountain. So it is with the Divine. (He used the term “God”.) The thing of it is, a mountain as more than 3 faces…it has at least 4! North, South, East, AND West. Through my own spiritual journey, I have come to believe that the Divine has many faces, aspects, and names. All these faces, aspects, and names are for the one Divinity. This is a revolutionary concept for one who was raised Southern Baptist!

Thank you Betty and Aman for starting this conversation.

Peace be with you,
Bridgitt