Reading Interfaith Group Event
Pilgrimage
Thursday 29th July 7.30 pm
Friends Meeting House
Church Street, Reading
A talk which explores the modern phenomena of pilgrimage in the West. It explores the options available for pilgrimage, what to expect and how to cope with the return to 'normal' life. Whilst drawing on our experiences on Olav's Way and the Camino Frances we also discuss general concepts of Sacred Place and Time, how any journey can be made sacred, and how undertaking such a journey connects the traveller to ancient archetypes of the Holy Wanderer, both Christian and from other faiths. A talk suitable for all types of group interested in pilgrimage, modern spirituality or long distance walking.
As with all Reading Interfaith Group events, everyone regardless of faith background or belief is invited to come along and join us.
The Magic and Power of Love
Event organised by the Brahma Kumaris and open to all
Sunday 27th June 4.00 pm to 5.30pm
Friends Meeting House, Church Street
Speaker Meera Juved
Some of the ideas associated with love are attachment, obsession and romance. But is this what love is all about?Or are there more profound aspects in relation to it? This afternoon's talk will explore the mysteries and magic of this most misunderstood and misused power.
Reading Faith Forum AGM
Wednesday 30th June 4.30-7.30 pm
God's Revelation
Thursday 21st May 7.30 pm
Friends Meeting House Church Street
Can we find or make a sacred space anywhere? What makes a space sacred? In a strawberry field or anywhere? ? .
“Not in a school at any stage”............... came the answer from one of our attenders who has had plenty of practice at trying.
Some 30 people came to the Reading Interfaith meeting at the Friend’s Meeting House in Church St, Katesgrove, on Thursday 25th June to hear talks on the theme SACRED SPACES by Edward Milligan from Reading Quakers and Anthea West , a Buddhist .
They both showed deep thought and other facets of involvement with the development of their own space and the phrase “a place so often becomes what we make it”. Perhaps for example it is too much to ask of schoolchildren to make a school hall sacred and there are too many demands on it.
When a building is thought out from scratch by the church elders, however, the influence of space, light and srtucture can have a great bearing on all the subsequent meetings held in that building over many years. We were given many examples of how the religious teachings fed through into design. For example how the change from complete equality amongst all Quakers reflected in a completely flat space moderated to ‘lead speakers’ and eventually a raised platform at one end for ‘the minister’. Anthea lead us through the development of the temple at Amaravati from taking over the raw site and pointed out the affect that water features, cloisters, the use of wood and retreats on site have on the sacred nature of the space. She also pointed out that the multiple demands on the site do have to lead to compromises. For example the use of the walking, breathing and meditating space in parks outside the buildings competing with the bereaved wanting spaces for memorials. Anthea was keen to say however that there was not one recipe for sacredness. For example the shrine at Buddhapadipa temple in Wimbledon was a completely different Thai design for Buddhist temples and yet just as beautiful.
The audience then split into four groups (so that everyone would have a chance to speak) to discuss such questions as “How restrictive can faith communities be about ornamentation and memorials?”
An interesting and well attended meeting.
David Mc Knight- a member of the Berkshire Humanists Group
