Engaging the Legacy of 9-11

This Sunday is the ten-year anniversary of September 11, 2001. I have mixed feelings about this: from a religious perspective, I have no interest in revisiting the traumatic images nor celebrating the subsequent on-going wars and deaths of hundreds of thousands of people across the globe. But it is important to explore the deeper questions evoked by the anniversary - specifically, what have we, as a nation, become? And what is a faithful response to fear, terrorism, threat?

Beth and Harold Peterson have been concerned with these issues since September 11, 2001, and we are fortunate that they will lead our exploration and discussion Sunday night. About the evening Beth writes:

In the years following our shock, horror and grief about 9/11, we have come to realize that we, as Americans, have been involved in the use of torture, contrary to the United Nations Convention Against Torture. What do our faith traditions teach us regarding torture? Join us September 11 to view a video and discuss the moral issue of torture.

Our offering is two-fold: 1) we will again collect bags of beans and rice for Project Dignidad, and 2) our monetary offering will be designated for the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT). NRCAT is a membership organization of religious organizations committed to ending torture that is sponsored or enabled by the United States. Since its formation on January 16, 2006, more than 300 religious organizations have joined and over 57,000 individual people of faith have participated in our activities. Members include representatives from the Baha'i, Buddhist, Catholic, evangelical Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Orthodox Christian, mainline Protestant, Quaker, Sikh and Unitarian Universalist communities.

We will not have a potluck meal. Feel free to bring drinks and snacks.

Spirituality and Practice website has a beautiful collection of prayers, art work, spiritual practices, and contemplative writings concerning the anniversary of 9/11. Some of the contributors include Mark Nepo, Joyce Rupp, Sylvia Boorstein, Ram Dass, and Sharon Salzberg.