Temple Beth El, at 5101 Providence Road, invites the public to its 22nd Annual Comparative Religion Series. The focus this year is “Spirituality: How Do You Connect with Your Higher Power?”
The series will take place in the Blumenthal Sanctuary at Temple Beth El on consecutive Tuesday evenings from January 29th, 2019, to March 5th, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. March 12th is a snow date.
The series is free and open to the public. Reservations are not necessary.
Leaders of different belief communities will help us examine how prayer, meditation, ritual, music, and other modalities help people connect with deeper meaning in their lives or relate to a Higher Power.
Guest speakers will share the spiritual practices that are most personally meaningful and explain how spiritual practices, liturgy, and traditions developed in their communities.
Rabbi Asher Knight, Senior Rabbi of Temple Beth El, will provide an introduction to the Series on January 29. Rabbi Knight will share the Jewish perspective on this topic in order to deepen our understanding of the course of study and to foster thought-provoking discussions with our guest lecturers throughout the Series.
Religious leaders representing the Baptist, Islam, Presbyterian, and the Sikh faiths will offer their points of view in future weeks of the Series.
An expert panel on the Changing Spiritual Landscape with Mr. Tim Funk, Faith and Values Reporter, The Charlotte Observer and Dr. Sean McCloud, Professor of Religious Studies, UNC Charlotte, will conclude the 2019 Series on March 5, addressing the trends seen today as a result of secularization.
Discussions will include the impact of the non-practicing atheists and agnostics on the Charlotte community as well as the extent to which there is an impact of the growth of mega-organizations. This session will be moderated by Temple Beth El’s Cantor Mary Rebecca Thomas.
The Annual Temple Beth El Comparative Religion Series was established with the intent to educate our community, promote understanding and respect for all faiths, and reveal the commonalities in our differences.
Tuesday, January 29 – Jewish perspective, Rabbi Asher Knight, Senior Rabbi, Temple Beth El
Tuesday, February 5 – Baptist perspective, Pastor Donnie Garris, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church and Reverend Ben Boswell, Myers Park Baptist Church
Tuesday, February 12 – Islamic perspective, Imam Mohammed Khan, Islamic Center of Charlotte
Tuesday, February 19 – Presbyterian perspective, Jessica Patchett, Associate Pastor, Covenant Presbyterian Church
Tuesday, February 26 – Sikh perspective. Dr. Surendrapal Mac, Sikh Heritage Society of Charlotte
Tuesday, March 5 – Expert panel on The Changing Spiritual Landscape with Tim Funk, The Charlotte Observer Faith and Values Reporter and Dr. Sean McCloud, Professor of Religious Studies, UNC Charlotte. Cantor Mary Rebecca Thomas, Temple Beth El, will moderate.
Tuesday, March 12 – Snow Date
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