Kindness. Empathy. Compassion. When religious passion is channeled by a true believer, it can be a powerful contributor to the common good. There's a fine line between passion and extremism. That's where religion becomes angry, triumphant. God loves me more than God lives you. The trouble is that we can't always see these things clearly. We rely on the media, but it loves a fight. How can we tell what's true or false?
This year's Trialogue series, sponsored by the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice, addressed this issue over three Sunday afternoons in February 2014. The sessions were held at Tulsa's Peace Academy, Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, and Temple B'Nai Emunah. Representatives from Christian, Jewish, and Muslim religions as well as three Tulsa media outlets made presentations and answered questions from the audience. Dr. Gary Peluso-Verdend, President and Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Phillips Theological Seminary, directed conversations among those who attended.
Heard in this highlights program, broadcast over Public Radio 89.5 KWGS on March 20 and 21, 2014, are:
- Sheryl Siddiqui, Islamic Council of Oklahoma
- Ray Hickman, Executive Director of Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry
- Rev. Floyd M. Schoenhals, retired Bishop of the Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
- Rabbi Emeritus Charles P. Sherman of Temple Israel
- Sister Melek Z. Oyludag, Executive Director of the Surayya Anne Foundation
- Iman Imad Enchassi, Chairman of Islamic Studies and Chaplain at Oklahoma City University
- Rabbi Micah Citrin, Co-Rabbi at Temple Israel, Tulsa
- Rich Fisher, General Manager, Public Radio Tulsa
- Mike Jones, Associate Editor, Tulsa World
- Yvonne Lewis, News Anchor, Oklahoma's News Channel 8
- Nancy Day, past President and CEO of the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice
- Jayme Cox, President and CEO of the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice
- Rev. Bill Crowell, Associate Minister, Boston Avenue United Methodist Church & Interfaith Trialogue Chair
The entire recordings of the three sessions can be heard in the "Related Content" section, below. Learn more about the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice and its annual Interfaith Trialogue Series. The views expressed in this program do not necessarily reflect those of KWGS nor its licensee, The University of Tulsa.
