| With the holidays upon us it's an opportune time to | | | | pollution and abuse of the environment. The Jews |
| recall the grace connection that links various spiritual | | | | spiritual practices aim to create a strong sense of |
| beliefs: | | | | connection. Their synagogue and homes are their |
| Hinduism: | | | | two most important places where they perform their |
| Hindus believe in the great eternal spirit of the | | | | spiritual practices. A greatly admired symbol of the |
| universe, called Brahman, and in the sacredness of all | | | | Jews was the martyred Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, |
| existence. Every person's spirit is part of Brahman. | | | | who together with his Foreign Minister Shimon Peres |
| Trees, forests, and flowering trees received special | | | | shared the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize for their combined |
| reverence, too. Hindus maintain home altars, and | | | | efforts to bring peace to the Middle East. Their Grace |
| worship many gods and goddesses that represent | | | | connection: What you yourself hate, do to no man. |
| aspects of Brahman. Hindus appreciate all religions as | | | | Christianity: |
| ways to the divine source. Gandhi was a famous | | | | Christians believe in one God who sent his son Jesus |
| Hindu. Though slight, gentle, and mystical he was | | | | 2,000 years ago to be a spiritual teacher, healer and |
| resolute in his service to social justice and peace. He | | | | leader. Christians follow the teachings of Jesus. Their |
| studied law in Chicago, was an admirer of Jesus, and | | | | foremost precept is to love one another, and to love |
| ended British rule over India through non-violent | | | | God. Concerning all of nature Right Reverend Robert |
| resistance. He famously led a 200-mile hike to the sea | | | | McConnell Hatch wrote that we are here as |
| to protest an oppressive salt tax. Like Gandhi, Hindus | | | | stewards and '...do not really stand alone but are a |
| aim to create inner peace that they send into the | | | | part of an intricate web of life in which all the parts |
| world. Their Grace connection: Treat all living things as | | | | are related to one another, and where the well-being |
| you would be treated. Lend a hand to all that exists | | | | of one part depends on the well-being of all.' Their |
| in the natural world. | | | | local Church is the center of their community. They |
| Buddhism: | | | | believe the light of candles speeds their prayers. Dr. |
| The Buddhist tradition dates back over 2,500 years. | | | | Martin Luther King, Jr. was an inspiring Christian leader, |
| Buddhists believe in the ultimate peace of nirvana, | | | | and admirer of Gandhi. He held a PhD in Theology, |
| beyond the physical world. Nirvana can be found in | | | | won the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize, and was a |
| one's own heart, by living, speaking and thinking | | | | renowned orator. His 'I Have A Dream' speech was |
| peace. Buddhists keep altars at home, and use prayer | | | | given before an audience of 250,000 gathered on the |
| flags to send their good thoughts to the world. | | | | Washington Mall at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial. |
| Through prayer and meditation, they practice love | | | | It is considered the greatest speech of the last |
| and compassion for all people, and hold special | | | | century. Their Grace connection: Do unto others, as |
| reverence for nature, especially forests and trees. | | | | you would have them do unto you. |
| The 14th Dalai Lama is a beloved global symbol of | | | | Goddess: |
| Buddhist faith. He won the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize | | | | The Goddess has been worshipped by people around |
| for encouraging peaceful solutions to world problems | | | | the world in various forms and by different names |
| and awakening us to our shared responsibility for one | | | | for tens of thousands of years. Archeological |
| another and the planet. Their Grace connection: Hurt | | | | discoveries, artifacts, cave paintings, art and |
| not others with that which pains you. | | | | architecture tells of a very ancient, widespread belief |
| Native American: | | | | in a universal Goddess. The basic Goddess belief is to |
| The Great Spirit is the creator of all, including Mother | | | | free the world from fear, and fill it with beauty and |
| Earth who is alive. Native Americans consider all | | | | grace. |
| nature and all beings holy. Iroquois Chief Oren Lyons | | | | Some refer to Goddess religions as 'pagan', which |
| said, 'We have...simple respect for all life, for the | | | | means 'of the earth' because Goddess traditions are |
| trees, for the rivers, the fish, the animals.' Their | | | | intimately connected with nature, the seasons, |
| highest value is for what is in our hearts. They are | | | | elements and cycles of life, with physical, emotional, |
| guided by respect: for the Great Spirit, for Mother | | | | and spiritual wholeness. |
| Earth, for the Tribe (people), for Individual Freedom. | | | | Goddess cultures are cooperative, peace loving, |
| Their prayer stick sends prayers on the breeze to | | | | egalitarian, non-hierarchical, non-punitive or judgmental. |
| the Great Spirit. One of the most beautiful writings | | | | They are at heart affirming and arts and creativity |
| was Chief Seattle's famous address to Congress, 'As | | | | oriented. Many who follow the Goddess way, |
| we are part of the land, you too are part of the land. | | | | maintain home altars and practice meditation and life |
| The earth is precious to us. It is also precious to you. | | | | affirming rites. |
| No man, be he Red man or White man, can be apart. | | | | From as early as 27,000 B.C. Goddess societies were |
| We are all brothers after all.' Their Grace connection: | | | | highly refined, sophisticated, and spiritual. Throughout |
| Live in harmony, for we are all related. | | | | Europe, the near and middle East (where Islam, |
| Islam: | | | | Judaism and Christianity were formed over 200 |
| Allah is the Muslim word for God. Fourteen hundred | | | | centuries later), from the Balkans, and around the |
| years ago the prophet Muhammad brought the | | | | Aegean and Mediterranean a Goddess religion was |
| people a message from Allah. Muslims follow Five | | | | followed. Sophisticated monumental and multi-level |
| Pillars: Belief in one God, in ritual prayer five times a | | | | Goddess temples, buildings, shrines and cave |
| day, in giving to the needy, in fasting from sunrise to | | | | sanctuaries date from before 18,000 B.C. In India, |
| sunset during the month of Ramadan to increase | | | | North and South America, and throughout Africa, |
| compassion and community, and in making a | | | | Goddess worship was the primary spiritual practice. |
| pilgrimage to Mecca, the holy city and birthplace of | | | | We become our spiritual conceptions. When the |
| Muhammad. Muslims believe as servants of God, they | | | | Goddess lit the world, it was a golden time of spiritual |
| walk the earth in humility, and show respect for all | | | | elegance, magic, beauty, love, truth, compassion, |
| nature and animals. Rumi, the 13th-century Islamic | | | | wisdom, and connection. When the Goddess fled, her |
| saint, poet and philosopher hailed from Afghanistan. In | | | | feminine values that embrace caring and harmony |
| the west he is consider one of the greatest and | | | | were vanquished too. |
| most popular mystical poets ever. Jordan's modern | | | | By distancing from the Goddess who unites all, |
| day Queen Rainia, a seeker of peace and justice for | | | | humanity disconnected, and civilization was |
| all people, stands in the world as a beautiful | | | | fragmented. We disconnected the physical from the |
| impression of Islamic wisdom and grace. Their Grace | | | | spiritual and eternal. People from Nature. Males from |
| connection: Do to all men, nature and creatures as | | | | Females. By disconnecting from the Goddess, females |
| you would have done to you. | | | | lost the singular archetype of their beautiful ways of |
| Judaism: | | | | wisdom, intuition, compassion, magic and miracles. By |
| The Jewish religion is over 4,000 years old. Jews | | | | denying the Goddess for over 2,000 years, we've |
| believe in one God as creator of the entire universe | | | | denied women and nature. The planet needs the |
| and that he gave Moses the Ten Commandments | | | | Goddess for wellness, balance and peace. The Grace |
| for living. And emphasize kindness and respect | | | | connection: We are all graced, not guilty. |
| toward all animals and nature. Their tenets forbid | | | | |