LTSP Blogs

A logic emerged out of the three sacred places in Tirana and Istanbul I was privileged to visited this Sunday. The three took me from the trauma of finitude through the temptation of transcendence to the challenge of interfaith peace.

The current developments in Egypt and elsewhere in the Arab world are not happening in a vacuum. They represent a broader trend relating Islam to democracy. This trend is amply evident here at the conference in Tirana.

To many in the West, a democratic Islam seems a contradiction in terms. To the Muslim scholars here, however, from a wide variety of nations, Islam and democracy are not only compatible. Democracy and Islam are necessary partners.

Speaker after speaker at the first day’s session of the conference "Global Perspectives on the Religious, Cultural, and Societal Diversity in the Balkans" here in Tirana invoked a heritage of and hope for harmony in the Balkans, and around the globe, on a religious foundation. What makes this somewhat surprising is that, historically, and in the very recent past, Albania was at one point among the most dedicated, officially atheist, of nations.

            I’ve always been bothered by Thomas Friedman’s thesis that the “world is flat.” Friedman generally ignores ongoing (growing) structural inequities associated with globalization. And he exaggerates the positive potential of market reforms to “lift all boats” (to use another common metaphor). As one wag put it, in a frighteningly apt analysis in these post-tsunami days, in a rising tide the only boats that stay afloat are the ones that aren’t anchored to something. The rest get swamped.

Slept great on the plane, and safely arrived in beautiful Tirana, Albania, about 11AM.  Tirana is located in a valley surrounded by the Dajti Mountains (described by one resident as "the end of the Alps," en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Dajt)  Tirana is a booming city--with construction everywhere, including in historic Skanderbeg Square. This afternoon, I visited two schools associated with the Hizmet movement.

Over the next 2.5 weeks, I'll be traveling to Tirana, Albania, Singapore, Australia (Melbourne and Sydney), Jakarata, Indonesia, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to participate in inter-religious dialogues sponsored by The Fountain Magazine: www.fountainmagazine.com.

Leviticus 1:1-6:7

And now, a word from our sponsor… as we pause with our sheroes and heroes between Exodus begun and exodus enumerated on the sands of Sinai waiting for the Sanctuary to shift, seconding the soaring sentinels of smoke and fire. We have arrived at the heart of Torah with this sepher within the sepher. Though it too has a heart.

‏קרבן (Qorban)

Every year I am asked by someone what I am giving up for Lent.  I always struggle with this one since I did not grow up engaging in a sacrificial practice during the Lenten Season.  I had friends who would give up chocolate or caffeine every Lent.

Attached is a PDF file of the itinerary and application for participation in the 2011 Globalization trip to South Africa.  We plan to leave around May 26 and return around June 10.  The cost is $3500 and the deadline for applying is March 29, 2011.  Hope you can come if you are interested.

In nomine Patri et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

Psalmi 118:33 He ostende mihi Domine viam praeceptorum tuorum et custodiam eam per vestigium.