Texas Faith - Religion and Art

Where would you take a visitor today to see a modern connection between religion and art? If you have an idea in mind, please explain why you would take a visitor there. If nothing jumps to mind, what do you think that says about the modern relationship between religion and art?

Dallas Morning News - 12 expressions including mine at: http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/08/texas-faith-modern-connections.html

Click on the pictures to see the enlarged version

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MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas

Universal integration pillar, Guntur, India
A door for each religion

The Interfaith Peace Chapel on Cedar Springs in Dallas jumps to my mind. There was a dire need for a new religious space that reflects the new values of interfaith and pluralism. The artist has encapsulated the values of modern art and architecture to give a complete new dimension to a place of worship, a trend setter for the future interfaith buildings with a non-religious architecture and religious art pieces.

The Peace Chapel's website describes this beautifully as "a modern masterpiece designed by award-winning and world-renowned architect Philip Johnson. It is a brilliant, inspirational design of 'sculpture as architecture.' Seating up to 175 people, the chapel provides ideal space for intimate worship services, commitment ceremonies and memorial services."

Intefaith Peace Chapel, Dallas

The website further adds that "This sacred space makes a bold and highly visible statement to the world about our commitment to the vision God has placed upon our hearts. We believe wholeheartedly that God will transform millions of lives through this building!"

When the first Synagogue, Church and Baha'i temple was built in Jerusalem, the builders and artists of the time had a huge responsibility to create the space and add artistic value to attract the followers, as well as make them a model for future places of worship.



Dome on the Rock - Bait-el-Muqaddas,
My trip to Jerusalem August 2010

The same goes with the Bait-el-Muqaddas (Dome on the rock), where Muslims developed a completely new form of expression in art: calligraphy. Since Islam encourages one to believe that God is not an entity or a form but energy, the early Muslims could not collapse God into an image or a figurine and out came the transformative creativity - where the beauty was expressed in abstract forms of writing the verses of Quraan in a variety of ways.

Taj Mahal, India - My visit in 2002

Perhaps this is the major form of art in Islam and it is expressed in beautiful themes. The profession is still alive and mosques and tombs like the Taj Mahal are adorned with calligraphy. The Taj is 222 feet tall and the script is written proportionately from the bottom to the top of the arch. The bare eye sees the entire script in the same size, whether from five feet high or from 222 feet on top of the building.

Ismaili Muslims place of worship, plano
been there for its opening by Gov. Perry

New mosques are on the drawing boards that will blend in with American architecture. The Ismaili Muslim place of worship in Plano incorporates the modern architecture with traditional space values.

The modern art will influence all religious buildings; indeed there is a new 37-acre campus under construction in North Dakota where a synagogue, mosque and a church are under construction. Each will have their own space in addition to the shared spaces on the campus.

Mike Ghouse is speaker committed to build a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day – much of his work is indexed at www.MikeGhouse.net

Muslims condemn today’s attack on the Bus in Jerusalem.

PRESS RELEASE
March 23, 2011, Dallas, Texas

Muslims condemn today’s attack on the Bus in Jerusalem.

The world Muslim Congress strongly condemns the attack on the bus in Jerusalem as well as the resumption of the rocket attacks on the civilian population. We pray for God’s blessing for the victims and their families.

“It is the responsibility of the Palestinians to speak out and stand up against the few who are tarnishing the peace process” Mike Ghouse, President of the World Muslim Congress and the Foundation for Pluralism adds; “please find the individuals who are responsible for this horrendous crime and bring justice to the victims and their families. They are your real enemies and are bent on destroying the future of your children by their irresponsible malicious acts”.

Killing one human being is like killing the whole humanity, says the Torah and Quraan and its corollary, and saving one life is like saving the whole humanity. And both Muslims and Jews have to listen to God, there is wisdom in it.

I ask the Israelis to arrest the temptation to take revenge, only the one with power can stop the cycle, and let terrorism not force you out the path of peace.”

Mike Ghouse

World Muslim congress

Foundation for Pluralism

2665 Villa Creek Dr, Suite 206, Dallas, TX 75234

Email: MikeGhouse@gmail.com

(214) 325-1916

Out to Jerusalem

Middle East Peace Initiative.

A bunch of us from the United States will be visiting Israel on a peace conference, from Dallas Bishop Mark Hernandes, Dr. Karen Hollie and myself will be visiting there from August 20th through 25th.

God willing, I will be breaking my fast at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, all of that will be updated on my Ramadan Exclusive listed on my site, and the trip will be updated on the Foundation for Pluralism and my site.

We will be touring these facilities. Holy Land Tour: Jordan River Valley, Sea of Galilee, Mount of Beatitudes, Nazareth, Mt. Carmel and Druze Holy Site.

Old City Holy Sites Tour: Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Golgotha, Via Dolorosa, Al Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock, Gethsemane Holy Ground and Church, Bethlehem
We will be free on the 25th and I will make an effort to visit the Bahai Shrine in Haifa, Israel.

"The Universal Peace Federation is sponsoring the MEPI series in order to provide support for world leaders in their conscientious efforts to address and resolve critical global problems. Recognizing the profound significance and power of religion as a force for peace in our troubled world, MEPI brings together the family of faiths, providing a model of interfaith service and leadership characterized by mutual respect, harmony and cooperation, for the sake of peace."

"In August of 2000, UPF’s Founder, Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, spoke at the United Nations and proposed the establishment of an interfaith council within the UN system. Over the past ten years significant steps have been taken toward that goal. However, much work remains to be done in order to make the dream a reality. The International Interfaith Consultation will provide an opportunity to assess the UPF Founder’s proposal and work toward recommendations that may be presented to the United Nations when the General Assembly opens on September 21 in New York."

I have ben a part of these initiatives since 2005, when I had the honor of meeting Rev and Mrs. Moon in person. I am proud to be a part of this organizations. I am particularly moved by His holiness Reverend Moon, who has built up a kingdom of goodness with a powerful mission; living for others.

Mike Ghouse is a speaker on Pluralism and Islam offering pluralistic solution to the media and the public on issues of the day. His work is spread in 22 blogs and 3 websites listed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/