Religion Briefs
Star-Bulletin staff &
Associated Press
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Claremont professor to give series of talks
An internationally known Christian theologian and author will present the free Britt Lecture Series next weekend at First United Methodist Church, 1020 S. Beretania St.
John B. Cobb Jr., professor emeritus of Claremont School of Theology in Southern California, will explore the advantages for the world, the nation and the individual that come from discipleship to Jesus in evening talks Friday and next Saturday and Sunday.
Cobb was a leader in developing process theology and is co-director of the Center for Process Studies at Claremont and co-founder of Progressive Christians Uniting. He is the author of 30 books, including "The Call of the Spirit: Process Spirituality in a Relational World."
"Lord to Whom Can We Go?" is the theme of the Britt series. A 7 p.m. devotional service will precede each of the following talks. A reception and discussion with Cobb will follow.
» Friday, 7:30 p.m. "Jesus' Call to the Progressive Protestant"
» Next Saturday, 7:30 p.m. "Secular and Religious Alternatives"
» Feb. 18, 7:30 p.m. "Jesus and the University"
The talks are open to the public. Free parking and child care are available.
The annual lecture series was begun 28 years ago, funded by an endowment by the late Dr. Clarence Britt and Caroline Britt of Tulsa, Okla.
Seminar will examine bias past and present
The U.S. imprisonment of Japanese Americans in internment camps during World War II and discrimination against ethnic groups in the current political climate will be the topic of a Feb. 24 program at Chaminade University.
"Fear of Differences" will be the theme of the Fujitani Interfaith Program lecture and panel discussion from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Ching Conference Center on the campus at 3140 Waialae Ave.
Guest lecturer Duncan R. Williams, associate professor of Japanese Buddhism at the University of California at Berkeley, will speak on "Japanese American Buddhists and the World War II Internment Camps."
The implications for people in 21st-century America will be discussed by a panel including Hakim Ouansafi, president of the Muslim Association of Hawaii, and Jon Van Dyke, professor of constitutional law at the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law. The Rev. Kenneth Tanaka, president of the International Association of Shin Buddhist Studies, will be moderator.
The program will also feature the Rev. David Hirano, interim minister at Central Union Church, reflecting on his father's internment camp experience, and a showing of "The First Battle" documentary film by producer Tom Coffman.
The cost is $20 for reservations made by next Saturday, $30 at the door. Student tickets are $10. For reservation information, call or write Poranee Natadecha-Sponsel at 735-4822 or at psponsel@chaminade.edu.
Film festival will focus on Jewish culture
The Kirk Cashmere Jewish Film Festival will open Thursday at the University of Hawaii Spalding Auditorium.
Films depicting Jewish life and issues will be shown at the annual festival, which will continue next Saturday through Feb. 19. There will be no screening on Friday.
Tickets will be $6 at the door for each movie. A $25 Flash Pass good for five films is on sale at Temple Emanu-El, 2550 Pali Highway. For information, call 595-7521.
The opening-night show at 7 p.m. will feature "More than 1,000 Words," a documentary which follows photographer Ziv Koren as he covers the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Also scheduled during the festival are the following:
» Next Saturday -- 7 p.m., "The Rape of Europa," about Nazi looting of art and stories of discoveries and restoration of some treasures.
» Feb. 18 -- 2 p.m., free screening of "Sugihara: Conspiracy of Kindness," about a Japanese consul in Lithuania who provided safe passage for Jews escaping the Nazis in World War II. 4:30 p.m., "Watermarks," a story of the champion female swimmers of a Jewish sports club, Hakoah Vienna, disbanded by the Nazis in World War II, and their reunion 65 years later. 7 p.m., "Live and Become," the story of an Ethiopian boy who was airlifted from a refuge camp to be adopted and grow up in Israel.
» Feb. 19 -- 2 p.m., "Isn't This a Time," film of a concert tribute to impresario Harold Leventhal featuring the Weavers; Peter, Paul & Mary; Theodore Bikel; and other musicians. 4:30 p.m., "When I Was Fourteen: a Survivor Remembers," in which Holocaust survivor Gloria Lyon returns to Germany to tell students about her survival in concentration camps. 7 p.m., "Wrestling With Angels," a biographical film about playwright Tony Kushner.
Churches to learn to prepare for disaster
A workshop to help prepare faith congregations to respond to disaster situations will be presented Feb. 22 at Castle Medical Center.
Ray Lovell of Hawaii Civil Defense, Maria Lutz of the American Red Cross and Jeff Spencer of the Oahu Civil Defense Agency will speak on community involvement in emergencies, volunteer training and available resources. Trauma specialist Judith Holland will discuss emotional, psychological and spiritual responses to disaster. The Rev. David Rasmussen, hospital chaplain, will talk about organizing a disaster response program in a church or temple.
The workshop for clergy, lay members and health professionals will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Castle Weinberg Wellness Center Auditorium. The cost of $15 will cover lunch.
Friday is the deadline to register. Call 263-5400.
The workshop is sponsored by the Castle Faith Community Nurse Program and Health Ministries Association of Hawaii.