---

Grant competition to award $5,000

The Christ Church Uniting Disciples and Presbyterians will hold an Easter grant competition that will award $5,000 to a program or group of programs that support the homeless or those who suffer from a drug addiction in the area between Makapuu Point and Kualoa Point.

Those interested in getting an application can call 262-6911 and leave their mailing address. The deadline to submit the application is March 1. The grant will be awarded on March 27.

Isle author to teach 6-part class on Islam

Honolulu author Saleem Ahmed will teach a six-part course on "Understanding Islam" beginning Feb. 9 at Kapiolani Community College.

Ahmed, a former East-West Center scholar, is the author of "Beyond Veil and Holy War: Islamic Teachings and Muslim Practices with Biblical Comparisons," which will be used in the course.

Class will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays. The cost is $25. To register, call the college's Continuing Education Office, 734-9211.

Visiting scholars offer free lectures

Insight on religions from three very different perspectives will be offered by visiting scholars in free lectures during February.

» "Shared Challenges for Catholics and Muslims in a Globalized World" will be the topic of the annual Mackey Marianist Lecture at 4 p.m. Feb. 6 at Chaminade University Mystical Rose Oratory, 3240 Waialae Ave. The speaker is Ohio State University sociology professor Katherine Meyer, who researches and writes on sociological development and democratic movements in the Middle East. The series is named for the late Rev. Robert Mackey, a founder and first president of the Catholic university.

» Tibetan Buddhism will be explored by speakers Feb. 12 at Honpa Hongwanji Mission, 1727 Pali Highway, in the annual Futaba Kenko Memorial Lecture Series. The guest speaker is Lama Rinchen Wangyel, a Bhutan government official who is the first fellow in the University of Hawaii's new "Religion and Public Life" project. Georgiana Cook of the Maui Dharma Center will give background on Tibetan Buddhism at 9 a.m. Wangyel will speak at 10:45 a.m. on "Buddhism in Bhutan." The series, endowed by retired UH religion professor Alfred Bloom, is named for the late Kenko Futaba, former president of Ryukoku University in Kyoto, Japan, who was regarded as a pioneer in "engaged" Buddhism.

» "The Watered Down Gospel" will be Christian author Heather Murray Elkins' topic Feb. 18 in the three-part Britt Lecture Series at First United Methodist Church, 1020 S. Beretania St. "Sacramental Life in the 21st Century" is the theme of the series, which will continue with "Table Manners in the Household of God" on Feb. 19 and "Tangible Evangelism" on Feb. 20. Each program will begin at 7 p.m. with a devotional program before the 7:30 p.m. talk. A question-and-answer session and refreshments will follow. Elkins is a Drew University Theological School professor and author of several books.