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Free lecture explores Islam's role in peace

"Islam and the Meaning of Peace" will be the topic of a free lecture tomorrow in the Fujitani Interfaith Dialogue program at Chaminade University.

Leeward Community College history professor Abdul Karim Khan will speak at 4 p.m. at Mystical Rose Oratory on the campus at 3140 Waialae Ave.

"Thanks to a very ignorant but powerful media and a lot of ignorant Muslims, an average American sees Islam as a religion of violence, war and the abuse of women," Khan said.

"I would like to focus on the message of Islam, a term that literally means peace. I urge Muslims and non-Muslims to educate themselves about the message of Islam and not be so focused on the media image of Islam."

Khan said he will also talk about "Middle Eastern political and cultural circumstances that created dictatorship and mass illiteracy that breed intolerance and terrorism."

Khan has written about Islam, Afghanistan, the Taliban and other topics for journals and other publications. He participated in cultural awareness training for 25th Infantry Division soldiers before their deployment to the Middle East.

His talk will be followed by response from the Rev. Sam Cox of Open Table ecumenical forum; the Rev. Hal Weidner, pastor of Holy Trinity Church; and Ernestine Enemoto of the Honolulu Mindfulness Community, Buddhist in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh.

The lecture series is named for the Rev. Yoshiaki Fujitani, president of the Buddhist Promotion Society and retired bishop of Honpa Hongwanji Betsuin Hawaii.

Women's group hosts annual prayer service

The annual World Day of Prayer sponsored by Church Women United will be held next weekend at Aiea United Methodist Church, 99-101 Laulima Road.

The program at 3:30 p.m. March 6 will use a religious service, "Let Our Light Shine," written by women in Poland, which shares the faith heritage and history of their country. It is free and open to the public.

The annual prayer day service here is linked with events on the same day in 170 countries by Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox Christian organizations. It is sponsored in the United States by Church Women United, an ecumenical movement working for peace and justice.

Spirituality's links to enneagram probed

Human spirituality will be explored using the enneagram system of defining different personality types in a Honolulu workshop next month.

"Our Journey: From Knowing God to Being Known by God" is the theme of the seminar by retired Catholic Bishop Remi J. De Roo and Pearl Gervais.

Reservations are required for the sessions from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. March 11 and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 12 at First United Methodist Church's Maile meeting room, 1020 S. Beretania St. The cost is $20 for first session and $55 for the second. Call Spiritual Life Center, 523-1170, for information.

De Roo, formerly bishop of Victoria, Canada, and Gervais are members of Spiritual Directors International and frequently lead seminars in America and Europe. They are co-authors of "Biblical Characters and the Enneagram: Images of Transformation."

Lectures look at lives touched by Jesus

The founder of an international Christian preaching mission will speak at a Windward church next month in a series of free lectures.

"They Met Jesus" is the subject of the seminar by Ken Needham, who leads the Tennessee-based Trans-Mission ministry. He will speak at Kailua Christian Church, 317 Manono St., about lessons to be drawn from biblical figures and their relationship with Jesus:

» March 10, 7 p.m., "Aaron -- Real Slavery and True Freedom"

» March 11, 7 p.m., "Paul -- Frustrated Independence and Fruitful Brokenness"

» March 14, 6 p.m. "Stephen -- Living in the Fullness of God." A light supper will precede the final talk.

Needham will also preach at the 10 a.m. worship service March 13.

He has lectured in several countries at Bible colleges, churches, camps and conferences. He was an international representative with Torchbearers ministry before launching Trans-Mission, which aims to reach across the various Christian ministries to promote unity instead of duplication and competition.

Bahai members start 19-day fasting period

Members of the Bahai Faith in Hawaii and around the world will begin a 19-day period of fasting Wednesday in preparation for the Bahai New Year observance March 21.

Participants abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset during the period, which also calls for prayer, reflection and "spiritual fasting" from selfish and undesirable behavior.

The religion was founded in Persia, now Iran, in the mid-19th century. Founder Baha'u'llah taught that God is one and that all religions are true and agree in essential teachings. It backs the ideals of a world without boundaries, equality of the sexes and equal opportunity for all. There are 5 million members worldwide and about 1,000 members in Hawaii.