In the Press
Dialogue, dinner unites communities during Ramadan -- 09-27-2007
The Reno Gazette-Journal
Christians, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists came together at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center on Tuesday at the 4th annual Dialogue and Friendship Dinner hosted by the Sierra Foundation, an organization committed to intercultural dialogue.
Muslims who fasted during the month of Ramadan broke their fast with Tuesday's dinner and non-Muslims joined them at the table. Dialogue followed the dinner and a baklava dessert.
Speakers Stephen McCandless, pastor of the Reno Seventh-Day Adventist Church, and Atilla Kahveci, vice-president of the Pacifica Institute in California, listed the benefits of interfaith and intercultural dialogue and similarities across various faiths.
Mike Poehlman, Reno Police chief, told the crowd that the world was a better place with interfaith dialogue and stressed the need for treating others with the same respect as one wanted to be treated.
The Rev. Gene Savoy Jr. of the International Community of Christ elaborated on the interfaith brotherhood movement promoted by local clergy, which, he stressed, could become a model for the entire world.
Ismail Ozdemir, president of the Sierra Foundation, said that this event reinforced friendship and dialogue between diverse communities of the area where people from different faith groups got together to emphasize the values of mutual understanding, deep respect, love and peace.
The foundation was working with local religious and civic organizations to spread tolerance and compassion, he said.
The theme of this event was "Diverse traditions, shared values." Turkish calligrapher Aydin Cayir, a graduate of Marmara School of Islamic Theology, gave a demonstration on the art of calligraphy and wrote the names of participants.
He described calligraphy as the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skillful manner.
Luke Cameron Barrett, a student at Truckee Meadows Community College, who attended this event for the first time, said that this effort to derive a common ground between different traditions promoted understanding and tolerance.
Rajan Zed, a Hindu chaplain, lives in Reno.
Other Press Coverages:
Turkish festival bridges cultures
Tree-recycling program continues through Jan. 11
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Dialogue, dinner unites communities during Ramadan
Dervishes bring sacred Sufi dance to Reno
The devout celebrate their diversity
Dialogue is the cure for problems as world becomes one global village
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Dinner unites faiths during sacred month
