Encounter World Religions Centre
355 Elmira Rd N - Unit 129 N1K 1S5 Guelph, ON, Canada

Join us for our online Discovery Week May 2-7. Together we will explore the rich stories and ancient wisdom which have guided people for thousands of years. Register at https://www.worldreligions.ca/virtual-discovery-week

In this week's blog, I explore the Sikhs, a large but little understood religious community in North America. We explore their origins, the upcoming holiday of Vaisakhi, and why this community is hands down the favourite visit for the thousands of people I've brought to places of worship. Enjoy! https://mailchi.mp//httpsreligionsgeekcomindexphp20201112d

Join Encounter for a new talk! Brian will share the insights gained from 20 years of exploring and teaching world religions. Register today! https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/what-ive-learned-teaching-world

Nice reflective piece on prayer and religious practice during COVID. Much is thoughtful but I liked this part best: "Even the limited attendance worship allowed between October and December last year felt stilted to Father Orear - 30 percent capacity, masks, no singing. 'It was like going out for coffee with tour ex's he admits. 'It's familiar, but there's stuff you used to do that you can't now.'" https://www.google.com//article-virtual-churches-real-pra/

Discovery Week: https://bit.ly/39siG6f What I've Learned Talk: https://bit.ly/31wEM39 New content with Lifelong Learners: https://bit.ly/3cApAbf ** (** Registration ends tomorrow)

Want more Encounter? Here are new classes I've never taught before! Every Tuesday starting next week. Registration is open until Sunday. https://lifelonglearningmississauga.ca/

Today is part 2 of a great discussion at the University of Toronto on Interfaith & Social Justice. Thrilled to be moderating a discussion with two people I really admire - Shari Golberg & El-Farouk Khaki. Shari created a women's study group of Jews & Muslims to examine texts and women in religion while El-Farouk started the first LGBTQ friendly mosque in Canada (since a model for similar mosques elsewhere). Should be great!

The IOC should absolutely relocate the Olympics while the Chinese government carries out a genocide. It's horrible. If you're inclined, write your political representative to encourage them to pressure the IOC. https://www.theglobeandmail.com//article-canadian-legisla/

It is Interfaith Harmony Week, a week whose purpose suits Encounter's mission perfectly. In the newsletter, we explore the question posed by the Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Adichie - "what is the danger of a single story?" Check out too the calendar of upcoming events. https://mailchi.mp//httpsreligionsgeekcomindexphp20201112d

Of course, Jews are being blamed for COVID. How sadly predictable. Holocaust Remembrance Day was less than a week ago...this stuff just never dies. #Antisemitism has been on the rise in Canada too. I don't think this battle will end in my lifetime but that's why we must continue to fight it - namely with education. Religious literacy is a matter of peace and sometimes, even saving lives. https://www.spiegel.de//we-can-never-again-be-silent-the-c

Thrilled to be speaking to about 300 police officers from coast to coast across Canada tomorrow on implicit bias, policing, and religious identities. We'll be talking about the Danger of a Single Story and how religious literacy can help foster understanding amongst officers and communities to allow for greater safety and justice for all. Big thanks to the Ontario Provincial Police for organizing this and for how seriously they take training. #InterfaithHarmony week

This is #InterfaithHarmony week. As part of it, I will be hosting conversations tomorrow and next week with Faith Leaders on Interfaith & Social Justice, organized by the Multi-Faith Centre - University of Toronto. We start tomorrow with Urban Buddhist Monk Bhante Saranapala. Religion is everywhere - in our workplaces, our politics, and our communities. It is a powerful force for good or ill. We will explore how it can be harnessed for better outcomes.

No clean drinking water for 25 years. What a disgrace. Kudos to these guys...but this simply must end. https://www.sudbury.com//sudburians-brave-nepahwins-freezi

I'm so impressed. It's Hanukkah right now and the Jewish organization B'nai Brith Canada, established an expert panel on the genocide against the Uyghurs by the Chinese government who are using concentration camps on over 1MM of their ethnic Muslim minority. After the Holocaust, many Jews said: "never again." Here, they are speaking up against a modern genocide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_F8sKvEOgU&feature=youtu.be

Women in Islam have often been prohibited from publicly reciting the Qur'an. Today, some young Muslim women are using Instagram (of all things) to create new norms. This, plus a little on beauty at today's blog: https://religionsgeek.com//the-new-the-old-female-quran-r/

COVID has led to anti-Asian sentiment including vandalizing Buddhist temples in the USA. Of course, American Buddhists have exactly zero connection to a virus that emerged thousands of miles away. https://religionnews.com//buddhist-temple-attacks-rise-as/

Encounter is very sad to share that Sophia Podrozny, a longtime volunteer and friend, has passed away. Sophia gave generously to Encounter & was such a positive person. She will be missed. I've had FB challenges in recent days getting this post up so I've copied the notice below as well as a great picture of her. Sophia loved dance & was proud of her Ukranian heritage. She will be missed.

This UK study suggests that intolerance is highest towards religious communities. This is why religious literacy is so important. Encounter is pleased to be working with the The City of Guelph, the Ontario Provincial Police, and the Organ Donation and Transplantation Alliance just this month alone to help increase religious literacy & understanding. https://www.theguardian.com//religious-intolerance-is-bigg

This is a moving article about the rituals around death. https://amp.cnn.com//burial-rituals-jews-musli/index.html

Today marks the start of Hanukkah. Hanukkah celebrates freedom, the fight to throw off of oppression, and breathe the clear air of liberty. We might think first of the Jewish community itself that has survived immense forms of oppression for so many centuries but - as those candles indicate - continues to survive them all. And secondly, we might think of some of the most oppressed in our world today - the Uyghurs of China and the Rohingya of Myanmar to name just two, plus the mistreatment of First Nations communities hear in Canada. Here's hoping some more light can be spread in this upcoming year.

I remember once wishing Merry Christmas to someone who was Jewish. I realized my mistake only afterwards and felt very small. Today's blog is on holiday greetings and how to get those good intentions across. https://religionsgeek.com//on-greetings-happy-holidays-or/

Today is the start of Diwali, the most important festival in the world's third largest religion. I share three insights that this festival reveals about this religion of a billion people at my blog: https://religionsgeek.com///diwali-from-darkness-to-light/. (P.S. Want to help me out? My blog is new so tell others about it)

Starting a new series on world religions with Bluewater Lifelong Learning this morning! We'll explore the world's largest traditions over the next several weeks. Should be fun! https://www.bluewaterlearns.com/lectures/world-religions

Pleased to get such great feedback on our presentation on Religious Diversity & Inclusion to the The City of Guelph. A few snippets below. We do whole series on becoming literate on different traditions. Let us know if we can help your organization.

Diwali, the most important festival in the world's third largest religion begins today. To learn 3 things the festival tells us about this religion of a billion people, check out my blog: https://religionsgeek.com///diwali-from-darkness-to-light/ (Want to help me out? My blog is new, so tell others!)

First day with the new blog - on Wicca & Hallowe'en. Check it out! https://religionsgeek.com//wicca-halloween-marking-the-ol/

Folks, thrilled to announce a new website and a new *blog* where Brian will be writing regularly on religion. Check it out at religionsgeek.com

(Article is here if you wish: https://religionnews.com//process-church-final-judgment-b/)

Today is our final day of our 3 Day Program. Today, we will learn about Sikhism (or Sikhi) including interviewing Dr Jaspreet Bal, a knowledgeable person and activist in her tradition. Should be a real treat!

Today is Day 1 of our 3 Day Online Program. First up: Wicca! We did our class this morning on the emergence of this new religious movement and will soon speak with our Wiccan guide, Catherine Starr. Catherine is a chaplain at the Univ of Toronto & certainly one of the most prominent Wiccans in Canada. Should be fun!

Some super high quality folks I'll get to interview.

One of the gravest threats is when a majority fears a minority (think Nazi Germany & Jews). Fear often justifies aggression & majorities have power to do awful things. Muslims are being persecuted in Myanmar, China & India. In all three cases, they are painted as the threat when they are actually the threatened. It is Islamic awareness month in Canada. Muslim violence garners much news but there is no religious community in the world suffering as much violence as Muslims today. https://religionnews.com//hindu-nationalists-see-muslim-j/

Thrilled to be resuming our series on Religious Literacy at work with the Ontario Provincial Police. Muslims face real threats in Canada with recent months bringing mosque attacks in Toronto & Montreal and a man killed in Toronto. Literacy helps us understand one another better, be more inclusive, and reduce fear. Admire the police for proceeding with this year long project.

Montreal mosques are being vandalized (& frighteningly, an imam almost ended up confronting hte vandal). A Toronto mosque was vandalized 4 times this summer. And a Muslim man was murdered just weeks ago in Toronto. Islamophobia is real in Canada and threatens the safety of Muslims. You shouldn't be afraid simply for who you are. https://www.cbc.ca//parc-extension-mosque-broken-into-1.57

I am thrilled Encounter has found a way to continue to reach students. Gave my second virtual talk today. The teacher asked students afterwards to type a single word in the chat to sum up the day. The words were: Inspirational Mind-blowing Comprehensive Enlightening Inclusive Informative Brightening (?) Fascinating Gifted Eye-opening Knowledge Impress...ed Twas wonderful to see.

Wow. This will have enormous repercussions for LGBTQ folks in many countries. A really big deal. https://www.cbc.ca///pope-documentary-gay-rights-1.5770754

Folks, it's the last day to register for our October series and receive the early bird discount. Learn about Evangelicalism (including US politics), about Wicca, and about the Sikh tradition. Spread nicely over 3 Wednesdays. Sessions are recorded so you can watch at leisure...and we have 3 terrific speakers! Register: https://www.worldreligions.ca/3-day-online-program

I first read about this guy years ago. He has now been arrested. When you find these new religious movements that have spawned today, I am always wondering how much they might resemble the early days of religions that are now large and long-established. Would it be similar? Or vastly different? https://www.theguardian.com//cult-leader-vissarion-reincar

Today, we will study evangelicalism as part of our 3 Day Discovery Program. After our morning class, we will interview Bruxy Cavey, pastor at The Meeting House, and one of Canada's most well known ministers. Evangelicalism is the focus of my PhD dissertation so I'm especially looking forward to this one.

A man murdered, simply for being Muslim. In Toronto, the supposedly most-diverse city in the world. I did not know this man but I do know mosque caretakers in Toronto. It could have been any of them. Islamophobia kills. It kills in Canada (see Quebec City 2017 too). https://www.cbc.ca//toro/mosque-stabbing-suspect-1.5732078

Folks, take a gander at our 3 Day October program. Each day is so rich & includes: - Insightful morning classes on 3 religions - Afternoon interviews with 3 excellent guides (check out their resumes at the link) - Extra sessions (group chats, Ask Me Anything with Brian) - Handouts summarizing classes... - Course packs - Short, optional, curated videos to let you *see* the traditions Plus, if the days conflict with your schedule, each session WILL BE RECORDED so you can view at night, the next day or on the weekend. You will truly learn so much on these religions, including with evangelicalism, gaining a better understanding of US & global politics as this movement's reach is tremendous. Early bird price ends Friday! https://www.worldreligions.ca/3-day-online-program

The Jewish New Year starts tonight at sundown. This year, many Jews will not gather for the first time in their lives. One requirement is to hear the Torah sounded, so some communities are getting innovative in addressing this problem. Shanah Tovah (a good year) to all. https://www.usatoday.com//rosh-hashanah-jewish/3475365001/

Learn about 3 religions over 3 Wednesdays. Participants rated our summer program a huge success! Early bird price until Sept 25. (Bonus: Our evangelical class really helps for understanding American politics). Register: https://bit.ly/3mABBRh

The High Holidays, the most sacred part of the Jewish year starts on Friday. This year, the pandemic new year will be different. https://apnews.com/6bfae480c85de99e6a091100330607ba

Such a horrible story. Another mosque in Toronto has been vandalized 6 times this summer. Many Muslims in the city will feel this viscerally. https://www.cbc.ca//cana/toronto/mosque-stabbing-1.5722305

Come learn about Wicca, Evangelicalism and Sikhism. 3 Great Days in October to learn about the tradition in the morning and speak to a community leader in the afternoon. More info: https://www.worldreligions.ca/3-day-online-program