The choice of texts and topics depends on the participants' preferences, the composition of the group and the community you live in. As a suggestion, we would like to recommend the following topics and texts for those who want to get a group started:
1.) Neighbour
Possible questions to consider:
- What is a neighbour?
- Who are our neighbours?
- How can we become good neighbours?
- How do strangers become friends?
Possible texts:
Christianity - Luke 10:25-37; Matthew 22:34-40; Hebrew 13,1-3
Islam - An-Nisā' 3:36
Judaism - Genesis 12:1-9; Genesis 18:1-19; Leviticus 19:18
...
2.) Divisions and Reconciliation
Possible questions to consider:
- What are the tensions in our community?
- How can we build relationships across divisions and differences?
- How do we deal with conflicts in our community?
- How can we disagree successfully?
Possible texts:
Christianity - Ephesians 2:11-22; Acts 15: 1-21: 1; Corinthians 1:10-17; Luke 6: 27-35.36 – 42
Islam - Surah 49, 9-13
Judaism: Genesis 33
...
3.) Environment
Possible questions to consider:
- What is our understanding of the world we live in?
- What are some environmental issues in our community?
- What is our responsibility for future generations?
- How do we protect the environment in our daily life?
Possible texts:
Possible texts:
Christianity - Colossians 1:16-17; Romans 8, 18-27
Islam: Surah 16, 1-17
Judaism - Midrash Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7:13; Numbers 35:1-5; Leviticus 25: 2-6; Genesis 1, esp 16-21.26
Non-religious texts - The Earth Charter
...
4.) Rights and Responsibilities
Possible questions to consider:
...
4.) Rights and Responsibilities
Possible questions to consider:
- What is a good leader?
- What are the rights and duties of the individual in our community?
- To whom are we accountable?
- To whom are we accountable?
- What is the position of women in society?
Possible texts:
Christianity - Mark 9:33-37; Mark 12:13-17; Gal 3:23-28; Romans 13; 1-7; John 19:8 - 12
Islam - Al-Balad 90: 1-18
Judaism - Exodus 18: 13-27; Jeremiah 29: 4-7
...
Possible texts:
Christianity - Mark 9:33-37; Mark 12:13-17; Gal 3:23-28; Romans 13; 1-7; John 19:8 - 12
Islam - Al-Balad 90: 1-18
Judaism - Exodus 18: 13-27; Jeremiah 29: 4-7
...
The choice of texts depends largely on the composition and interests of the group.
The key criterion for texts is that they have meaning and depth for the participants. The text should disclose an existential / ethical dimension and express something which is of “ultimate concern” (P. Tillich).
Please note: It does not have to be a scriptural text
- it could be a poem, a hymn, a prayer…
Shorter texts work best!
Read HERE more about exploring texts with SHARE.
3 comments:
We need your help finding appropriate texts - especially from non-Abrahamic faith traditions ! If you have any ideas and suggestions, please post them below. Thank you very much!
Possible texts:
1 Samuel 28 3-25; Numbers 21; 2 Kings 20; Genesis 12 1-9; Jonah; Matthew 9 1-8; Matthew 9 18-26; Mark 6 7-13; Luke 4 6-15; Surah 113; 18-24; Surah 49; Surah 59 18-24; Surah 16 1-17; Surah 2 101-103: Isaiah 41 8-10; Nehemiah 9 6-8; Matthew 4; Surah 24 35-40; Surah 35 1-8; Surah 7 10- 22; Isaiah 45 7; Isaiah 60 1-3; Isaiah 60 19-20; Luke 2 25-38
First off, this is an excellent idea. I particularly like the breadth of it - the fact that it's open to people of faith and of no faith. In which case, I assume that it's not just about sacred texts but the many other ways in which the written word can speak to people, as a commentary on life or a signpost giving some direction. But could it possibly even extend to messages on T-shirts, or graffiti? I'm serious about this. For example, this T-shirt slogan I read recently while travelling on the Tube: "If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space". For my money, there's truth and wisdom in that too.
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