The Value of Water
Conversations in the Chapel of Saint James
Winter 2012
Acts of God?
Force of Nature?
Wednesday, January 18, 7 pm
New York experienced two unusual events in August. In that same week, hurricane Irene brought wide spread flooding throughout the metropolitan area, and we felt an earthquake of 5.8 magnitude. Some have suggested that God was punishing those of us who live on the East Coast for our sinful ways. Others have said that these events were mere quirks of nature and have no theological meaning at all. Do we believe in a God who rewards and punishes or in an impersonal God?
Panelists will discuss the questions, and invite you to participate in the conversation:
Dr. Paul Knitter
Paul Tillich Professor of World Religions, Union Theological Seminary, NY
Dr. Daniel Polish
Rabbi, Congregation Shir Chadash, Poughkeepsie, NY
The Very Rev. Dr. James A. Kowalski
Dean, Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, NY
Water: Ritual Blessings
Wednesday, February 1, 7 pm
Throughout the ages, most of the great religions of the world have used water as a purifying element. The Mikveh is the ritual purifying site for Orthodox Jewish women after the menstrual period. Water is also used as part of the Jewish conversion ceremony. Christians have made baptism into one of the central sacramental rites of the Church. Muslims perform their ablutions before entering into prayer. What are the origins of water purifying rituals?
Answering these questions and yours will be:
Rev. Patrick Ryan, S.J.
Lawrence J. McGintley Professor of Religion and Society, Fordham University, NY
Dr. Hussein Rashid
Islam Professor, Hofstra University, NY
Dr. Claudia Setzer
Professor of Religion, Manhattan College, NY
From Waters of Creation
Wednesday, February 29, 7 pm
Ancient peoples, in their quest to understand the origins of the universe, have turned to water as the source. Come and listen to two scholars discuss these many creation stories found in the Abrahamic Faiths and in other traditions. Are they the same? Did they borrow from each other? How true are these stories, or are they our ancestors’ way of explaining the unexplainable?
Join in the lively discussion with the following scholars:
Dr. Rachel F. McDermott
Professor of Religion, Barnard College and Columbia University
Dr. Daniel F. Polish
Rabbi, Congregation Shir Chadash, Poughkeepsie, NY
The Luxuries of Water
Wednesday, March 7, 7 pm
“Let justice roll on like the river and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:24)
Most of us are used to having healthy water available to us instantly. But there are millions of people for whom water is a great luxury. In Third World countries, women and children spend a good part of their days finding water that is safe for drinking, for cooking, for bathing. What are the possibilities of changing this terrible state of affairs? How can we as individuals make a difference? What can we as a community do?
This conversation will be stimulated by:
Abagail Nelson
Senior Vice President for Programs, Episcopal Relief & Development. Ms. Nelson has worked throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the United States and with the worldwide Church, responding to disasters, alleviating hunger, fighting disease, and reducing exposure to risk. Ms. Nelson earned an M.Sc. from the London School of Economics and a BA cum laude from Harvard College.
This series of Conversations in the Chapel of Saint James are free; contributions are appreciated; seats are available on a first come, first served basis. To register contact cathedralevents@stjohndivine.org or call (212) 316-7464. For more information contact The Rev. Canon Patti Welch, pwelch@cathedralnyc.org or (212) 316-7474.
The Cathedral is grateful to The Rt. Rev. Mark S. Sisk, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, and The Rev. Dr. Robert A. Rimbo, Bishop of Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, whose generosity made this series possible.
