Sacred Text Reading Group (Saturday)
Date/Time
Date(s) - 10/09/2021
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

A twice-weekly online sacred text reading group. We meet on Saturdays, 4-5, and on Wednesdays, 12-1. All are wide open and you are welcome!

Using a spiritual-practice approach, in each session we will explore a different brief scriptural text in depth. The aims of the sessions are educational (learning something about the texts and traditions), spiritual/moral (discovering what the texts ask of us), and community-building (getting to know each other better). Our practice usually follows this version of Lectio Divina.

The facilitator will have a version of the text available to share; “bring” your own if you like. All are welcome, as are your suggestions of future texts. Group members also take turns facilitating, if they want to try that role.

To have check-in time, or if you are new and would like a brief orientation, arrive ten minutes early. And all are welcome to stay ten minutes after as well, for more getting-acquainted time.

How to join:

  • Join this class from your Web browser: https://zoom.us/j/578882781
  • Join this class using the Zoom app: Meeting ID: 578 882 781
  • Join this class by phone: 669 900 9128 US (San Jose), Meeting ID: 578 882 781
  • Join this class by on-tap on mobile phones: +16699009128,,578882781# US (San Jose)
  • Phoning in, but not in the bay area?  Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/abL8clvIYT
Add to: Google Cal, iCal, webcal

Sacred Text Reading Group
Date/Time
Date(s) - 10/09/2021
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

A twice-weekly online sacred text reading group. We meet on Saturdays, 4-5, and on Wednesdays, 12-1. All are wide open and you are welcome!

Using a spiritual-practice approach, in each session we will explore a different brief scriptural text in depth. The aims of the sessions are educational (learning something about the texts and traditions), spiritual/moral (discovering what the texts ask of us), and community-building (getting to know each other better). Our practice usually follows this version of Lectio Divina.

The facilitator will have a version of the text available to share; “bring” your own if you like. All are welcome, as are your suggestions of future texts. Group members also take turns facilitating, if they want to try that role.

Our text for Saturday, October 9, 2021, a hadith from the collection Mishkat al-Masabih. It was edited by an Islamic scholar Khatib al-Tabrizi, who died in 1341. It’s based on a collection called Masabih al-Sunnah edited an Islamic scholar named al-Bagawi, who died in 1122. A hadith is a story about the words or deeds of Muhammed, and there are many collections of hadith. Mishkat al-Masabih (“A niche for a lamp”) is a popular collection and contains around 5000 hadith. A question the following Hadith raises it to what degree should a person be open to conversations about any topic? Was Muhammad just being polite to his neighbor when he was willing to talk about anything or did he feel there is wisdom and insight to be gained to be from any conversation?

Zayd b. Thabit said: I was his neighbor, and when the inspiration descended on him he sent for me and I went to him and wrote it down for him. When we talked about this world he did so along with us, when we talked about the next world he did so along with us, and when we talked about food he did so along with us. All this I tell you about God’s messenger. (reprinted in Sacred Texts of the World. Ninian Smart and Richard Hecht. Macmillian, 1982. p. 175)

To have check-in time, or if you are new and would like a brief orientation, arrive ten minutes early. And all are welcome to stay ten minutes after as well, for more getting-acquainted time.

How to join:

  • Join this class from your Web browser: https://zoom.us/j/578882781
  • Join this class using the Zoom app: Meeting ID: 578 882 781
  • Join this class by phone: 669 900 9128 US (San Jose), Meeting ID: 578 882 781
  • Join this class by on-tap on mobile phones: +16699009128,,578882781# US (San Jose)
  • Phoning in, but not in the bay area?  Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/abL8clvIYT
Add to: Google Cal, iCal, webcal