Interfaith Fast For Peace

"Leaders from many religious communities have urged Americans of all faiths to fast from dawn to dusk on Monday, October 8 to call for an end to the Iraq War," according to a press release from the National Council of Churches (USA) yesterday. Read the story here.

The interfaith group sponsoring this fast includes Muslims, Jews, and Christians across the entire ecumenical spectrum (although, interestingly, no Lutherans as far as I can tell). A special website has been set up to provide information and resources, including an organizaing tool kit, for anyone interested in getting involved - either individually or congregationally. Click here to reach that site.

Comments

[Tom in Ontario]

I'm not criticizing the idea but why reinvent the wheel. For years the United Nations has designated September 21 as International Day of Peace and the World Council of Churches piggy-backed on that declaring September 21 as International Day of Prayer for Peace. Why designate a new day (Oct. 8) for an Interfaith Fast For Peace. Just do it September 21 when people around the world are already praying for peace.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Hmmm...good questions, Tom. I don't know any more than what I'm reading in the press releases and at the web sites...but it sounds like this is a pretty targeted effort to rally the interfaith community in the U.S. to work for an end to the war in Iraq. If you read through the web site, you'll see that one of their goals is to encourage people of faith to put the pressure on candidates during the U.S. presidential primary season to make the war a big issue...and to elect leaders who are open and serious about their intention to change the U.S. approach in Iraq.