Pacifica Institute and Westwood United Methodist Church shared dinner near the end of Ramadan. Before the iftar meal, a video presentation helped the audience understand that Ramadan is the ninth month of Islamic calender and it helps people avoid ill nature excessive activities and that Ramadan is also a time to cleanse the soul and practice selflesness. Fasting is not only one of the pillars of Islam but an active form of prayer. During this month muslims ask for forgiveness from God. In the end of the video, there was the call to prayer that signifies the time of breaking the fast.
Families and friends from both Pacifica and United Methodist Church sat around the tables, chatted about their daily lives and their practices in their religions. As Ramadan becomes more valueable when the meal is shared with neighbours and friends so did this iftar meal became a double blessing with the participation of our guests.
In the meantime, Dr Ozgur Koca from Claremont School of Theology made a presentation about what the basic facts about fasting and spiritual dimension it brings to the individual. In his presentation Dr Koca emphasized that aside from abstaining from eating and drinking from dawn till dusk, there needs to be a focus on gaining spirituality and the individual’s attempt to try to answer the question where we come from, why we are here and where we are going. Ultimately this would lead to getting closer to the Creator, more contemplation of the hereafter and the next world.
Dr Koca also added that breaking from our routine allows us to experience the world from a fresh perspective. A drink of water is no longer mundane and ordinary. Everything is miraculous. Dr. Koca emphasized that fasting is a common practice in many religions; it establishes a link with the larger community of believers. Pacifica thanks to the members of the Westwood United Methodist Church for getting out of their own comfort zone and being with a complete stranger in faith, tradition and culture.
