Month: August 2024

On December 8^th at 5:00pm, Plymouth Congregational Church (4126 Ingersoll Ave, Des Moines) holds a Soup Supper and Carol Sing.

On November 2^nd at 5:00pm, the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of Iowa (33916 155th Lane, Madrid) holds diwali services and celebrations.

The celebration begins at 3:00 pm and concludes with fireworks as follows:

3:00 PM	Lakshmi and Ganesha Abhishekam
4:30 PM	Anna Koot and Govardhan Pooja
5:00 PM	Darshan followed by thirtha, prasadam, and dinner (available for purchase)
6:30 PM	Fireworks at dusk

October 16th, 6:30pm, Pure Land of Iowa, 8364 Hickman Rd, Clive

We will be joining this regular-meeting meditation group to hear about Buddhist dharma (teaching, truth) and practice  Buddhist meditation. Visitors should dress comfortably (but also modestly), remove shoes at door, avoid pointing outstretched legs toward sacred objects (altars) or people (monks). Please also bring a face mask.Those leaving from Drake can meet outside the Olmsted Center at 6:00 pm. Rides are available from members of the Interfaith @ Drake student club. Below, is the entry for this session on the Pure Land of Iowa website.

Meditation and Discussion This is a group for people who practice sitting meditation and have an interest in gaining greater understanding of “Dhamma/Dharma” however it is construed, and how we can improve the quality of life for ourselves and everybody else.  The format will be a short, guided meditation, followed by the introduction of a concept or two, 20 to 30 minutes of discussion, and a closing 30-minute meditation. Comfort breaks can be taken at any time. Total time about 90 minutes.To protect everybody, we will be maintaining the recommended social distancing, and we will wear our masks. That being the case, you might want to try meditation while wearing a mask, just to get used to it.

Bhante Dhammapala Bhante Dhammapala ordained with a Theravāda bhikkhu from Sri Lanka in 1979. Along with a group of 19 others, he practiced in the forestlands of northern California for two years. However there was extremely little support for a Theravāda saṅgha at that time and place, so the group disrobed, and disbanded, and pursued education and a livelihood. Bhante’s commitment was strong however, and he continued to practice religiously, daily for the next 30 years.In July, 2011 Bhante re-ordained as a bhikkhu, and set forth as a missionary, taking the Dhamma to the people. A vocation he continues to energetically pursue.

On September 15^th at 6:00pm, Ezan: Islamic and Education Center (6206 Douglas Ave, Des Moines) holds a “mawlid” observance of the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

Join the community at Ezan: Islamic and Education Center for the observance and celebration of “mawlid” (“mevlud” in Bosnian), the birthday of Prophet Muhammad’ (pbuh). At the event, the community will recount the life of, recite Quranic verses and poetry involving, and sing hymns about the life of the Prophet (pbuh). 

Men and women should be covered to ankles and below elbows; women should also cover hair. (A scarf is fine.) Shoes will be removed upon entering the building.

On November 21st at 6:00pm in Drake’s Sussman Theater (Olmsted Center), Comparison Project Interfaith Fellows, Alex Phillips and Catalina Samaniego, present ethnographically rich stories about the obstacles and opportunities of worship for local disabled religious practitioners. 

Catalina Samaniego has been a Fellow with The Comparison Project since 2022, focusing on financial expansion and planning. She is a senior at Drake University studying Economics and International Relations with minors in German and Cybersecurity. She was the 2023 winner of the Ron and Jane Olson Outstanding Global Service Learning Award and Plymouth Career Scholarship, on the Dean Honor Roll for Social Impact, and has been honored on the floor of the Iowa State Senate for leadership in community outreach and building. Catalina can be found around town conducting research similar to those of the City of Des Moines R.I.A.S taskforce and the Iowa United Nations Association. After law school, she is pursuing a career in financial regulation.

Alex Phillips is a senior at Drake University, graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology. Alex has been a Fellow with The Comparison Project since 2022. Being active in Pagan communities across the Midwest, Alex joined TCP in devotion to educating the local community in the diverse philosophies, religions, and cultures in the area. Alex has been a national competitor in the 100 Black Men’s Dollars and $ense Competition. He is involved in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)‘s initiatives surrounding awareness of systemic racism. Outside of class Alex can be found in the weight room, or studying Hermetic philosophy. After graduation, Alex will be pursuing a career in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Fraud Investigation.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship that religion plays in the lives of physically disabled and neurodivergent. The relationship between religious identification, disability, and neurodivergence is a less often studied phenomenon. This study aims to examine this relationship in the context of quality of life, accessibility, and connectedness. This includes connectedness to one’s community, and to their corresponding minimally counterintuitive figures, if applicable. For many individuals with disabilities, religious communities serve as vital sources of social support and connectedness. These spaces offer opportunities for inclusion, where collective worship and dialogue can provide a sense of belonging. ​​However, the relationship between religion and disability is not without its challenges. In some religious contexts, disability has historically been associated with negative connotations, such as divine punishment or moral failing. Understanding and addressing these dynamics is crucial for improving the overall quality of life for people with disabilities within religious settings.