Atlantic Institute invites you to our Yearly Interfaith Event!
The Tour of Faiths is one of our absolute favorite events each year and we are dedicated to providing an experience as close to the in person Tour of Faiths program that we all remember, during the continuing global pandemic.
Last year we heard from so many that they really enjoyed that this event was virtual, there were so many more faiths that could be included this way and so many of us were able to attend more of them without having to drive in the summer heat.
To that end, we are working with faith organizations to provide either In person or Virtual Services for you to join in on. Even with some of the In person services, we will still try and be on our phones virtually for you to be able to see.
Join us on this journey of spiritual discovery!
**Please note** We will be adding to this schedule as the month forms, this is our beginning schedule. If you know of a faith that would like to participate, please let us know.
Each Virtual Tour will have different Zoom links, please sign up for each event separately.
Awen Grove Fellowship-Pagan
Time: Jul 1, 2021 07:15 PM
We would like to thank Mela and the Awen Grove Fellowship for being our first stop on the Tour of Faiths. This was a great way to highlight the pagan faith and how tied to nature their beliefs are. Getting a chance to see the faiths of SC up close and personal like this is a valuable learning experience so we can all understand one another a little better. If you want more information on this organization, please seek the Awen Grove Fellowship out on Facebook.
Scientology with Willie Pena
Time: Jul 2, 2021 07:15 PM
We would like to thank Willie Pena, Independent Scientologist for explaining to us what the Scientology faith is. Insight into some of these normally "taboo" faiths is quite enlightening and informative for all of us to learn about. Thank you for being the second stop on our Tour of Faith.
Baha'i Houses of Worship Around the World
Time: Jul 8, 2021 07:15 PM
We thank Frances Worthington for putting together such a wonderful powerpoint and video presentation of Baha'i Houses of worship around the world. It was fascinating to be able to virtually travel and see all of these different places and different centers and to learn all about them. You really need to take the time to watch the video of this event.
"Judaism On One Foot" introduction to Jewish theology and practice
Time: Jul 9, 2021
We extend our sincerest thank you to Rabbi Matthew Marko with Congregation Beth Israel. This was our first in person event that was not a drive thru event!! It was so great to see everyone together and to hear people singing, even if some of us totally botched up the language!! We are so very grateful for the ability to stream this for those at home that couldn't make it as well. Thank you Rabbi Marko for always being a steward of interfaith work for the community and for sharing your knowledge with us.
HIghlight Event!
July 11, 2021 2 PM
We would like to thank Ami Braun, who joined us live from Jerusalem and has been a professional Tour Guide for 20 years there.
We were able to virtually travel to a city that doesn't have the three main religions side by side, but as he said, layered on top of eachother:
For Judaism we were able to see the City of David and then the Second Temple with the Western & Southern walls of the Temple Mount.
For the Christian faith we were able to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher
and for Islam we were able to visit Haram Al- Sharif (Muslim Temple Mount) with the Dome of the Rock & El Aksa Mosque.
Many of us will never travel to Jerusalem, and right now, when the Tourism industry has been hurting so much, it was great to be able to travel there virtually.
Ami Braun was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1978. His family made Aliya home when he was five years old. Ami is a graduate of Bar Ilan University with a BA in Psychology, and is currently enrolled in the university’s Masters Degree program in Israel Studies. Between 1999–2007 Ami was involved in various informal education programs while simultaneously working as a local guide in Jerusalem at the City of David, Western Wall Tunnels and Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. Ami completed the State of Israel Tour Guide course in 2007 and has been working as a licensed Tour Guide ever since. He has also completed a specialty Tour Guide course in Bible Studies.
Ami has guided a variety of types of groups from around the world, including youth movement and Birthright groups. Over the last decade he has specialized in guiding multi-generation, family, federation, and congregation groups throughout Israel.
Understanding Islam with Imam Huzaifa
Time: Jul 15, 2021 07:15 PM
We thank Imam Huzaifa for taking the time to put together such a wonderful powerpoint presentation as well as a tour of some of the most interesting Mosques around the world. Thank you so much for answering all of our many questions as well.
There is no video recording of this, due to some technical difficulties. There are many pictures though!
Quaker
Time: Jul 18, 2021 03:30 PM
We thoroughly enjoyed visiting with the Quakers on Sunday. We thank Doris and her husband for sharing about Quakerism as well as the others that were on the call to share too. It was such an enlightening experience. We started with 30 minutes of silent meditation where anyone can also speak about what comes to their mind and we held all the flooding in Germany in our thoughts, as well as other events in the world. Then we moved on to the Forum time, where we had a thorough explanation of the history of Quakerism through England and the US. We had a look at some of the Meeting Houses that were used over the years and learned that what started out as 3 Quakers in SC has grown to now about 300! We enjoyed learning about this small yet very historical faith. Unfortunately there was no way to get video recorded of this presentation.
Sikh Gurdwara in Chapin SC
We thank Amarjit Singh and Dr Ugur Kursuncu for taking us on a virtual tour through the Sikh Gurdwara in Chapin SC. We learned so much about this faith in such a short time and appreciate being able to walk around virtually by phone so we could see everything as well as talk to others! Technology today is a wonderful thing! Definitely watch the video on this one to learn about this faith that many of us don't know anything about.
Greenville First Assemblies of God - Pentecostal
Time: Jul 22, 2021 07:15 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Beth Shalom Synagogue Columbia
Time: Jul 27, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Islam with Masjid Greenville
Time: Jul 29, 2021 07:15 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Hindu Temple of Charleston SC
Time: Jul 31, 2021 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Temples- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Time: Jul 31, 2021 02:00 PM
We thank Elder J.Vaun McArthur for the extremely insightful presentation into the Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints faith. This presentation was a great one with pictures and video explanations of some of the differences between those of your faith and those that are not of your faith.The video for this event is on our YouTube page.
Here is Elder J.Vaun McArthur's bio for those of you that are interested: Elder J. Vaun McArthur was given the assignment of Area Seventy by the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and asked to coordinate the open house and dedication of the Baton Rouge Temple early in 2019.
Elder McArthur graduated from Kansas State University as a doctor of philosophy in biology. He also taught general biology, microbial ecology, and environmental science.
Elder McArthur recently retired from the University of Georgia. He has also served as a senior scientist at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory since 1985. He designed, analyzed and published numerous scientific studies on the ecology of various organisms, and he also supervised graduate students.
He has served in his Church in various capacities including bishop, branch president, high councilor, stake mission president and stake president. His tenure as an Area Seventy will be completed soon..
J. Vaun McArthur and his wife, Jackie, are the parents of four children, happy grandparents, and currently reside in Aiken, South Carolina.
