Re: Religious symbols and policies | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Jessie Kome (jehakomac.com) | |
Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 05:47:59 -0700 (PDT) |
Hi- We almost had a fight over holiday decorations our first year at Eastern Village, then found an elegant way not to. Our policy is simple. Members can decorate their unit exteriors and common space for whatever holiday they observe, for the normal duration of that holiday. In practice, we tend to have a Christmas tree, a sukkot booth (on the roof), and Halloween decorations. Once in a while we've had some bunting for July 4 and like that. We also celebrate our EVC anniversary. If there is a party for any holiday, everyone is invited. We also condensed on a common space aesthetic we call "folk art funky", so some people have Tibetan prayer flags outside their units, and I think there is a Buddha around here somewhere. We did have one or two Christians who did not like the policy that allows decorations for all religions, but they expressed their concerns and stood aside. I don't think anyone remembers now (except me, and I had to look back in my emails for the time to refresh my memory). We have (or have had) ministers, a rabbi, an ethical culture speaker and other members very involved in a religious or similar community. For a year or two, several members went to each others places or worship or meditation or what have you. We have all, slowly, grown. My two cents is, you can't make people celebrate a holiday they don't feel in their hearts. And telling people they cannot celebrate to the fullest a holiday that they do feel in their hearts is going to seem ungenerous. I am not religious, but I do like learning, eating festive food, and being glad for my neighbors celebrations. Jessie Handforth Kome Eastern Village Cohousing Silver Spring, Maryland
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Religious symbols and policies Karen Carlson, October 18 2013
- Message not available
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Re: Religious symbols and policies Elizabeth Magill, October 21 2013
- Re: Religious symbols and policies Jessie Kome, October 22 2013
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Re: Religious symbols and policies Elizabeth Magill, October 21 2013
- Message not available
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Re: Religious symbols and policies Jerry McIntire, October 22 2013
- Re: Religious symbols and policies Sharon Villines, October 22 2013
- Re: Religious symbols and policies Fred H Olson, October 23 2013
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