Nashville Church of Scientology Emphasizes Intentional Friendship

International Day of Friendship was created to inspire peace and bridge building. At the end of July, the Church of Scientology is brining together a diverse crowd to dialogue for the occasion a second time. 

More than 100 pastors and community leaders are being called to participate in an interactive adventure in friendship, according to organizers of the Nashville celebration of International Friendship Day.

The celebration, which will take place in the community hall of the Nashville Church of Scientology at the end of the month, is bringing together people from all walks of life, religious backgrounds, cultures and communities to share a meal and learn more about each other.

International Day of Friendship is an annual observance, dignified in 2011 by the United Nations General Assembly with the idea that “friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities,” according to un.org.  The resolution emphasizes that young people, as future leaders, can be brought together in activities with different cultures. This promotes international understanding and respect for diversity.

This is the second annual event for the day hosted by the Church of Scientology, with community leaders coming together to participate. The theme this year is “Intentional Friendship,” and organizers say the event won’t end that afternoon. “We will organize different people to stay in touch with one another for a Friendship Project,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Church of Scientology.

“There are so many problems in the world today caused by a basic misunderstanding of each other. If we learn something about other people we might end these problems, disputes and upsets altogether,” he says.

The Church of Scientology is partnering for this effort with The Way To Happiness Association of Tennessee (TWTH-TN).  TWTH-TN provides a community betterment program based on the book The Way To Happiness by L. Ron Hubbard. The program is predicated on the fact that one’s survival depends on the survival of others—and that without the survival of others, neither joy nor happiness are attainable. Several concepts in the book promote dialogue and friendship. Among them, “Respect the Religious Beliefs of Others,” “Be Worthy of Trust,” and “Try to Treat Others As You Would Want them to Treat You.”

For more information on the Church of Scientology, its programs or upcoming events, visit scientology-ccnashville.org.

Tennessee United for Human Rights Announces Event for Peace Day 2016

International Day of Peace was declared by the United Nations General Assembly as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. This is more relevant than ever, and human rights activists are planning a large event for the occasion in Nashville on September 21st at the Church of Scientology.

Tennessee United for Human Rights (TNUHR) is sponsoring the event.  TNUHR is a non-profit organization, a chapter of the international organization United for Human Rights, formed on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to provide human rights resources and educational materials to all sectors of society.

In 2015, TNUHR organized an eye-opening panel discussion on “Exposing the Hidden World of Human Trafficking.” It brought together organizations that work day in and day out on eradicating the problem, including panelists Clemmie Greenlee, Founder of the Nashville Peacemakers; Melody Fowler-Green, Director of the Metro Human Relations Commission; Allasone Lita G., CEO and Founder of All Is One; Gabrielle Thompson, Executive Director of Free for Life International; and Assistant District Attorney Tammy Meade.

For 2016, TNUHR has revealed the theme to be “Know Your Rights and Survive: Overcoming Domestic Violence.” Expert panelists will speak about human rights and legal rights for victims of domestic violence, how to recognize signs of domestic violence and how to help someone who may be a victim.

John Pantermuehl is the Director of Tennessee United for Human Rights, “We are inspiring peace and educating people about their basic rights. With this knowledge, we can work together to end violence in this country.” For more information about the events on Peace Day or to find out more about Tennessee United for Human Rights, visit tnuhr.org. 

Nashville Religion Communicators Council Discusses Violence, Faith and Hope

The Nashville Chapter of the Religion Communicators Council holds bi-monthly meetings to discuss hot topics and have deep discussions on what is happening in the world today.

Recent violence in the United States began the conversation for the Nashville Chapter of the Religion Communicators Council, but as each person put their deep-seated beliefs on the table, hope became the keyword during this bi-monthly meeting in the series: “Building Bridges Over Bagels."

The longest running interfaith communications organization in the United States, the Religion Communicators Council (RCC), has chapters across the country that meet regularly and promote excellence in the communication of religious faith and values in the public arena and encourage understanding among religious and faith groups. In Nashville, the RCC Chapter has bi-monthly meetings to discuss hot topics and how they, as people of faith, may influence others.

Attendees engaged about how individual religious practices shape lives, and how we can change the world by starting right in our own homes. Participants pointed out how they believe that it starts with oneself and being good to one's own family.

The meeting took place at the Islamic Center of Tennessee. Past meeting locations have included the Church of Scientology, Baha’i Faith Community Center and United Methodist Communications. The next meeting location will be announced on the Nashville RCC website, and takes place on September 13th at 8:30am.  

The RCC has members from every faith group and walk of life including Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, Sikhs, Hindus and more. For more information about the RCC or its next meeting, visit www.religioncommunicators.org/nashville-chapter.

Nashville Religion Communicators Council to Meet at Islamic Center of Tennessee

The Nashville Chapter of the Religion Communicators Council holds bi-monthly meetings to discuss hot topics and have deep discussions on what is happening in the world today.

The longest running interfaith communications organization in the United States, the Religion Communicators Council (RCC), has chapters across the country that meet regularly and promote “excellence in the communication of religious faith and values in the public arena and encourage understanding among religious and faith groups,” according to the RCC website.  

In Nashville, the RCC Chapter has bi-monthly meetings to discuss hot topics and how they, as people of faith, may influence others.

In July, the group is meeting for breakfast and discussion at the Islamic Center of Tennessee in Antioch. According to its website, theictn.org, it is “the largest Islamic Center in Middle Tennessee,” and, “ ICT strives to provide unprecedented and professional Islamic and educational services to its parishioners. As the newest and most diverse community in Nashville, ICT aims to unite Muslims upon the true teachings of tolerance and peace from the Qu’ran and Sunnah.”

Past meeting locations have included the Church of Scientology, Baha’i Faith Community Center and United Methodist Communications.

“We are looking forward to visiting the center,” says Nashville RCC Chapter President Rev. Brian Fesler, “at our meetings, we always have a nice diverse group to dialogue about hot topics and how we can unite to bring more inspiration and good news to the world.”

The RCC has members from every faith group and walk of life including Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, Sikhs, Hindus and more. For more information about the RCC or their next meeting, visit www.religioncommunicators.org.

Drug-Free Tennessee Works with Community Leaders to Spread Hope

For International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Drug-Free Tennessee held a roundtable discussion about ending the drug demand in Nashville.

Community leaders, police and clergy sat down together just before International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking to talk not just the facts, but solutions.

A member of the Metro Vice Unit was present to give statistics about the current “drugs of choice,” and information related to prescription drug abuse, one of the major fads of today. Clergy and community leaders led discussions of how to reach youth before dealers, and Drug-Free Tennessee shared its many educational materials that can be used by anyone to help young people.

Drug-Free Tennessee is a chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, which provides booklets, videos, brochures, and even an educational curriculum for students designed to give all of the basic facts of how drugs affect the body and mind, common street names and more. The Foundation holds events each year that tie into the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1987.

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime is leading the global campaign to raise awareness about the major challenge that illicit drugs represent to society as a whole, and especially to the young. The goal of the campaign is to mobilize support and inspire people to act against drug use, according to unodc.org.

Rev. Brian Fesler who coordinates Drug-Free Tennessee said, “We are committed to bringing the truth about drugs to everyone.  When youth know what they are really getting into, they have a chance to avoid a lot of pain and suffering.” Fesler says it can’t be done in a day and his organization is committed to working continuously to curb the drug epidemic. “We will go to anyone, anywhere in the region to spread the Truth About Drugs message,” he says, referring to the educational component of the program.

To learn more, order booklets or schedule a visit to your school, group or congregation, visit drugfreetn.org. 

The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee Participates in Father’s Day Celebration

“Honor and Help Your Parents,” is but one precept from the common sense guide, The Way to Happiness, but it was with this in mind, that volunteers from The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee took to the Edgehill neighborhood for a Father’s Day celebration where they distributed copies of the booklet to parents and children alike.

The Way to Happiness, which was written by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard in the early 1980s, sparked a movement and has been reprinted and passed hand to hand to a wide variety of cultures and peoples.

In Tennessee, The Way to Happiness Association has been on an all-out effort to spread its message even further. The reason? Organizers for the group say where it is distributed crime rates plummet, as proven by statistics.

“This book spreads a calmness that is unparalleled by anything else. It contains common sense moral messages that anyone can agree with and apply,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, the regional coordinator for the program.

According to thewaytohappiness.org, “This code of conduct can be followed by anyone, of any race, color or creed and works to restore the bonds that unite humankind.” In the three decades since it was authored, some 80 million copies of the book passed hand to hand.

The Tennessee Association launched its campaign in 2009. During the Father’s Day celebration, dozens of copies of the booklet were distributed. For more information, visit twthtn.org.

Drug-Free Tennessee Blankets the Edgehill Neighborhood with Truth

For International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Drug-Free Tennessee took to the Edgehill neighborhood to distribute copies of the Truth About Drugs booklet.

In 2013, neighborhoodscout.com listed Edgehill as the 18^th most dangerous neighborhood in the United States. And in 2015, the Tennessean newspaper reported that police were cracking down on drug production in the area, with two individuals sentenced to prison after police found several pounds of methamphetamine in each of their homes, one home had roughly $20,000 worth. So the Drug-Free Tennessee marched through the area this past weekend on International Day Against Drug Abuse to distribute more than 300 booklets to residents.

International Day Against Drug Abuse was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1987. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime is leading the global campaign to raise awareness about the major challenge that illicit drugs represent to society as a whole, and especially to the young. The goal of the campaign is to mobilize support and inspire people to act against drug use, according to unodc.org.

Drug-Free Tennessee is a chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, which has the goal to educate children and youth across the world to effectively prevent the demand for drugs. Every year, the Foundation holds events that tie into the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Rev. Brian Fesler who coordinates Drug-Free Tennessee said, “We are committed to bringing the truth about drugs to everyone.  When youth know what they are really getting into, they have a chance to avoid a lot of pain and suffering.” Fesler says it can’t be done in a day and his organization is committed to working continuously to curb the drug epidemic. “We will go to anyone, anywhere in the region to spread the Truth About Drugs message,” he says, referring to the educational component of the program.

The Foundation for a Drug-Free World provides an educational curriculum for students designed to give all of the basic facts of how drugs affect the body and mind, common street names and more. In Tennessee, volunteers travel to schools and give lectures to students on these materials and provide more information for teachers to use after they’ve gone.

To learn more, order booklets or schedule a visit to your school, group or congregation, visit drugfreetn.org.