The 2006 Religion-Outside-The-Box Awards
Religion-Outside-The-Box helps people reclaim the heart of their religious life -- and in 2005 celebrated 5 people who were living their religious lives their way. They were honored for finding and singing praises to God as they best understand how – and each in their own way.
Here are the 2006 honorees (in no particular order):
Jim Henderson, executive director and co-founder of Off-The-Map, a non-profit internet based organization seeking to make evangelism (helping people to connect with God) doable, practical and fun for ordinary Christians … reinventing evangelism.
Jim writes:
We see this as part of a larger movement that we call otherliness -- the spiritual practice of noticing and serving others in non-dramatic, ordinary ways. OTM advocates that Christians ought to be known for a way of living that is generous and intentionally otherly at its core. OTM presents stories, ideas and related practices through seminars, workshops, conferences, published multimedia and written materials, a website and an e-zine called Idealab.
(Religion-Outside-The-Box was notified about OTM’s work after articles ran on their “purchase” of an atheist’s soul on e-bay compelling him to attend church services. Now, that’s thinking outside-the-box!)
Daniel Nagacitta Buckley Sensei is a Zen Buddhist priest and founder of the Los Angeles Based Strawberry Dragon Zendo.
Nagy, as he is called, and his dedicated group serve as volunteer chaplains in 8 prisons.
Nagy writes:
The mission is not to convert anybody to Buddhism but to try to bring peace by the teaching of meditation, help develop and support a person's search for a spiritual path no matter the tradition but most important just to be there with those who have fallen through the cracks of our society. This is done by being open to everything, bearing witness and being thankful for being given the gift of giving.
Nagy feels strongly that having the opportunity to serve others will give you an attitude of gratitude.
When asked why he does this type of work he smiles and says "just lucky I guess."
Rabbi Dov Gartenberg, Founder and Rabbi of Panim Hadashot New Faces of Judaism.
Rabbi Dov writes:
Panim Hadashot New Faces of Judaism seeks to promote a love for Judaism through the celebration and sharing of Shabbat in the home and through engagement in compelling and spiritually relevant Jewish learning.
Through our focus on celebration and learning, we share Jewish cultural, ethical, and spiritual traditions with Jews, non-Jewish partners, and those interested in Judaism. Our commitment to a welcoming approach aims to revitalize the ancient Jewish practice of hospitality, which is embodied in our name, Panim Hadashot-the tradition of including ‘new faces’ in the joyful celebrations of our lives.
As a new model of outreach and education, Panim Hadashot embraces a pluralistic approach to Judaism, fosters a rabbinic-lay partnership, and restores the Beit Midrash-House of Study-to its place as a vital institution in Jewish communal life.
Panim Hadashot is based in Seattle, WA.
One of the people who was to receive an ROTB award this year responded that as modesty is very important to their spiritual practice, they would have to decline the honors.
This reminds me of a story:
A village wanted to find the most humble person who lived there. They searched and search until one day they found someone far in the remote hillside living in a hut. This person was awarded a medal by the group, who, then, when it was accepted, immediately took it back.
This is not to say there is anything wrong with those listed above who accepted the award -- as it has been said, what good is a light under a bushel?
Link to: The 2005 Religion-Outside-The-Box Awards
If you have someone to nominate for the next set of Religion-Outside-The-Box awards, please e-mail who it is and why they might deserve such an honor.
Or if you just want to get an official "pat on the head" for doing your religious life not necessarily how you were told you "ought to" but how you "know you are supposed to" please let e-mail.