Annual Member Day
The great treasure of the Faith Initiative is our question: What is the shape of flourishing life? As human beings, we are purposeful creatures; everything we do is aimed at something we judge worthy of our humanity. This means taking seriously our differences even as we work to recognize shared values. In dialogue, we do our best to discern the sorts of lives we deem worthy of our shared humanity. And, knowing our vision is always limited, we nevertheless act courageously in the urgency of the moment.
—Matthew Croasmun, Faith Initiative Director
Approach
By openly engaging one another in matters of profound importance—especially where we disagree—the programs in our Faith Initiative provide access to perspectives that encourage dialogue and reflection about what it means to live meaningful, purposeful lives.
Books on Faith & Meaning
These presentations introduce selections from the Faith & Meaning section of the Grace Farms Library. Spanning multiple religious and philosophical traditions, both ancient and contemporary, these texts encourage us to think critically about the meaning in our lives.
Dr. Xavier Pickett | Howard Thurman's Jesus and the Disinherited
Professor Xavier Pickett
from NC State University, explores Dr. Howard Thurman's theological treatise, Jesus and the Disinherited, a foundational work of non-violent resistance, and a vivid vision of flourishing life in the face of violent oppression.Life Worth Living
What does it mean to live a flourishing life? How do we find the time and framework to explore the life we want? This seven-week course, inspired by one of the most popular courses at Yale, engages a range of philosophical and religious traditions to facilitate conversations on meaning and purpose in our lives within an engaged community of participants.
Faith Programming Gallery
2017
Forged partnerships to foster multi-denominational and interfaith dialogue, including offering the Life Worth Living course under the direction of Dr. Miroslav Volf, Professor of Theology at Yale and Grace Farms Foundation Board Member.
2016
Invited broad audiences to explore open, gracious discourse around faith with Pastor Greg Zehner and guest speakers including Geshe Dhargey, a Buddhist Monk, and Dr. Kareem Adeeb, a Muslim Imam.
2015
Established Grace Farms as a welcoming environment for reflection and contemplation, set apart from the pace of our daily lives, but responsive to the realities of the world around us