Faith and mental health may intersect in surprising ways, panel says

An interfaith panel of three mental health professionals and a pastor weighed in on interfaith approaches to mental health at the Birmingham Community House on May 16. All agreed that western medicine has an important role in treating mental health, but they each shared different perspectives based on their individual faith traditions.

While Nacha Leaf (Jewish), Sameera Ahmed (Muslim), Mona Belsare (Hindu) and Rev. Sandra K. Gordon (Christian) agreed that there was a point when medical intervention was necessary, Rev. Gordon pointed out that her black Baptist tradition found value in traditional Christian healing and prayer. Rev. Gordon said that her tradition actively allowed for God's intervention, sometimes through the laying on of hands and even casting out of demons. She did note that there does come a point when a Christian pastor must know her boundaries and encourage a person who is mentally distressed to seek professional psychological help.

Prompted by a question from the audience, the other panelists warmed to the idea that they too were influenced by their respective traditions. Belsare said that her Hindu tradition sometimes prompts her to offer meditation and Yoga as a potentially effective therapy. Leaf, an Orthodox Jew, said the Torah teaches that creation is good--and that good outcomes can be expected--thus countering a sense of hopelessness. She might not mention to her client, however, that her prescription was supported by her Jewish faith.

Ahmed found her own Muslim faith informed her work in some unexpected ways.

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Interfaith prayer event to focus on health

Interfaith panel to discuss mental health issues and challenges

Please join a community of interfaith groups at a forum to address:

"Mental Health Issues and Challenges

Facing Metro Detroit's Diverse Faith Traditions"

Wednesday, May 16th

6:30 PM to 9:00 PM

The Community House, 380 S. Bates, Birmingham

Sponsored by the Family and Youth Institute, the Interfaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit, Kadima, The Race Relations and Diversity Task Force of the Birmingham Community House, and WISDOM (Women's Interfaith Solutions for Dialogue and Outreach in MetroDetroit), the panel will include experts in the mental health field representing the Christian, Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim faith traditions:

Nacha Leaf (Jewish), Clinical Social Worker/Therapist at Kadima, a Jewish mental health agency in Southfield

Sameera Ahmed (Muslim), Director of the Family & Youth Institute and a Clinical Assistant Professor at Wayne State University in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience.

Rev. Sandra Gordon (Christian), Assistant to Pastor Kenneth Flowers at the Greater New Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit, and former Co-chairperson of the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program.

Mona Belsare (Hindu), Vice President of the Michigan Asian Indian Family Services which serves the South Asian community, and a psychiatric social worker in the ER at Beaumont Hospital.

The presentation will focus predominately on youth of multiple faith groups, the challenges that they face, and the stigma attached to dealing with mental illnesses. Information will include steps that teachers, parents, family members, and clinicians can take to ensure that mental health issues of youth in specific faith traditions are addressed.

The event is free and refreshments will be served. For further information or to register, please contact Sheri Schiff, sheri1228@yahoo.com. 

Muslim Observer spotlights Amy-Jill Levine's talk on Jesus and Judaism

Dr. Amy-Jill Levine speaking March 30 in Royal Oak. Photo by Laura Fawaz | Mulsim ObserverLaura Fawaz from the Muslim Observer, an international media service for the Muslim community, covered the March 30 lecture by Dr. Amy-Jill Levine on "Understanding Jesus Means Understanding Judaism: Tips for Preaching and Teaching."  While the talk was directed primarily to Christian preachers, Fawaz noted the diversity of faiths in attendance and remarked that Levine "was sure to make each group feel included in her speech."

Fawaz noted, "Dr. Levine has the remarkable ability to be hard-hitting, pointing out how even liberal Christians can inadvertently misunderstand who Jesus was, as a Jew, and what he stood for. . . she has a witted humor with analogies that really hit the point she’s trying to make, and in an entertaining manner."

According to the article, Levine recommended the faithful read the holy books of other traditions. Fawaz said, "if we want our neighbors to respect us, which means not only just meeting us, but also knowing something about our traditions and our values and our scriptures, we owe our neighbors the same courtesy."

Read the complete article at the Muslim Observer. 

Explore metro Detroit's holy places through Houses of Worship Photos Project

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Monroe, Michigan, by John Hile as part of Houses of Worship Photo Project.

Seeking talented volunteer photographers

The Interfaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit and ReadTheSpirit online magazine are launching an exciting opportunity this month: the Houses of Worship Photos Project. 

This project will synergize the efforts of volunteer photographers and worship communities, spotlighting the rich heritage of metro Detroit's faith traditions. Quality photos of worship life and architecture will be loaded onto the trusted photo database Wikimedia Commons (part of Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia).  This serves a twofold purpose: journalists, writers, teachers, community leaders and curious onlookers can readily explore the diverse array of Michigan's worship spaces, and faith communities can share snapshots of their worship life with the world.

Sound interesting? Get  involved!

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