Celebration of Abraham puts focus on ‘human dignity’

When members of the Celebration of Abraham sat down in September to discuss the theme for this year’s annual Davis gathering, they reflected on the current times that seem so divisive, despite the fact there is one characteristic fundamental to all of us: human dignity.

Although it is difficult to define human dignity, our religions and traditions remind us to hold it as a value in our relationships with others, especially with individuals who have views that are contrary to our own, and to maintain our own human dignity even in times of difficulty. In order to make community in a world comprising many religious traditions and beliefs, we must strive to renew our appreciation and respect for the dignity of all human beings.

Thus, this year’s Celebration of Abraham theme is, “A Community Conversation on Human Dignity.”

The 18th Annual Celebration of Abraham gathering, “A Community Conversation on Human Dignity,” will run from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, in the Fellowship Hall at St. James Catholic Church, 1275 B St. in Davis.

The interfaith Celebration of Abraham was founded by a group of Yolo

County residents after Sept. 11, 2001, with the hope of building community across religious differences during a time of heightened political tension in our country. We now find ourselves living through another time of heightened political tension, and the principles of the Celebration of Abraham to bring people together to nurture a sense of compassion, respect, appreciation, and foster learning and understanding, are true now more than ever.

“There can be many different definitions of human dignity, said Helen Roland, chairwoman of the Celebration of Abraham and a member of the Davis United Methodist Church. “Even though there is not a simple definition of human dignity, we recognize this as a core value in our relationships with others and see how our community is stronger when we are able to understand and maintain this value.” The focus on human dignity is in keeping with the Celebration of Abraham’s principles.

Anne Kjemtrup, a member of the Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims Center and an active member of the planning committee, added that, “The concept that human dignity is inherent to people as a result of God’s grace is a shared belief across the Abrahamic faiths. We look forward to exploring in conversation how remembering the shared value of human dignity might improve our interactions with others.”

As always, to facilitate a truly meaningful experience for the close to 200 people who typically attend this free interfaith event, the program will be interactive. Sitting at round tables of eight to 10 people, those attending will delve into questions designed to help each person gain insight about expressions of human dignity from faith or other traditions and how these values may assist us when we interact with others who hold opposing views on highly charged subjects, such as the status of refugees.

Those gathered again will sing “Children of Abraham” and engage in the traditional washing each other’s hands and breaking a loaf of bread to share with those at the table as symbols of respect and connection.