PAN, (10/18/2008 6:57:01 AM)

When I was young, the dinner table was the time for sharing the day's news, the problems with the kids, with work, money, politics; just about everything. I think that's why people were so much closer to one another and stayed closer as they grew older. To have friends drop in and stay for dinner, well - it was pretty much the same type of discussions. Those friends (new ones as well as old ones) and family had a bond with one another that stayed with them all of their lives. Those times many years ago molded a lot of ME to be who I am and those people molded ME, too. To know one another in this way, over the dinner table in a real family's home, shows that people can get along if they just TRY to get along. Everyone in the world eats if they have food and everyone discusses things if they have someone to discuss them with, so it only makes sense that if we 'break bread' with others, we might find out that they aren't really all that different than we are. The only difference might be in the way they speak, dress, skin color and features or in their faith. When relationships come about over a relaxed dinner, doesn't it only make sense that it is HELPFUL to society? It makes sense to me.

Common Tables, Parker (10/18/2008 7:05:12 AM)

Common Tables is a global interfaith organization based in Colorado. We currently have members in more than 100 cities, in 30 different states (including OK) and in 5 countries other than the US. To date we have supplied information to individuals and/or organizations in 108 different countries.

Dave Corby, Co-Founder & Executive Director

Hijinx, (10/18/2008 8:29:24 AM)

Sounds like a great program Mr Corby. I wish for your continued success in bringing understanding and tolerance.

Maybe some of us posters on here should sit down and break some bread as well. I suspect we would find we have more in common than we think.

Lawrence, Tulsa (10/18/2008 8:55:35 AM)

Seems a little fluffy-foo-foo but I support the idea and goal behind their efforts. We do need more understanding between religions and people of differences of every kind, not just religion.

CWG, Tulsa (10/18/2008 9:02:47 AM)

There are good people all over the globe.Differences and similarities exist between all races and religions.Good will between different people equals peace.

Graychin, Eucha (10/18/2008 10:20:54 AM)

Fluffy-foo-foo?

Meeting and engaging people who are different from us takes effort. The easy and natural path is to form tight little tribes that fear and loathe "outsiders." The world, America, and especially Oklahoma need more of these events.

One picky question: The genealogies of Jesus given in the Gospels are of Joseph, who we understand was not Jesus' father. How then do we know that Jesus was a descendant of David? (This sort of thing always got me in trouble in Sunday School.)

tfromtulsa, Tulsa (10/18/2008 10:55:35 AM)

The weather?

Joseph E. Paulk, (10/18/2008 11:15:49 AM)

I guess those of us who are not a member of one of the three Abrahamic faiths are left standing out in the cold. But hey, we're used to it.

James Buchanan, (10/18/2008 11:29:33 AM)

Did hear the one about the priest, rabbi, and mullah...

Common Tables, Parker (10/18/2008 11:56:28 AM)

For clarification, our organization - Common Tables - is not connected with the group that is the subject of this article. We welcome ALL faiths and belief systems. In fact, nearly 20% of our members report their belief system as being either Atheist, Agnostic, Secular or Non-Religious. Additionally, our members include Baha'i Faith, Buddhists, Neo-Pagans and many other non-Abrahamic traditions. We are an all-inclusive organization and make great efforts to insure that none are left out.

Thanks to all for your comments! Dave

Fred, (10/18/2008 1:44:15 PM)

Graychin,

Your King David link problem was too cute. It made me think about whether Adam and Eve had navels. Being perfect human forms they had to but why?

Graychin, Eucha (10/18/2008 2:09:26 PM)

Fred:

Yep. That one got me in trouble in Sunday School too.

HitAnyKey, Tulsa (10/18/2008 2:57:46 PM)

My daughter attended a small private school here in Tulsa that was not affiliated with any religion. The students there formed close friendships and happily celebrated one another's milestones. One fond memory is when a group of friends attended the Bat Mitzvah of one of the girls. Seated in a row in the Synagogue were a Muslim, a Catholic, a Jew, a Jehovah's Witness and a Baptist. It is important for us to remember that while our religion determines what we are, we are free to determine who we are. Just as these children chose to be friends, we as adults can make that same choice.

HitAnyKey, Tulsa (10/18/2008 3:03:10 PM)

Oops, I totally left out the two young ladies who were Hindu and Buddhist!

Maynard James Keenan, (10/18/2008 3:04:06 PM)

If every person were tolerant of others views the world
would be a much better place.

jestergrl, ok (10/18/2008 3:48:44 PM)

Yeah the whole world can be one. Isn't that just so nice.

Eric, Tulsa (10/18/2008 4:44:09 PM)

Wow - nice to see everyone posting positive comments.

Not wanting to risk sounding too "fluffy-foo-foo", but it would be nice to see people get together over meals and work out differences.

Think:
Democrats and Republicans in Congress, sharing bread and finding common ground to help us.

Proud Muslim, Tulsa: Coolest place in the world (almost) (10/18/2008 5:53:39 PM)

Thank you, Common Tables! This is just what Tulsa needs.

Lance-a-lot, Tulsa (10/18/2008 8:14:49 PM)

First of all, I want to say I worked with many men from Turkey in a school one time. I came to know them as decent people with good hearts and kind to point of altuism.

They invited me into their homes (seriously, all of them, not one or two). They made the most lavish spreads (especially during Ramadan). And I have been an avid Turkish tea drinker ever since. (By the way, I learned from them that they invented Baklava, not the Greeks, or so the story goes.)

That being said, I can now see them as people, and still disagree with them on issues of religion. I respect them, but not their religion (and I;m sure that goes both ways).

I decided not to be wary of them anymore, just what they stand for.

Anytime a muslim wants to invite me over for dinner, I'm there baby!

Eagle 4, Tulsa (10/18/2008 9:18:44 PM)

"First of all, I want to say I worked with many men from Turkey in a school one time. I came to know them as decent people with good hearts and kind to point of altuism." - Lance-a-lot

I can second that. I've got a Turkish sister-in-law who can make you feel like a member of her own family, make you a delicious cup of coffee and then tell your fortune in the dregs! I never tried to debate with her, knowing I'd lose hands down.

Yogi, Tulsa (10/19/2008 8:50:18 AM)

Great article. We need more programs like this to where people from different beliefs can make friends with each other.

ELENA, TULSA (10/21/2008 10:52:02 AM)

JESUS LOVES EVERYONE! However He wasn't shy about telling people what the Fathers Will was and so I believe that if He were sitting in an interfaith group of His day He would have interjected the truth.

ALSO..Jesus was a descendant of Davids line. His Father could't be Joseph because then he would have inherited Josephs sin nature and couldnt have given His life for us on the cross. That's also why He had to be born of a virgin.

Proud Muslim, Tulsa: Coolest place in the world (almost) (10/21/2008 7:44:20 PM)

"His Father could't be Joseph because then he would have inherited Josephs sin nature"

Allow me to interject some truth here.
#1
There is no sin inheritance. Adam committed a sin and was forgiven. I am not responsible for the sins of my father, nor he for his, etc, etc.

#2
If there was, then Mary could not be the mother of Jesus, for she was a woman, and that would make her a "sinner".

#3
Jesus wasn't killed, he was saved. And he's not coming back.

Just some of those Christian-Muslim disagreements on Jesus.

ELENA, TULSA (10/22/2008 12:16:39 PM)

PROUD MUSLIM:

If Adam had been forgiven we would all be living forever because that was God's orig. plan. You don't read anything about death until after Adam sinned and God pronounced that he would die. Therefore WE have all inherited Adams sin nature and since God HATES SIN He sent Jesus to die in our place. It took a perfect man to buy back what Adam lost for us. Also Adam sinned. Eve was deceived..therefore Adam is responsible for sin..and thus Joseph couldnt be His father. So Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and gave up His glory in heaven to come to earth and be born as a man. Hence the necessity of a virgin birth.

I agree that Jesus wasnt killed. He lay down His life voluntarily FOR US. When Peter cut off the ear of the soldier on the night Jesus was arrested, Jesus rebuked him and said
do you not know I could call 12 legions of angels to help me but it must be this way.

JESUS is coming back. He said He was going to prepare a place FOR US and will come and take us to be with Him..If it were not so, He said, I would have told you.

The question is: Are you ready for Him? I am. I know I will be caught up to be with Him forever; not because of ANYTHING I'VE DONE, because you can't work your way to heaven, but because I put my faith in Him in 1998 and asked Him to come into my heart and save me. I AM FORGIVEN of the sin nature I inherited from Adam and therefore can live with a Holy God forever.

I thank God every day for sending us the GIFT of His Son and for Jesus Willingess to come and endure a horrible death IN MY PLACE. I not only have ETERNITY in a wonderful place to look forward to , I have a wonderful life & hope while in this life. My Saviour has washed me white as snow and I HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN! ane ANYONE can come and ask Jesus to save them. Jesus is for everyone. John 3:16 says whosoever believes. I'm a whosoever and so are you. I hope you will accept Jesus soon.

burtreynolds, Tulsa (10/22/2008 1:53:17 PM)

What do a Jewish couple, a Christian couple and a Muslim couple — all strangers — talk about when they meet for dinner in a private home?

Thought this was going to be the start of a funny joke.