PENTECOST SUNDAY TALK ON THE STATE OF THE WORLD FROM A SPIRITUAL PERSPECTIVE (1)

In this talk to commemorate Pentecost, the day on which the Holy Spirit descended on the frightened and bewildered disciples of Christ, Daffern gives a close reading of what might have actually happened at that event, using the original texts of the New testament Greek. He then explains what was special about Pentecost, and why Whitsunday has been celebrated ever since. He then shares a few verses from the Quran explaining how Islamic and Sufi ideas can and must be reconciled with esoteric Christian ideas, since they rest on one seamless web of spiritual experiences. He then talks about authentic Judaism and the work of Rabbi Judah Magnes, Vice Chancellor of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and his constant witness for peace. Daffern explains that all three traditions can and must be reconciled for the sake of peace in the Holy Land. There are theological or spiritual justifications for hard line Zionism or extremism to go on battling violently for hegemony,. Attacks on Al Aqsa, and on Gaza and on Israel n