Scholars Compile Guidebook on Faiths

Three Southland scholars have written a concise, sympathetic guidebook on the beliefs and practices of the nation’s plethora of faiths.

“America’s Religions” (Teachers Ideas Press, $25) was written primarily for public school educators by Benjamin J. Hubbard, chairman of the Cal State Fullerton religious studies department, and two collaborators.

In fact, it was Hubbard’s son, David A. Hubbard, an administrator at Highland Elementary School in Riverside, who told his father that such a book could help teachers avert “unprofessional and embarrassing situations that often lead to time-consuming conferences with parents and administrators.”

But the book, published in Englewood, Colo., also could benefit professionals in government, business and the news media.

In the 1950s and early 1960s, when organized religion in America was basically Protestant, Catholic and Jewish, anyone desiring more information could buy handbooks outlining the distinctive details of each denomination.

But the immigrant flow into late 20th century America created “an exciting and dramatic stage on which to encounter religion,” said the authors.

The 162-page paperback details major subdivisions of Christianity and outlines Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and other Eastern religions. The characteristics of Native American religions by region appear in one chapter. A 1997-98 calendar of holidays includes Kwanzaa, the new African American holiday, and important Latino Catholic dates.

The authors also debunk misstatements or stereotypes about each faith--from Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy to Islam and Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Collaborating with Benjamin Hubbard were John T. Hatfield, emeritus professor at Cal Poly Pomona, and James A. Santucci, professor of religious studies at Cal State Fullerton, whose specialties are Eastern and modern metaphysical religions.

Santucci contributed a chapter on New Age religion. Rather than naming numerous organizations that fall into that category, Santucci defined terms from “aura reading” to “reflexology” and beliefs accepted by most New Age believers.

“New Age practitioners are clearly out of the mainstream of American religion, but their ideas have a consistency and logic that is neither weird nor wicked,” Santucci wrote. “They seek the betterment of their followers and of humankind.”

DATES

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Writer Michael Wolfe, a convert to Islam who produced and narrated the first U.S. television reporting in Mecca of the Hajj, or Muslim pilgrimage, will speak about American Muslims and the media Sunday at the Islamic Center of Southern California, 434 St. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles. Wolfe, whose news account was aired in April on ABC’s “Nightline” program, will be honored tonight with the Muslim Public Affairs Council’s 1997 Media Award in a private gathering. Wolfe’s public talk is at noon Sunday. (213) 383-3443.

* A Christian Zen approach to contemplation will be explored in a three-day retreat next weekend at the Mary & Joseph Retreat Center, 5300 Crest Road, Rancho Palos Verdes. Instructor James Finley will draw on the writings of Trappist monk Thomas Merton, Meister Eckhart, Zen masters and related sources. Cost is $145 to $175 per person. (310) 377-4867, Ext. 223.

* The Rev. Andrew Manley, associate pastor of Opportunity Baptist Church in South-Central Los Angeles, will speak Sunday at Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church in Canoga Park at the annual “cluster” service of four congregations in the San Fernando Valley. The choirs of the host church, 7304 Jordan Ave., and those in North Hills, Studio City and Verdugo Hills will combine for the music at the 10:30 a.m. service. (818) 887-6101.

* The 50-voice World Vision Youth Ambassadors, mostly 18- to 20-year-old men and women from 50 nations, will perform Sunday at Malibu Presbyterian Church. Performances are scheduled at 8:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. at the church, 3324 Malibu Canyon Road. (310) 456-1611.

* Kenneth Weare, co-director of the School of Pastoral Leadership in San Francisco, will lecture on “Global Prosperity and Local Poverty: A Gospel Response” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Mt. St. Mary’s College, 10 Chester Place, Los Angeles. $5 admission. (213) 477-2640.

FINALLY

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Although records of its early years are missing, the 100-year-old Community Congregational United Church of Christ in Los Alamitos will celebrate its centennial Sunday with music and memories.

Among those singing at the 10 a.m. service will be Harry Newman, a member of Temple Beth David, which shared the building at 4111 Katella Avenue for several years before the synagogue moved to Westminster. Newman was heavily involved in the church’s music when the two groups shared the building.

The Rev. Gordon Baker, an interim pastor in 1940, will talk about the church’s past. More information will be available in “A Centennial History” ($10), although the writing committee has apologetically noted that many of the early records were lost, damaged or “eaten by mice.”

The proverbial church mice, no doubt.

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VOLUNTEERS

The Utah-based Mormon Church has long been known for its extensive welfare and relief system for members who are down on their luck.

Extending a relatively new emphasis on volunteer aid to the larger community, the Mormon Church today will conduct its most ambitious good works program ever.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints collectively will contribute an estimated 3 million hours of volunteer service to local communities worldwide--one in a series of events marking the 150th anniversary of the Mormon pioneer trek from the Midwest to the Great Salt Lake Valley.

For instance, the church’s Huntington Beach North Stake, or cluster of congregations, will form groups early today for tasks such as pulling up nonnative ice plant at Bolsa Chica Wetlands in Orange County, cleaning tack at the Therapeutic Riding Center in Huntington Beach, washing wheelchairs at the Stanley Convalescent Home in Westminster and painting antique farm equipment at the Westminster Historical Society.

Among the worldwide church’s 20,000 congregations, Latter-day Saints plan to clean up litter at the Acropolis in Greece, to sew quilts for children’s hospitals in Germany and make pizzas in Sao Paulo, Brazil, for a fund-raising drive by a cancer hospital.

Notices may be mailed for consideration to Southern California File, c/o John Dart, L.A. Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth, CA 91311, or faxed to Religion desk (818) 772-3385, or e-mailed to john.dart@latimes.com Items should arrive two to three weeks before the event, except for spot news, and should include pertinent details about the people and organizations with address, phone number, date and time.