4Faculty

Rest and Renewal

The materials below are a work in progress. They should not be considered a completed work.

We would like to compile a comprehensive list of resources for faculty interested in exploring the views of many traditions on rest, reflection and renewal. If you are knowledgeable about a religious tradition or cultural value that is not included in the following table, please offer your recommendations in the form or an e-mail to kristina@rccd.cc.ca.us. Please write "Lesson 10 Rest" in the subject line. We also welcome corrections in interpretation from experts and recommendations for clearly wording.

Title of Group/Book	Description	Links to More Information
Buddhism	The First Noble Truth of Buddhism teaches that life is "dukkha" - suffering. Buddhism also teaches that there is a solution to our suffering, which comes in letting go of the pressure we put on ourselves to make the world fit our expectations.	http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism.htm
Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints: Mormons Family Home Evening	In addition to sharing common Christian views on the need for a sabbath day (Religious services are held on Sunday), Mormons have a tradition called "Family Home Evening" that serves as rest from work and builds family and community.	http://lds.about.com/cs/familynight/ http://www.ldsworld.com/familyresources/fhe/0,4684,130,00.html
Old Testament Jewish and Christian Views	Exodus 20:8 NIV: "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your man servant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates....Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy." (See also Deuteronomy 5:12. Leviticus 25:3-7 Describes God's command to let the land lay fallow every 7 years. Leviticus 25:8-13 Describes the Year of Jubilee after every 49 years.	Biblical References: http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?version=NIV&passage=&search=sabbath&submit=Lookup Catholic: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13287b.htm (Sabbath) http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13289a.htm (Sabbatical Year) Episcopalian: http://www.episcopalian.org/ststephens/mar2600.htm Greek Orthodox: http://www.goarch.org/access/orthodoxfaith/commandments.html Jewish: http://www.jewfaq.org/shabbat.htm http://www.everythingjewish.com/Shabbat/shabbat_origins.htm http://www.shabat.co.il/ Lutheran: http://www.lcms.org/cic/sabbath.htm Russian Orthodox: http://www.stjohndc.org/command/9111.htm Seventh Day Adventist: http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/other_doc6.html Seventh Day Baptist: http://www.seventhdaybaptist.org/sab.html World Wide Church of God: http://www.wcg.org/lit/law/sabbath/default.htm
Taoism	A passage from the Tao Te Ching 57 states: Therefore the Sage says: I do nothing, And people transform themselves. I enjoy serenity And people govern themselves. I cultivate emptiness And people become prosperous. I have no desires And people are simply themselves.	http://www.religioustolerance.org/taoism.htm