Could The Sabbath Day Be The Answer?

Interfaith dialogue and many inter-religious programs get bogged down with political agendas, doctrinal differences and extremism.  The Sabbath idea or principle, which is to “remember to stop and stop to remember”, could make a great difference to strengthening spiritual resolve. 

‘Shabbat’ in Hebrew means to ‘cease’ or ‘rest’; or in the words of Rabbi Soloveichik, “to stop”. Whether a friday at noon, saturday, sunday, or any time set aside to remember one’s faith and live it; it is an idea that is beautifully simple and simply beautiful.  Time must be given to spiritual things, to rest, and recharge the batteries.

Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have taken this subject seriously.  In 2015 many church leaders emphasized the need to give back the Sabbath day, and urged members to improve the Sabbath day experience especially in the home.“  This emphasis is about increasing faith,’ said Elder Anthony D. Perkins.

“We all need more faith,’ said Elder Kim B. Clark, “Church leaders are looking ahead and they see what is coming”.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Mormons believe that observance of the Sabbath is an unerring measure of our attitude towards religion and our God.
In 2016 the Church has launched a global social media campaign called share #HisDay to strengthen faith everywhere.

The campaign invites people everywhere to share their Sabbath by taking a photo of an uplifting moment or weekly tradition; share a great idea for a Sabbath activity or how to prepare for Sunday; tell a story; record a song or capture something on video; and then ‘Get Social’ by sharing it both to their network and to a dedicated Share His Day website using  #HisDay.

Could the Sabbath day be the answer?