Mission Statement:

 

To challenge religious fundamentalism with intelligent historical inquiry. We will pursue interfaith dialogue and human belief: illuminating the mysteries of science and the sacred and improving possibilities for harmony between all faiths... 

Since the events of September 11, 2001, world religions and Islam in particular have become the object of great public interest. Events since that time have not diminished the importance of promoting interfaith dialogue and developing deeper understandings.  Although modern Turkey is a very popular tourist destination for many people, remarkably few people are aware of many of the country's historic religious significance. For many who are not part of the Christian tradition or indeed who are not part of any faith tradition, there is can be honest curiosity about where various faith traditions have come from and why each believes as it does.  Through interfaith dialogue East to Eden provides an exciting new opportunity to inform you of the rich insights about faith that only Turkey can provide.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turkey is a modern cosmopolitan country with a profound spiritual and religious history relating to Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Its cultural diversity and policy of multiculturalism make it well suited to faith programming which attempts to explain where major world faith traditions - especially Judaism, Christianity and Islam - have come from and how bridges of co-existence and understanding can be built and maintained. Turkey has important traditions and experience to contribute to such an understanding on many important levels.

The traditional location of the Garden of Eden and the resting place of Noah's ark are in eastern Turkey. Key to the modern significance of this biblical story is that it is about an early environmental crisis - humanity was almost destroyed because of the lack of human ethics and respect for the environment. Modern concerns about human ethics and the environment can perhaps learn something valuable from the spiritual origins of dealing with these issues in Turkey.  Was the Garden of Eden located in Eastern Anatolia in the Early Bronze Age?

Some of our research for this documentary series can be viewed at:  http://www.naklikproductions.com/was_the_garden_of_eden_located_i.htm

Ottawa Citizen, September 28, 2005

The first one hour episode, The Silk Road, has now been completed to enthusiastic reviews.  A promo for the next hour, Cain and Abel, can be viewed by clicking on the picture below (70.5 MB Windows Mediaplayer):

In Turkey too is Harran, the biblical place Abraham left to go to Canaan as stated in Genesis.  Just north of Harran is Urfa where local tradition holds that Abraham was hidden as a child.  An ancient Jewish tradition states that Abraham was brought up in a cave because court astrologers saw a meteor the night of his birth.  In the 1950's Oxford University researchers found a tablet with this portent just outside Urfa that a top University of Chicago scholar dated to 1800 BCE.Key Benefits

nThe Garden of Eden, Mount Ararat and the birth of Abraham are only the beginning of topics to be discussed.  Other topics include:

 

Antioch where the Christians were first called Christians, 

Gospel origins, 

Saint Paul birthplace in Tarsus, his letters and travels, 

the origin of the Nicene Creed and other early church councils

 

nSufi dancing and 

the origins of Turkey as the first Muslim democratic republic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  East to Eden is accepting donations for its work -with charitable tax receipts issued by Imago.  

Cheques or money orders can be made out to "East to Eden", and sent c/o Jim Collins to 

                        372 Rideau Street, Suite 336, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G7. 

 

We are especially grateful to Stacy Villeneuve and her grade 11 religion students from St. Pius X High School for their help and participation.

May 02, 2008

Pricing