Featured Interview With Steven Greenebaum
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Los Angeles before moving to Lynnwood, WA (north of Seattle) in my mid-forties. Always fascinated with learning, I hold Masters Degrees in Mythology, Music, and Pastoral Studies (as well as a BA in Anthropology). As a Jew born just after WWII, I was devastated when, as a child, I learned of the Holocaust; but was pushed beyond my Jewish worldview as I realized that Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and so many groups had suffered from the hate and violence sting “othering”. Embracing universal brother/sisterhood, I’ve dedicated my life to the oneness of humanity, working for social and environmental justice through a multitude of forums. Minister, teacher, and both church and temple choir director, I have worked with Common Cause, marched at Standing Rock, and was the Founder/Executive Director of Citizens for Environmental Responsibility, as well as the founder of the Living Interfaith model – exemplified by the Living Interfaith Sanctuary in Vancouver, Canada, and the Living Interfaith Church in Lynnwood, WA.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Blessed with parents who encouraged me, I learned to read early and have been an engaged reader since childhood. I enjoyed “The Hardy Boys” when quite young, but soon graduated to child-friendly historical books. Then I discovered the ancient Greek writers and never looked back. I started writing after college and worked in Hollywood for a few years. But it wasn’t satisfying. Everyone kept pushing for more sex and violence. I angrily quit, and didn’t take up writing again for decades. In 1999, frustrated with the injustice and hate that seemed rampant in the world, I cried out to God for answers. Amazingly, I received answers – three pages of answers. I realized I had no interest in writing fiction. What I needed to do was write non-fiction that could somehow help humanity to heal. Based on that dictation, which pushed me to deeply ponder our common humanity for nearly ten years, I wrote my first book, “The Interfaith Alternative”, published in 2012. Based on a comment so many made about this first book (It sounds lovely, but is it practical?), I wrote my second book, “Practical Interfaith”, published in 2014. I thought that would be it, but many asked me to explain my path to Interfaith, so I wrote a spiritual memoir, “One Family: Indivisible”, published in 2019. In that book I noted the three pages of dictation I took, but folks asked me for a better understanding of that dictation and how my life was changed by it. So, at age 75, I have now published one last book.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite authors are Homer, Plato, Hemingway, and John Shelby Spong, among so many wonderful writers whom I have read and learned from. My favorite genre (among many!!) is that of how humanity might deal with one another.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
As mentioned above, in 1999 I felt I’d hit the wall, and couldn’t make sense of my life. As a Jew, I had believed in a God of love and justice. But hate and injustice that seemed to be swirling everywhere I looked. For several months I angrily demanded answers from God, if God were there. Then, one afternoon, and inner voice told me to get a pen and paper and write; and I took dictation – three pages, *not* of commandments but guidance for dealing with death and leading a meaningful life. In “An Afternoon’s Dictation,” I share my grappling with the dictation, how it led me to Interfaith ministry, and the hope that the revelations, while definitely not “the sole answer” to life’s enigmas, might help to guide us in these hugely challenging times. The book is divided into six sections: The Call to Interfaith, Dealing with Death and Dying, The Call to Love One Another, the Call to Justice, The Call to Community, and finally, Some Conundrums Regarding the Divine.
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