A new series of play dates is bringing neighborhood kids of all faiths together in the East Village. The children sing, play, learn, and build friendships with one another. The initiative was begun by Local Faith Communities of the East Village, an interfaith coalition that has been uniting faith groups around interfaith activities for 10 years, in response to post-election anxieties expressed by some of its Muslim members. According to Rabbi Larry Sebert of the Town and Village Synagogue, "We ...
How Can We Build more Inclusive Faith-Based Institutions?
Michael A. Helfand, an Orthodox Jew, describes how his experience at Pepperdine University, a Christian institution, has given him insight into how faith-based institutions can successfully promote religious diversity. According to Helfand, one of the primary ways to build more inclusive faith-based institutions is to send the message that diverse members of the community are valued "because of and not despite" their religious difference. Read more about this important topic at the link ...
Islam 101
It can be difficult to find trustworthy information online, especially about Islam. For this reason, one Muslim couple in New Orleans launched a course three years ago to teach the basics of Islam. The "Islam 101" class began as a primer for new Muslims, but is increasingly attracting non-Muslim students interested in getting beyond stereotypical portrayals of Islam and Muslims. According to Jenny Yanez, who started the program with her husband, many people sign up for the course to learn more ...
Illinois College Launches New Interfaith Studies Minor
Illinois College has begun a new minor in Interfaith Studies. According to the school, Interfaith Studies helps students build important life skills, providing students with a crucial background in "religion with knowledge and skills relevant to life and work in a global economy." Illinois College is one of only about a dozen colleges and universities in the US to offer an interfaith studies degree or minor. Read more (Illinois College) ...
Victim of Hate Crime Will Donate $10,000 to Other Refugees
Hasel Afshar is an Iranian-born immigrant whose Troutdale, OR home was recently ransacked and vandalized with racist and—even though he is not Muslim, but Baha'i—Islamophobic graffiti. Less than 24 hours after the attack, more than $10,000 had been donated to a GoFundMe account set up in Afshar's name. But, Afshar has decided not to keep the money. Instead, he says he will use the funds to help other Iranian refugees. Afshar also says that he forgives his attacker and hopes that his ...
