Over 100 people of different religious and cultural backgrounds came together for an interfaith vigil honoring the three people who died during the hateful rally in Charlottesville, Virginia earlier this month. In addition to honoring the victims, the vigil also sent a powerful message of peace. As one participant said, the remedy for hatred is "more speech—speech to challenge the hatred, speech to educate the haters, speech to expose their moral vacuity." View photos from this event at ...
“Ask a Muslim Anything” Events Break Down Misconceptions
At this time of heightened bigotry, there has been a rise in events hosted by Muslims that are designed to help dispel misconceptions and bring Muslims and non-Muslims together. One New Hampshire man, Robert Azzi, has begun a series of "Ask a Muslim Anything" events, which he has been leading at community centers, churches, and town halls across New Hampshire. The events give him the chance to teach people about his faith and reach out to neighbors, but the positive response he's received from ...
Is There a Religious Way to Be Angry?
In our current political, social, and cultural climate in the United States, it can feel like outrages and injustice are coming at us from every side, be it an unjust new law, a rally in support of racism and hatred, or even simply national discourse that diminishes groups of people and calls into question whether or not they are a legitimate part of US society. If you care about social justice, it can be easy to feel angry at these events. Anger is a natural emotion, but what is the right way ...
Interfaith Show of Support for Attacked Minnesota Islamic Center
After a bomb was thrown through the window of Dar Al Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomfield, Minnesota, hundreds of people of all faiths turned out in a show of support for the Muslim community, denouncing the attack with a poignant and important message: We are all one Minnesota. We will not let hate win. People also took action online, raising over $100,000 to help the Islamic Center rebuild. Dar Al Farooq community members have expressed thanks to their supporters, saying that the outpouring of ...
Art and Empathy
Issues of religion, gender, and ethnicity can often seem difficult to discuss or fully understand when not tied to our daily lives and concerns. Rohina Malik, a nationally-recognized playwright and performer, talks with us about how theater can spotlight these issues in an approachable and empathetic way. Her one-woman show, Unveiled, looks at the lives of five Muslim women from differing backgrounds and how they challenge, confound, and exceed the stereotypes placed on them by others. LISTEN ...
