Read this thoughtful reflection on the Sojourners blog about how interfaith encounters can help us change our perceptions and become better advocates for one another. As the author states, it was not until she attended a Muslim prayer service at her university that she realized how needed a Muslim prayer room was, saying: "It wasn't until I went to jumah that I even considered how easy it had been for me to be a Christian student all these years. I realized how much public space my Christianity ...
A Simple Act and a New Interfaith Friendship
When Kate Murphy, pastor of Grove Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina saw anti-Muslim slurs written on a car in her community, she knew her church had to do something to combat growing Islamophobia. So, one morning, she and a few church-members put up a sign that simply read: "We Love Our Muslim Neighbors." Although the gesture was done without any fanfare, without any intention to make a political statement, and without any expectations, it prompted the start of a new interfaith ...
Interfaith Play Dates in NYC Bring Children Together
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 ...
