Borough's Religious Diversity Explored

May 17, 2007

Author: Craig Giammona

Source: The Times Ledger

http://www.timesledger.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18353869&BRD=2676&PAG=461&dept_id=551069&rfi=6

It was a group that seemingly could only have been assembled in Queens. Seated around a table at LaGuard a Community College last Thursday was an atheist, Sikh, Muslim and evangelical Christian

At another table, Catholics spoke with Jews, and a Christian debated a man who identified himself as a "secularist."

There were also Hindus and a Mormon in the room.

It was the final meeting of the study circles that comprised the last leg of LaGuardia's Difficult Dialogues Project. Once a week for a month, nine diverse groups met to discuss religious pluralism and devise plans to encourage peaceful co-existence and understanding among religions in Queens.

And last Thursday, the members of each groups came to LaGuardia to mingle and share their thoughts over dinner.