Interfaith

Interfaith Efforts and Hurricane Sandy Recovery in New York City (2015)

In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy devastated areas in the Northeastern United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. In New York City, at least 43 people died and thousands of homes were destroyed.[1] The city experienced $19 billion in damages and it was weeks before power and train lines were restored in most parts of the city.[2] While New York was largely able to bounce back, the recovery process is not complete for many residents. Some are now frustrated, years later, with the inefficiency and lack of...

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DC’s Catholic archbishop: People ask me why religion matters today. I tell them we’d be a mess without it. - The Washington Post

June 24, 2016
A number of years ago I was invited to speak at a conference at Harvard University. At the conclusion of my presentation an attendee asked: “What do you people think you bring to our society?” The reference to “you people” was to the front row of the audience, which was made up of representatives of a variety of religious traditions, all of whom were in their appropriate identifiable robes.

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Parliament of the World’s Religions: “Reclaiming the Heart of Our Humanity” (2015)

The 2015 Parliament of the World’s Religions was held in Salt Lake City, Utah from October 15-20, 2015 and attracted over 10,000 people from nearly 80 countries.[1] The event theme, “Reclaiming the Heart of Our Humanity,” came out of organizers’ hopes that the Parliament would provide the time and space for “thousands of kindred spirits” to come together “with compassion and forgiveness, with curiosity and convictions, with expansive vision and following a deeply personal call to action in response to the urgency of these times.”...

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Hilliard mosque brings together different faiths for Ramadan meal | The Columbus Dispatch

June 17, 2016
A leader at a Hilliard mosque called on Muslims, Christians, Jews and Hindus gathered there on Thursday to join their hearts in prayer for the victims of hate crimes, especially the "senseless and speechless" tragedy in Orlando. Imran Malik, chairman of the board at Noor Islamic Community Center, called for the prayer to begin the mosque's annual interfaith iftar, the meal that Muslims partake in to break each day's fast during the holy month of Ramadan.

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Prayer Service for Muhammad Ali Draws Thousands to Hometown Arena - The New York Times

June 10, 2016
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Muhammad Ali was well known as a world champion boxer, but Hussein Hamdani remembers him more for what he did out of the ring, especially his devotion to Islam.And that was why Hamdani, his brother, Sallah, and their friend Kamran Bhatti traveled from Toronto to pay their respects to Ali, who died last week after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, and who was honored here on Thursday at a Muslim funeral ceremony.

Source: Prayer Service for Muhammad...

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At Interfaith Pride Service Clergy Speak On Journey from Silence to Celebration - SpokaneFāVS

June 10, 2016
In its 25-year history clergy have occasionally come together during Spokane Pride to celebrate and worship with the local LGBT community. But longtime OutSpokane board member Bridget Potter said until Wednesday evening, she had never seen such a diverse group of faith leaders speak up about the struggles and rights of gays.

Source: At Interfaith Pride Service Clergy Speak On Journey from Silence to Celebration - SpokaneFāVS

When Muhammad Ali Met Billy Graham (Op-Ed) | Religion Dispatches

June 8, 2016
During the Republican primary, Donald Trump was criticized for failing to challenge a supporter who stood up and declared,* “We have a problem in this country—it’s called Muslims. We know our current president is one.” Later, after the shooting in San Bernardino, California, Trump called for the banning of all immigration of Muslims until “we know what the hell is going on.” His rise to being the presumed nominee, and his considerable inroads into grassroots evangelical votes, accompanied (and no doubt benefited from) such messages.

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Spiritual Ensemble to present ‘Jews and Blacks’ concert

June 3, 2016
Lee Pringle is the founder and producer of “Jews & Blacks: Parallels of Our Past,” a narrated concert by the Charleston Spiritual Ensemble, scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday. After a sold-out performance in February, the ensemble will bring the concert to Piccolo Spoleto Festival.

Source: Post and Courier

Message of Hope in Planning LGBT Pride Service - SpokaneFāVS (Op-Ed)

June 3, 2016
his article finds me knee-deep in planning an Interfaith Worship Service for Spokane’s PRIDE Week. Working with Jewish, New Thought, Buddhist, and other Christian clergy, we are attempting to put together a worship service so that Spokane’s LGBTQ+ folk will feel celebrated and affirmed. It’s been a humbling and surprising venture for me, as I have never done any overt interfaith work before, and never as clergy leadership. Source: Message of Hope in Planning LGBT Pride Service - SpokaneFāVS...
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