by Paul Chaffee
Institutional Stories– Between Church & State – For Our Kids’ Sake – Gifts of the Spirit
by Paul Chaffee
Reaching Out for Goodness Sake – The Ethical Struggles We Share – In Memoriam
by Paul Chaffee
Interfaith Steps Forward – Religious Troubles – News & Newsmakers
by Paul Chaffee
Christians, by the Numbers – Muslims in the News – Interfaith Complexities – Paying Attention to Right-wing Christians – Religicide – What’s Possible … What to Consider
by Phyllis Curott J.D. Rev. H.Ps.
“First they came for the Communists… then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.” These words, written by Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller after the Second World War, are not just an act of contrition…
by Amelio Collins
The world held its breath in 2018 marked by intensifying climate reports, rising global temperatures, and a growing sense that time was running out...
by Kehkashan Basu
We can no longer afford neutrality. Not when women and girls are being denied their fundamental human rights. Not when the rights of Mother Earth and all her creatures to exist, regenerate, and sustain life are being stripped away.
by Ann Smith
I first heard the phrase ‘personal is political’ in 1985 in Nairobi, Kenya, at the UN Third World Conference on Women. African women came in waves; they walked huge distances, traveled by buses, trains, and planes to demand their voices be heard. It was a breakthrough moment to witness for the first time a grassroots global women’s movement.
by Faith Spencer
Today’s world is fragmented. Most U.S. adults tend to view life through a lens of political party affiliations and “us versus them.” There’s an evolutionary basis for this. In prehistoric days, loyalty to one’s own group (“us”) helped ensure survival, as did a skeptical and distrusting attitude about outside groups (“them”).
by Maurice A. Bloem, Andrés Martinez, and Nora Khalaf-Elledge
Climate change did not arrive in the Arctic through policy frameworks or global summits. It arrived through memory. Vera Solovyeva is an Indigenous Sakha woman from a small village in the Sakha Republic…
by Amanda Heffernan
Since the summer of 2024, I have had the privilege of partnering with Radio Huayacotla, a Jesuit-founded indigenous community radio station in the Sierra Huasteca of Veracruz, Mexico…
by Angela Weber
As a reward to myself for reaching a mature age, I returned to my studies. I took a specialization course on third sector management, and then completed a Master’s degree in Anthropology all with the objective to…
by Ivan Shneerson
I have long struggled to figure out where I belong. This came to a head during my senior year of college when I, an agnostic and low-observant Jew, chose to live in a Christian living community. Forty-nine young Christian men and me. Growing up, my family was…
by Brandon LaGreca, LAc, MAcOM
My daughter recently reached a pivotal point in her homeschool curriculum: the study of world religions. Until now, my wife and I had been content to let her experience the sublime through nature, art, and music, instilling a subtle sense of…
by Muhammad Sohail
The Muslim world has faced various social, political, and economic challenges recently. Internal divisions, unstable political and social systems, outside interventions, poverty, and unemployment have posed significant barriers to its influence in…
by Bonnie Bowie, PhD, MBA, RN, FAAN
The United States Constitution ensures the right to express one’s views and to practice one’s religion without fear of persecution. However, there are times in the past 250 years when these unalienable rights no longer seem certain…
by Professor Dr. Trung Pham
After the Vietnam War, my father spent six years in a re-education camp. He endured forced labor, malnutrition, and ideological indoctrination. One day, he carved a small Madonna statue as a gift…
by Professor Dr. Angeliki Ziaka
In the land where democracy was born, I began my journey. Greece, often referred to as its cradle, became for me a place of study and teaching in theology, the history of religions, and philosophy, fields that generated values and ideas…
by Frank DiGirolamo
“Wow! … You just listened to my whole anthem.” It was late at night, years ago, on North Broadway in Capitol Hill. “Miguel” had just recited his life story to me for a good 20 minutes…
by Camila Torres
When I was a child, I was terrified of the dark. I hated going to sleep, because, once the lights turned off, the sheer possibility of encountering a monster kept me awake…
by Amina Malkin
When talking about religion, my father will sometimes talk about “the chosen people,” a title that Jewish people have historically adopted as a way to reference being descended from…
by Gabby Prado
Throughout my life, I’ve lived by the belief that my success and achievements are not solely mine but are deeply connected to the generations of my family who came before me…
by Ayushi Upadhyay
As a lazy September blows over, the otherwise slumberous city of Kolkata is set alight by the rhythm of dhols and the smell of Night-flowering Jasmine…
by Gabriella Joy Donaldson
I walked along the slick asphalt towards class, the air was heavy with the previous night’s chill and that morning’s discomfort. My clothes didn’t feel right, my curls were wet, my sock was…
by Kathy Sharp
A few years ago, at a meeting of interfaith clergy from The Center for Ecumenical and Interfaith Engagement at Seattle University, a hospital chaplain shared how her patients often…
by Sebrina Somers
Be prepared. That has been my motto ever since I was a young scout in the Girl Guides. I even went on to teach it through my work in public health, and later as
by Terry Kyllo
We were all feeling it as we walked to the cafeteria. Typically, after a seminary class, the Lutheran students would chat loudly down the hallway, continuing some debate from…
Header Photo: Pxhere
Stories shape our understanding of the world. They teach us who we are, where we come from, and what we value. The stories we tell…
Register for Seeking Religious Literacy, an online, self-paced course that seeks religious literacy as an essential good in the world today.
MAJOR INTERFAITH STAKEHOLDERS
INTERFAITH CENTER AT THE PRESIDIO
ICNY's Interfaith Matters Blog
ICNY's Interfaith Matters Podcast
PARLIAMENT OF THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS
The Next Parliament: August 14-18, 2023 in Chicago, IL
A Religious Response to Violence
Our Muslime Neighbor Initiative
Interview with Henry Yampolsky
Practicing Spirituality with Native Americans
Practicing Spirituality at Work
by Marium Mohiuddin
“You have to come and help me right now!” he said. All I could think was “it’s 4 a.m., and there’s no way I can sneak out.” My parents would kill me. Despite being a senior in college...
by Sparrow Etter Carlson
I write this now with my hand on my heart, and here it will remain. For what follows is about the precious people within our midst who are treated as ex-humans in our society and...
by Zack Ritter
“All 40,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza are terrorists,” she said as we were eating cookies, standing around the flickering flames at Shabbat services. I was...
by Cassandra Lawrence & Wendy Goldberg
It is the first thread in our tapestry of connections. In August 2018, both of us—eager for a safe space to discuss how multifaith communities can cultivate...
by Justin Almeida
In spiritual and religious traditions, there is the concept of the “thin space.” That piece of being in which the veil of life and death, the sacred and mundane, becomes leable...
by Maurice A. Bloem
s world leaders anticipate a season of change when they convene for the United Nation’s 79th General Assembly, the Climate Week and the Summit of the Future this month...
by Aaron Stauffer
Good organizers consistently emphasize the importance of leaders “understanding” and “working” on their stories. When they are first getting to know a leader, they ask questions like: What keeps you up at night?
Header Photo: Pxhere
In today’s complex world, the pursuit of social justice demands that we not only confront systemic inequities but also build sustainable paths for change. The...
Register for Seeking Religious Literacy, an online, self-paced course that seeks religious literacy as an essential good in the world today.
MAJOR INTERFAITH STAKEHOLDERS
INTERFAITH CENTER AT THE PRESIDIO
ICNY's Interfaith Matters Blog
ICNY's Interfaith Matters Podcast
PARLIAMENT OF THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS
The Next Parliament: August 14-18, 2023 in Chicago, IL
A Religious Response to Violence
Our Muslime Neighbor Initiative
Interview with Henry Yampolsky
Practicing Spirituality with Native Americans
Practicing Spirituality at Work
Announcing URI's New Executive Director: Jerry White
by Maij Vu Mai
What is religious pluralism to the Survivor? To the one who’s lost faith in themselves? Lost faith in other people? Lost faith in humanity? To the one who’s lost faith in their ability to connect because…
by Miranda Hovemeyer
I’ll be honest. I haven’t felt at home in the field of interfaith work for quite a while. During one of the last interfaith conferences I spoke at, I was asked by an older white gentleman why I was there, then insisting…
by Sable Manson
n the spring of 2020, I was working with my higher education colleagues to prepare for an interfaith retreat set on Catalina Island, off the coast of southern California. We had planned numerous…
by Najeeba Syeed
I’ve written about “casserole” hospitality, an ethic of care demonstrated in America’s Heartland found in communities of various traditions who welcome…
by Anum Mulla
When we talk about compassion, which by definition is found in aspiring to alleviate another’s suffering, it is far too often viewed as a path that only implores people to be kind. Some societies are…
by Shashank Rao
Over the last year or so, I interned with the Parliament of the World’s Religions as an Outreach Associate, particularly concerned with Hindu as well as broadly South Asian participation at the convening…
by Vaus Bandhu
When I was 18, I began to get involved in interfaith collaboration to promote peacebuilding, and learned about the importance of creating a sustainable and lasting movement. Thanks to the support of…
by Sofia Sayabalian & Cloë Poole
Two young leaders from the Center for Ecumenical and Interreligious Engagement (CEIE) attended their first Parliament of the World’s Religions event. It was held in Chicago…
by Jane Fitzpatrick
Opera has told stories of faith and humanity for centuries, and they continue to inspire conversations about the past, present, and future of religious pluralism in a variety of modern contexts…
Header Photo: Pxhere
What is religious pluralism? The Aspen Institute defines it as “the state of being where every individual in a religiously diverse society has the rights, freedoms, and safety to worship, or not, according…
Register for Seeking Religious Literacy, an online, self-paced course that seeks religious literacy as an essential good in the world today.
MAJOR INTERFAITH STAKEHOLDERS
INTERFAITH CENTER AT THE PRESIDIO
ICNY's Interfaith Matters Blog
ICNY's Interfaith Matters Podcast
PARLIAMENT OF THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS
The Next Parliament: August 14-18, 2023 in Chicago, IL
A Religious Response to Violence
Our Muslime Neighbor Initiative
Interview with Henry Yampolsky
Practicing Spirituality with Native Americans
Practicing Spirituality at Work
Announcing URI's New Executive Director: Jerry White
by Hannah Hochkeppel
Every time we turn around, we seem to be in challenging times. Every time we turn around there seems to be something more that threatens to divide us even further. Increasingly…
by Amar D. Peterman
There is a growing skepticism among young people toward the category of “leader.” This is evident in both a defensive and protective posture towards those who identify as…
by Sofia Sayabalian
When we think of leadership, perhaps we think of individuals who seemingly occupy a lot of space in any given arena–the shiny politician, the savvy entrepreneur, or the…
by Christopher Ray
The landscape of interfaith relationship building has undergone a seismic shift since the Hamas attacks of October 7th, 2023 and the resultant renewal of attention that event…
by Devin Barney
With the psalm wrapping up, the Time was fast approaching. Organ notes shifted to a hauntingly familiar prelude to my morning anxiety. Deep breath in. Deep breath out…
by Suraj Arshanapally
When I was young, a magnificent willow tree stood in my backyard. Imagine a towering giant with branches stretching out like the graceful arms of a ballet dancer. Its canopy…
by Claire Thielens
Faith isn’t always a comfortable topic of conversation. To navigate the waters of our individual relationships to divinity, whatever that means to us, in a collaborative…
by Zachary Dar
What does it mean to lead? Some may say it comes with the responsibility of being a leader, or even just to be in charge; however, is it that simple?
by Felipe Zurita
Today's complex and rapidly changing world requires effective leadership more than ever, particularly in interfaith and inner spiritual spaces. From global pandemics to…
by Kara Markell
States continues to change in complex ways. Declining religious affiliation and the corresponding rise of the “nothing in particulars,” increasing threats of…
Header Photo: Aleš Krivec, CC 2.0 BY NC SA
As our world grapples with unprecedented crises and shifting landscapes, the role of adaptive leadership has become increasingly pivotal. From climate change and environmental degradation to…
Register for Seeking Religious Literacy, an online, self-paced course that seeks religious literacy as an essential good in the world today.
MAJOR INTERFAITH STAKEHOLDERS
INTERFAITH CENTER AT THE PRESIDIO
ICNY's Interfaith Matters Blog
ICNY's Interfaith Matters Podcast
PARLIAMENT OF THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS
The Next Parliament: August 14-18, 2023 in Chicago, IL
A Religious Response to Violence
Our Muslime Neighbor Initiative
Interview with Henry Yampolsky
Practicing Spirituality with Native Americans
Practicing Spirituality at Work
Announcing URI's New Executive Director: Jerry White
by Audrey Kitagawa
Thank you, everyone for joining in this 9th annual interfaith Service of Remembrance and Gratitude. During the annual UN Commission on the Status of Women, this particular…
by Kathe Schaft and Kay Lindahl
We can’t help but notice that the world seems to have suddenly ‘discovered’ the value of women. After thousands of years living in the shadow of the masculine, after being pushed into the margins…
featuring Manulani Aluli Meyer & Indrajit Gunasekara
This special article has as its focus a video and enriching dialogue rather than ta ext. NIU NOW: Reconnecting to the Tree of Life looks at the efforts by a grassroots group in Hawai’i tackling…
by Tarunjit Singh Butalia
Many who have had the opportunity to attend a Langar (a Sikh word for “open kitchen) surely have fond memories of the incredible hospitality we experienced.
by Kay Lindahl
What is a beloved community? How do we become a beloved community? For the past four years our church has been intentional about engaging with these questions. This is the story of our journey so far…
by Diana Whitney
I was in India, teaching Appreciative Inquiry and leading a leadership retreat with colleagues Dinesh Chandra and Anil Sachdev, when one of my co-founders of the Taos Institute…
by Betsy Woodman
The news, 24 hours a day of it, is by turns heart-rending, enraging, and depressing. School shootings. Climate crisis. Senseless war. Divisive politics. “When will they ever learn,” went the…
by Paul Andrews
Art and culture are the treasure houses of our deepest dreams - not the fleeting dreams of power and empire, which can never satisfy what is best in us, but our deep soul-dreams, from which generation…
Header Photo: Rare Gallery
From Sudan to Chicago or Shanghai, defining, enjoying, and sustaining a blessed community is a tough assignment. Since humans became human, we’ve hungered for a thriving, protective community…
by Paul Chaffee
Reaching Out for Goodness Sake – The Ethical Struggles We Share – In Memoriam
Register for Seeking Religious Literacy, an online, self-paced course that seeks religious literacy as an essential good in the world today.
MAJOR INTERFAITH STAKEHOLDERS
INTERFAITH CENTER AT THE PRESIDIO
ICNY's Interfaith Matters Blog
ICNY's Interfaith Matters Podcast
PARLIAMENT OF THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS
The Next Parliament: August 14-18, 2023 in Chicago, IL
A Religious Response to Violence
Our Muslime Neighbor Initiative
Interview with Henry Yampolsky
Practicing Spirituality with Native Americans
Practicing Spirituality at Work
Announcing URI's New Executive Director: Jerry White
by Brian Carwana
We live in a time when seemingly difficult conversations – including around race, gender, and sexual orientation – have become an important part of the public discourse. However, one arena, central to…
by David Callaway and Hannah Santos
Long-time advocates of religious freedom paused when Eddie Castillo successfully used the First Amendment to wear a pasta strainer on his head for his license photo. Castillo, a Pastafarian, argued the…
by Emina Frljak
Many would say hate speech is just words…but words can hurt, and words can and do turn into action. From “harmless” hate speech, come hate crimes. There are sadly many examples of hate speech…
by Don Frew
A year into my public information work, I saw notice of a conference called “Deception & Discernment: Exposing the Dangers of the Occult.” I thought I should attend and see…
by Dr. Charles Ian McNeill
As the impacts of climate change intensify in plain sight on every continent, the United Nations Environmental Programme’s “Emissions Gap Report 2022,” released just…
by Rabbi Anson Laytner
For over a thousand years, there has been a Jewish community in Kaifeng, China, making it one of the most long-lived continuous Jewish communities in the world. Never more than…
by Jacob K. Olupona
1. African traditional religion refers to the indigenous or autochthonous religions of the African people. It deals with their cosmology, ritual practices, symbols, arts, society, and…
by Vicki Garlock
The interfaith movement is all about bringing people together. Most of the time we focus on adults, and social justice issues. Don’t get me wrong. I fully support any and all…
Header Photo: Unsplash
In the two years we’ve been gone, the challenge in developing interfaith relations has received a body blow through the accelerating corruption of language and communication…
by Paul Chaffee
Interfaith News Notes – Climate – The Critical Issue – Religion & Government– The Christian Nationalism Scandal – New Resources – In Memoriam
News from Around the World – Christians in the United States – For the Sake of the Family – Great Good News – In Memoriam
Join CEIE's virtual Winter Workshop Series on the Art of Spiritual Direction (Jan. 19, Feb. 16, & March 16, 2023)
MAJOR INTERFAITH STAKEHOLDERS
INTERFAITH CENTER AT THE PRESIDIO
ICNY's Interfaith Matters Blog
ICNY's Interfaith Matters Podcast
PARLIAMENT OF THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS
The Next Parliament: August 14-18, 2023 in Chicago, IL
A Religious Response to Violence
Our Muslime Neighbor Initiative
Interview with Henry Yampolsky
Practicing Spirituality with Native Americans
Practicing Spirituality at Work
Announcing URI's New Executive Director: Jerry White
by Sheena Foster
In Washington, D.C., the snow comes down quietly at first. It hushes the city. It blankets the sharp edges: the curb cuts, the cracked sidewalks, the marble steps of institutions that were never designed for all of us…