Podcast: What do Cats Have to do with Interfaith Work?
Building a Civil Society: The Role of Pluralism, Education and a Cosmopolitan Ethic
On February 28 2014 I received an invitation to attend a reception in Massey Hall, Toronto, held by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in honour of His Highness the Aga Khan. This reception was especially ... Read More
Staff Transitions at State of Formation
It is with gratitude and thanks that we announce the departure of our Managing Director, Honna Eichler. After nearly three years of working to increase the capacity of the forum and establishing susta... Read More
Sacred Metaphors and Creating Comfortable Conditions
I recently co-published an article at the Journal of Religion and Society titled “Revisiting Sacred Metaphors: A Religious Studies Pedagogical Response to the Rise of the Nones.” (The jour... Read More
On the Bumper Sticker: “When Jesus said ‘Love your enemies,’ I think he probably meant don’t kill them.”
As a faith leader, my call to ministry necessarily leads me to interfaith encounters. I am a licensed minister in the Church of the Brethren, one of three historic peace churches in the United States ... Read More
On being Called to Celebrate Difference
"Sh'ma Israel Adonai Eloheinu Adonai echad!" (Deut. 6:4) "Hear o Israel the Lord our god the Lord is One". This sentence is probably the one most known by Jews. We say it when we get up, during the da... Read More
Interfaith Youth Core’s first ever Alumni Gathering
At the end of January I attended the Interfaith Youth Core’s first ever Alumni Gathering. It was an incredible experience. Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) is an organization that anyone interested in t... Read More
On Red Lipstick in a Mosque
Several years ago, I was working with a group of Muslim teenagers in Atlanta, GA. While visiting their mosque on the north side of town one Friday I met the girls in the ladies powder room to ensure t... Read More
On seeing each other as people and knowing we are human
I believe that we must create relationships across religious and ethical traditions if we are ever to create peace. My primary orientation in life and meaning making is the religious prism. So this is... Read More
In Another Gilgul: Forgiveness, the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict, and Bedtime
Every night before we go to sleep, Jewish liturgy offers us the opportunity to forgive. The Bedtime Shema begins: “Master of the universe, I hereby forgive anyone who angered or antagonized me or wh... Read More