Interfaith

Faith-based Groups Spearhead Community Solar Projects

December 16, 2019
Minnesota winters are long, brutal and gray. Minneapolis resident Keith Dent has endured 38 of them. But over the last several years, he's experienced what he calls a "reintroduction to the sun." In 2017, Dent helped install, and later subscribed to a massive community solar garden mounted atop Shiloh Temple — a majority black church in north Minneapolis. Today, the 630-panel array provides Shiloh itself, the nearby Masjid An-Nur Mosque and 29 local households with green energy. Source: ... Read more about Faith-based Groups Spearhead Community Solar Projects

As Americans become less religious, the role of chaplains may grow

December 6, 2019
The Rev. Donna Mote regularly accompanies military personnel escorting the caskets of fallen service members through Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, where she serves as a chaplain at the busiest airport in the world. Mote is the first person to greet the escorts once they step off the plane. She stands shoulder to shoulder with them while Delta Honor Guard members march with flags of the five military branches. She stays with them through their layover at the airport. She’s there for support. In many cases, the escorts are grieving because they knew the deceased.... Read more about As Americans become less religious, the role of chaplains may grow

Faith leaders join about 200 people to mark burial of unclaimed dead in Los Angeles County

December 5, 2019
Rain drops fell on a muddy cemetery field. Burning sage mixed with the humid air. About 200 people huddled under four canopies, while others carried umbrellas or braved the downpour in jackets. A Native American group blessed the sacred ground. Then a Hebrew song rang out. A Christian hymn followed, then a Zen Buddhist chant, and a Tongva song and blessing. These disparate groups, holding various beliefs, came to a Los Angeles County cemetery in East L.A. on Wednesday, Dec. 4, to honor the lives of those who have been forgotten — to let them, for at least one day, be remembered. Source:... Read more about Faith leaders join about 200 people to mark burial of unclaimed dead in Los Angeles County

One week after Fresno is rocked by a mass shooting, faith communities unite in prayer

November 25, 2019
A week after a mass shooting devastated the city of Fresno, a gathering of all faiths happened at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno. More than a dozen different religious backgrounds took part in this annual Thanksgiving prayer service. The service has been organized by the Interfaith Alliance of Central California for at least five years. The organization’s co-chairs say it’s all about building relations no matter your religious beliefs. Source: ... Read more about One week after Fresno is rocked by a mass shooting, faith communities unite in prayer

Trinity Episcopal holds Native American worship service

November 22, 2019
On Sunday in commemoration of Native American Heritage Month, Trinity Episcopal Church of Redlands held its 11th annual Native American Worship Service. As the program stated, the unique service was designed to “reflect the respectful integration of elements of Native American culture and tradition within the context of the Episcopal Church's liturgy.” The service was well attended; colorful in both flavor and proceedings. Source: ... Read more about Trinity Episcopal holds Native American worship service

Celebrating religious and cultural holidays at work, inclusively

November 21, 2019
Every late October/early November, my family celebrated Diwali. My mom would draw rangoli patterns on our front steps and light little candles with cotton wicks all over the house. We had friends over, played three-card poker and ate rice, dhal, paneer and alu with cucumber raita and mango chutney. Christmas is when I get time off, but I don’t overlook Eid, Hanukkah, Nowruz, Juneteenth and the Lunar New Year. I follow the simple rule that just because it’s not a paid holiday, doesn’t mean it’s not worth celebrating. I mentioned this to someone once and got a puzzled look, “Why? You’re in... Read more about Celebrating religious and cultural holidays at work, inclusively

Habitat for Humanity brings faiths together to build home for Louisville family

November 18, 2019
Habitat for Humanity partnered with volunteers from three faith traditions to help build a home in their Interfaith Build on Sunday morning.
A group of volunteers from Middletown Christian Church, Temple Shalom, and Al Noor Mosque worked together to build a new house for a family originally from Sudan who moved to the United States three years ago.
Source: ... Read more about Habitat for Humanity brings faiths together to build home for Louisville family

A Changing Religious Landscape

The religious landscape of America is changing. In the past fifty years, new immigrants have arrived from all over the world seeking political freedom and economic prosperity. They have come with their cultural and religious traditions, their Qur’ans and Bhagavad Gitas, their rituals, prayers,  and forms of mediation, their songs, dances, and arts. They have put down roots in American soil and created community centers and sacred spaces.

At first, many of the changes in America’s religious landscape were relatively invisible. There was no new architecture to catch the eye...

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Interfaith Infrastructure

"Interfaith Infrastructure" is the Pluralism Project's survey of interfaith efforts taking place across the U.S. While the term “interfaith” might include everything from informal personal relationships to formal meetings of religious leaders, this section takes a sharper focus on organizations. Many of these efforts are local, whether born out of crisis, context, or civic purpose; some focus on dialogue, activism, or education. Here, we offer a glimpse of an emerging interfaith movement by documenting a range of...

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'Border Church' and 'Border Mosque' team up for prayer service

October 24, 2019
For more than a decade, the Rev. John Fanestil, a United Methodist minister, has held a Sunday service at Friendship Park, a historic meeting place on the U.S.-Mexico border overlooking the Pacific Ocean between San Diego and Tijuana. While Communion is celebrated each week, Fanestil began the nonsectarian Christian ministry to help preserve the park as a public space where family members separated by their immigration status can interact, even if their interaction takes place through border fencing. But in recent months, Border Church, or La Iglesia Fronteriza, has blossomed into a... Read more about 'Border Church' and 'Border Mosque' team up for prayer service

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