The Faith Divide Archive by Category - On Faith at washingtonpost.com

America testifies

By Eboo Patel and Samantha Kirby. We know why Rep. Keith Ellison cried during yesterday's King hearings. He cried because an American hero, Salman Hamdani, was suspected as a terrorist because of the simple fact of his faith. Hamdani was...

By Eboo Patel | March 11, 2011; 08:09 AM ET | Comments (7)

Peter King's hearings: Muslims stand united for a secure America

I wish people were more familiar with the name Salman Hamdani than the name Faisal Shehzad. Salman Hamdan was a first responder on Sep 11, 2001 and gave his life to save his fellow Americans.

By Eboo Patel | March 7, 2011; 02:03 PM ET | Comments (9)

John Galliano and Orange County protests: what motivates religious hate?

Galliano was drunk. The only fluid we know for sure that motivated the protesters in Yorba Linda was hate.

By Eboo Patel | March 4, 2011; 03:41 PM ET | Comments (130)

From Egypt to America: a new age of idealism

Every successful movement today has a secret history of steps taken yesterday - steps, like the Egypt 2005 protests, that are routinely dubbed failures when they occurred.

By Eboo Patel | February 21, 2011; 12:04 PM ET | Comments (7)

Dreaming of 'A Different World'

To help combat American Islamophobia, Katie Couric suggested a "Muslim Cosby Show." Is that a good idea?

By Eboo Patel | February 15, 2011; 09:56 AM ET | Comments (7)

From 9/11 to January 25th

9/11 is no longer the date that defines Islam for the world. January 25 gets that honor now.

By Eboo Patel | February 14, 2011; 11:56 AM ET | Comments (10)

From Selma to Montgomery; From Alexandria to Cairo

I can imagine Dr. King, at the age of 30, marching with the youth from Alexandria to Cairo, as he did from Selma to Montgomery singing, "We shall overcome!"

By Eboo Patel | February 4, 2011; 02:04 PM ET | Comments (4)

The Egyptian revolution: An interfaith movement

Today's guest blogger is Frank Fredericks, executive director of World Faith, co-director of Religious Freedom USA, and president of Çöñàr Records. Seeing the Egyptian protests on American media may lead you to believe that this is an Iranian-style revolution, with...

By Eboo Patel | February 2, 2011; 04:30 PM ET | Comments (11)

Mr. President, seize this moment

Mr. President, the people on the Arab streets have heard your call and responded. Egyptians on the streets of Alexandria, Suez and Cairo are willing to risk their lives because they trust you will do the right thing.

By Eboo Patel | January 31, 2011; 12:20 PM ET | Comments (8)

(Photos): Egypt, Tunisia and the youth revolt in the Middle East

What we are seeing now in the Middle East is a generation of young people who learned how to love themselves, believe in themselves, change themselves.

By Eboo Patel | January 27, 2011; 05:10 PM ET | Comments (11)

Christian and Muslim brotherhood is real

I take him at his word that Gov. Robert Bentley will be the governor of every citizen of Alabama, regardless of their faith or lack thereof. Yet, there are many ways that Gov. Bentley and his non-Christian constituents can be brothers and sisters, and I urge the governor to focus on these during his term.

By Eboo Patel | January 25, 2011; 09:51 AM ET | Comments (17)

An open letter to my Christian friends

Today's guest blogger is Peter Hong, who pastors New Community Covenant Church, a series of urban, multiethnic churches in the heart of Chicago. Made up of people from all walks of life, New Community is passionate about bringing shalom, God's...

By Eboo Patel | January 14, 2011; 01:52 PM ET | Comments (41)

Obama's American gospel

Obama showed that he could do American Gospel as a candidate. In Tucson, he showed he could do it as president.

By Eboo Patel | January 13, 2011; 09:23 AM ET | Comments (16)

Evangelical Christian students: interfaith work is Christ's work

Interfaith engagement has given us new ways to think about evangelism - though perhaps not in the ways most evangelicals would find familiar.

By Eboo Patel | January 11, 2011; 05:34 PM ET | Comments (0)

Ambassadors for Christ in an interfaith world

From the evangelical perspective, "interfaith" has often been used as a code word for "relativism."

By Eboo Patel | January 10, 2011; 09:35 AM ET | Comments (7)

How can Muslims and evangelicals work together?

Despite years of interfaith talks, religious leaders acknowledge they have very little to show for it. Maybe we need less talk and more action.

By Eboo Patel | January 4, 2011; 10:46 AM ET | Comments (8)

Finding your 'Calling' in 2011

Religion inspires people in remarkable ways. That's the central message of the new documentary The Calling. It is a film that is pure and true and beautiful, that so many people of faith can find themselves in. It helped me trace the path of my own calling.

By Eboo Patel | December 24, 2010; 10:57 AM ET | Comments (8)

After a summer of intolerance, LA leads the way

The city council just passed a resolution to promote religious pluralism throughout the city. Yes, it's symbolic, but it matters.

By Eboo Patel | December 16, 2010; 04:48 PM ET | Comments (14)

Love for the Virgin Mary runs deep in Islam

Hesham A. Hassaballa: The very story of the birth of Mary, which the the Feast of the Immaculate Conception commemorates, is found in the Quran

By Eboo Patel | December 8, 2010; 06:22 PM ET | Comments (92)

Immigrant dreams and the DREAM Act

In an act of daring faith and unrequited love, my parents decided to leave behind all that was dear to them for the future of their family and left for America.

By Eboo Patel | December 6, 2010; 09:24 AM ET | Comments (5)

Searching for the American DREAM

For the kids caught in the middle of immigration battles, faith endures.

By Eboo Patel | December 2, 2010; 06:10 PM ET | Comments (1)

What motivated Portland 'Christmas tree bomber'?

If Muslim leaders don't offer an understanding of Islam that inspires young people to be bridges of cooperation, we forfeit them into the arms of those waiting to make them bombs of destruction.

By Eboo Patel | November 30, 2010; 04:36 PM ET | Comments (15)

Making the Internet moral

Pope Benedict XVI recently said that the Internet was "numbing" for young people. Benedict's comments created an uproar, but he has a point. Studies show that Internet addiction is linked to depression.

By Eboo Patel | November 23, 2010; 05:43 PM ET | Comments (1)

From fearing Islam to loving Muslims

Instead of asking 'How is my faith right and your faith wrong?' It asks, 'How does your faith inspire you to serve others and what in my faith inspires me to work with you on that?'

By Eboo Patel | November 17, 2010; 03:07 PM ET | Comments (32)

Talking the 'Hereafter' with atheists and believers

Nicholas Lang: Whether we were discussing Heaven or a "fluffy Soul Cloud in the sky," we were articulating the same needs in our lives: the need for purpose, for community, for connectedness.

By Eboo Patel | November 16, 2010; 12:32 PM ET | Comments (23)

Communities of faith and our ecological crisis

Is the goal of humanity to control and dominate nature or is it to leave the Earth better than we found it?

By Eboo Patel | November 15, 2010; 03:14 PM ET | Comments (2)

Islam, Judaism and the threat of terrorism

Although we know now that the bombs were meant for the cargo planes, the fact that these bombs were addressed to Chicago area synagogues may tend to reinforce the notion in the minds of many people - and that includes some Muslims as well - that there is, somehow, an innate enmity between Judaism and Islam.

By Eboo Patel | November 3, 2010; 05:04 PM ET | Comments (67)

In America, better together

Last month, Zach Jordan, a senior at Elon University, found himself aghast at what he was hearing in the media about Muslims. But instead of just turning off the television or even yelling at it, Zach took what sociologists Bob Putnam and David Campbell tell us is amongst the most effective steps at increasing religious tolerance: He created a space for people from different religious backgrounds to have a positive, meaningful encounter with each other.

By Eboo Patel | November 1, 2010; 05:53 PM ET | Comments (14)

Tipping the scale in DC

Last week, 200 undergraduate students and 100 staff allies gathered in Washington, D.C. for Interfaith Youth Core's inaugural Interfaith Leadership Institute. For some, the Interfaith Leadership Institute serves as one of the few safe spaces where they were free to express their full religious and non-religious identities.

By Eboo Patel | October 29, 2010; 09:22 AM ET | Comments (6)

Let's not be like Juan

Williams was given a high profile platform to say, "It's ok to be suspicious of an entire religious group because of the actions of a handful of extremists." This is a poisonous attitude - one that mainstream media shouldn't validate.

By Eboo Patel | October 22, 2010; 09:54 AM ET | Comments (34)

LGBTQ find unexpected hope

News of the suicide of yet another LGBTQ youth in the U.S., is the latest in a rash that has brought to light the exclusion and violence that continues to plague those marked "different."

By Eboo Patel | October 19, 2010; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (2)

Ayodhya verdict demands forward-looking focus

Abhishek Raman: What is needed in India in the aftermath of the Ayodhya verdict is not a denial of reality but a commitment to interfaith cooperation from all sections of the society.

By Eboo Patel | October 11, 2010; 12:37 PM ET | Comments (2)

Nine years after 9/11, a debate about Islam

The problem of the 20th century, said W.E.B. DuBois, was the problem of the color line. The challenge of the 21st century is the faith line.

By Eboo Patel | October 4, 2010; 12:06 PM ET | Comments (39)

The artist formerly known as Molly Norris

Last week the atheist blogosphere lit up with reports that Molly Norris, the Seattle cartoonist who inadvertently inspired "Everybody Draw Muhammad Day" (EDMD), had been forced to change her identity and go into hiding due to death threats she received from extremists.

By Eboo Patel | September 21, 2010; 03:28 PM ET | Comments (39)

Intolerance and Islam since 9/11

The message of intolerance is simple: "Us vs. Them" is "Americans against Muslims." What we need now is a concerted "Love All Your Neighbors" campaign. Because, as Theodore McCarrick, Cardinal Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Washington, said "America was not built on hate."

By Eboo Patel | September 9, 2010; 04:25 PM ET | Comments (36)

Let's all fast during Ramadan

This year during Ramadan, let's consider reaffirming our common spiritual heritage by embracing the discipline of fasting.

By Eboo Patel | August 25, 2010; 11:02 AM ET | Comments (20)

America's promise meant for everyone

American history is an arc toward freedom, dignity and inclusiveness for all. That will include Muslims, sooner or later.

By Eboo Patel | August 23, 2010; 10:36 AM ET | Comments (47)

We need George Bush

for President Bush, the entire religion of Islam was not synonymous with extremism and Muslims were not Nazis.

By Eboo Patel | August 18, 2010; 09:29 AM ET | Comments (28)

"The world's too small to stand in one place"

Although we may each hold different beliefs, we must learn to live and to interact with each other in peaceful and positive ways. A cooperative future depends on our actions and choices today.

By Eboo Patel | August 17, 2010; 05:48 PM ET | Comments (0)

Who wins when the U.S. restricts religious freedom?

There is one thing the opponents of the Cordoba Initiative (that plans to build an Islamic cultural center near Ground Zero) have in common with the Cordoba Initiative's leadership: their clear condemnation and denunciation of terrorism.

By Eboo Patel | August 3, 2010; 04:14 PM ET | Comments (8)

Why I support the mosque in Manhattan

We Christians - and Jews too - should enthusiastically support Muslims in their desire to build a center devoted to peaceful religion near the site of an atrocity committed in the name of violent religion.

By Eboo Patel | July 30, 2010; 02:14 PM ET | Comments (18)

Evangelicals to weigh in on Cordoba House

I've asked to ask several Evangelical leaders to offer their thoughts on the planned Muslim Community Ceter in lower Manhattan here on "The Faith Divide." Over the next couple of weeks or so starting tomorrow, I'll be publishing commentary from a range of prominent Evangelicals.

By Eboo Patel | July 25, 2010; 10:41 PM ET | Comments (3)

Inheriting religious prejudice

But that pattern of violence isn't inevitable. I don't have to dislike all Catholics because a pre-Vatican II priest excommunicated my grandpa, and youth in Belfast don't have to react with violence because that's the environment they've grown up in.

By Eboo Patel | July 20, 2010; 03:59 PM ET | Comments (5)

Immigration reform: A Jewish imperative

Jewish history is rife with examples of Jews who have been turned away when they sought refuge. As an American Jew, I feel it is my responsibility to my great-grandparents and to my people that I advocate for a fair and just system of immigration today.

By Eboo Patel | July 16, 2010; 09:20 AM ET | Comments (5)

Shared faith in the earth

A Christian and Secular Humanist disagree on the afterlife, but agree that life on earth demands environmental protection now.

By Eboo Patel | July 8, 2010; 08:19 AM ET | Comments (2)

Repairing the world

Jewish group shows me that part of being a Muslim, Evangelical, Catholic, citizen, etc., is serving together.

By Eboo Patel | June 30, 2010; 03:18 PM ET | Comments (3)

Walking together

In march against domestic violence, Jeff Pollet and other non-believers bond with believers on a spiritual level.

By Eboo Patel | June 22, 2010; 10:10 AM ET | Comments (6)

To the Class of 2010

Why can't this generation make interfaith cooperation a social norm?

By Eboo Patel | June 14, 2010; 12:18 PM ET | Comments (10)

Drawing Muhammad respectfully

Anyone has a right to 'draw Muhammad,' but we all have a responsibility to be respectful of other religious beliefs and sensitivities.

By Eboo Patel | May 20, 2010; 10:31 AM ET | Comments (22)

Arizona's network of mutuality

Welcoming the immigrant stranger not only enriches our lives, but builds a stronger, healthier America.

By Eboo Patel | May 18, 2010; 01:17 PM ET | Comments (0)

A blessing from the Dalai Lama

The Buddhist-Muslim dialogue affirms how faith communities can differ in theology but come together on shared values.

By Eboo Patel | May 17, 2010; 12:30 PM ET | Comments (16)

Catholic church bashing, and boosting

Catholic Church bashing has long been a sport that seems to play well to a media appetite and larger societal thirst to bring the institutional Church to its knees and shove it off its perceived pedestal.

By Eboo Patel | May 12, 2010; 07:29 PM ET | Comments (13)

Free speech or foul behavior?

Are students who 'Draw Muhammad' with chalk defending free speech or just being unnecessarily divisive?

By Eboo Patel | May 10, 2010; 04:13 PM ET | Comments (78)

The new interfaith theologians

Young people on the forefront of the interfaith movement today know themselves as the new theologians - and the academics, preachers and teachers - of faith in a diverse world.

By Eboo Patel | April 27, 2010; 05:26 PM ET | Comments (0)

The end of malaria

Young people are leading interfaith efforts to reduce and eradicate malaria.

By Eboo Patel | April 26, 2010; 09:10 AM ET | Comments (3)

Paducah goes to India

Young people like Greer in Paducah are encountering diversity with dramatically greater frequency than ever before.

By Eboo Patel | April 16, 2010; 04:32 PM ET | Comments (11)

Beyond aggressive atheism

Atheists and secular humanists are partnering with religious groups to do service projects and engage in civil discussions.

By Eboo Patel | April 13, 2010; 05:19 PM ET | Comments (25)

Obama and his faith council

Obama's vision of the good society includes groups from various faith and secular backgrounds working together.

By Eboo Patel | March 18, 2010; 11:32 AM ET | Comments (14)

Van Jones, faith hero

How Van Jones responded to Glenn Beck and his other tormentors is a lesson in grace to all people of faith.

By Eboo Patel | March 5, 2010; 09:45 AM ET | Comments (49)

The beloved interfaith community

After a mosque was vandalized in Nashville, interfaith group of students pitched in to help clean up.

By Eboo Patel | March 3, 2010; 09:27 AM ET | Comments (11)

Osama bin Laden and the Dalai Lama

Americans know as little about Buddhism as we do about Islam. So why do we feel more affinity toward Buddhists?

By Eboo Patel | February 5, 2010; 11:17 AM ET | Comments (264)

An iPhone app for the modern Muslim

Market for MeccaLocator, new iPhone app, is the rising Muslim middle class, who cherish their faith and their Facebook pages.

By Eboo Patel | January 29, 2010; 09:39 AM ET | Comments (15)

Hating Muslims, hating Jews

Gallup poll shows that the single highest predictor of prejudice against Muslims is prejudice against Jews.

By Eboo Patel | January 25, 2010; 09:28 AM ET | Comments (118)

Evangelicals for pluralism

If evangelicals bridge the faith divide, the 21st century could be one of interfaith cooperation rather than conflict.

By Eboo Patel | January 13, 2010; 05:22 PM ET | Comments (13)

How to defeat al-Qaeda

To defeat terrorism, we must stop letting ourselves be manipulated -- and psychologically duped -- by terrorists.

By Eboo Patel | January 6, 2010; 09:32 AM ET | Comments (127)

Oral Roberts at a bar mitzvah

Imagine the surprise of the Temple Israel congregation when Rita and Frank invited Oral Roberts to speak at their son's bar mitzvah in 1972.

By Eboo Patel | December 16, 2009; 12:45 PM ET | Comments (2)

Interfaith power

People are recognizing the power of interfaith work as a vehicle for repairing and healing the world.

By Eboo Patel | December 15, 2009; 10:53 AM ET | Comments (0)

Interfaith down under

What if it just made sense that as a Christian, I live out my commitment by working with non-Christians?

By Eboo Patel | December 8, 2009; 06:05 PM ET | Comments (0)

Scenes from a State Dinner

Colin and Alma Powell continue to inspire with their service to America.

By Eboo Patel | November 25, 2009; 10:54 AM ET | Comments (2)

Examining us examining Hasan

Why did some people seem to hope that the Fort Hood shooter would turn out to be Muslim?

By Eboo Patel | November 16, 2009; 11:48 AM ET | Comments (14)

Another Muslim soldier

Like so many Americans , many of my thoughts and prayers are devoted to those in the military. But my deeds have not lived up to my intention.

By Eboo Patel | November 12, 2009; 01:39 PM ET | Comments (0)

Need for a Muslim-Jewish alliance

Actions of Madoff, Hasan inflamed Jewish and Muslim defamers. Time for both groups to work together against hate.

By Eboo Patel | November 9, 2009; 04:01 PM ET | Comments (4)

Ethical leadership in Jerusalem

Where is Arab Muslim leadership for peace in the Middle East? Meet Forsan Hussein, CEO of Jerusalem International YMCA .

By Eboo Patel | October 23, 2009; 02:16 PM ET | Comments (20)

The President's faith council meets

What if every community had a religiously diverse faith council? What a powerful model of cooperation.

By Eboo Patel | October 14, 2009; 09:49 AM ET | Comments (8)

Many Faiths, One Night in Bethesda

Do you know how your religious tradition speaks to serving others? To diversity? I posed this question to a full sanctuary on Tuesday night.

By Eboo Patel | October 7, 2009; 04:49 PM ET | Comments (3)

Journey into America

A new film shows what it means to be Muslim in America, and consequently, what it means to be American.

By Eboo Patel | October 2, 2009; 10:13 AM ET | Comments (9)

Realizing the (Muslim) American Dream

Last week, I attended the swearing-in ceremony of Farah Pandith as special representative to Muslim communities at the State Department, the first position of its kind.

By Eboo Patel | September 21, 2009; 06:37 AM ET | Comments (0)

Interfaith Service, More than a Week

President Obama isn't the only one to recognize the power of interfaith service.

By Eboo Patel | September 4, 2009; 09:27 AM ET | Comments (8)

Interfaith Solidarity During Ramadan

Christians are joining Muslims to fast during Ramadan. A sign of the times?

By Eboo Patel | August 28, 2009; 09:23 AM ET | Comments (47)

United We Serve in the Midst of the Storm

Today's guest blogger is Meghan Paul-Cook, the Congregational Organizer with the Saint Paul Area Council of Churches. As a tornado touched down just a few city blocks away, a humble group gathered in the safest place we could be, deep...

By Eboo Patel | August 26, 2009; 05:23 PM ET | Comments (0)

Battle for Muslim Hearts and Minds

If the Taliban builds schools that teach hatred and violence, we must help build schools that teach tolerance and peace.

By Eboo Patel | August 14, 2009; 09:25 AM ET | Comments (40)

A Dishonest Review About Islam

Fouad Ajami and his editors at the New York Times Book Review should know better.

By Eboo Patel | August 3, 2009; 09:05 AM ET | Comments (162)

Inspired to Serve

A new book reminds us how the scriptures and stories across faith traditions call us to serve others.

By Eboo Patel | July 14, 2009; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (6)

Riots in China, and Everywhere

Violent responses to protests in Iran, China and elsewhere shows that religious and ethnic pluralism will be resisted.

By Eboo Patel | July 10, 2009; 10:52 AM ET | Comments (17)

Muslim Americans Answer the Call

United We Serve campaign challenges U.S. Muslims to create one thousand service projects.

By Eboo Patel | July 6, 2009; 09:39 AM ET | Comments (12)

When Muslims Saved Jews

Nearly every Jew in Albania -- the only European country with a Muslim majority -- survived during the German occupation.

By Eboo Patel | June 25, 2009; 07:11 PM ET | Comments (47)

Breaking Down Barriers to Charity

Obama's pledge to facilitate charitable giving is encouraging, but only a first step.

By Eboo Patel | June 17, 2009; 11:29 AM ET | Comments (1)

Obama Draws From King in Cairo

The President did not refer to "Muslim extremists" - just extremists. Hopefully this signals the end of the crazy and counterproductive "Islamo-fascist" talk.

By Eboo Patel | June 4, 2009; 10:17 AM ET | Comments (4)

Obama Speaking to the Whole World

In Cairo, Obama will set the precedent for how diverse peoples and nations should interact in the 21st century.

By Eboo Patel | June 3, 2009; 10:38 AM ET | Comments (2)

Synagogues and Bridges in the Bronx

Plot to bomb synagogues in New York foiled. Meanwhile, the good work of people of good faith goes on.

By Eboo Patel | May 22, 2009; 09:56 AM ET | Comments (19)

The Biggest Vote

The Hindu nationalist platform of the BJP did not have traction with voters.

By Eboo Patel | May 20, 2009; 11:58 AM ET | Comments (3)

Obama a Champion at Notre Dame

Obama's Notre Dame speech was a near perfect demonstration of public leadership in an environment of polarization.

By Eboo Patel | May 18, 2009; 09:45 AM ET | Comments (6)

We All Prayed

A crowd of Christians, Muslims, Jews, and Agnostics prayed for peace and for leaders who would work together.

By Eboo Patel | May 8, 2009; 10:09 AM ET | Comments (26)

Understanding Our Own Faith First

Rather than discuss the hypocrisy of others, we should look deeper into our own beliefs.

By Eboo Patel | May 6, 2009; 11:47 AM ET | Comments (4)

An Evangelical Open Hand to the Muslim World

One pastor's respectful approach to spreading the gospel in the Muslim world can help us all build bridges

By Eboo Patel | May 4, 2009; 10:09 AM ET | Comments (13)

Pakistan's True Enemy (Not India)

The scariest thing for India is no longer a belligerent Pakistani central government, but a non-existent one.

By Eboo Patel | April 27, 2009; 09:59 AM ET | Comments (9)

Faiths Act Against Malaria

Imagine if many diverse faith communities around America joined forces to tackle malaria.

By Eboo Patel | April 24, 2009; 10:06 AM ET | Comments (1)

There Will Be Generations

A new Holocaust Museum reminds us all of our responsibilities to the past and the future.

By Eboo Patel | April 20, 2009; 10:09 AM ET | Comments (4)

Will Work for Meaning

Hope of Obama, toll of economy combining to encourage new college grads to seek meaningful work.

By Eboo Patel | April 17, 2009; 11:11 AM ET | Comments (5)

New Interfaith Vision for Europe

While Wilders and Ali promote fear of Islam, a Dutch minister is pushing Obama-like message of hope in diversity.

By Eboo Patel | April 16, 2009; 12:35 PM ET | Comments (10)

Religion & Violence

Today's guest blogger is Ola Mohamed, a senior Political Science and International Studies double major at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Ola is also the President of UNC's Muslim Students Association and an '08-'09 Interfaith Youth Core...

By Eboo Patel | April 15, 2009; 03:25 PM ET | Comments (2)

The New Christian Interfaith Leaders

Today's guest blogger is Hannah McConnaughay, an Outreach Education and Training Associate at the Interfaith Youth Core. Hannah graduated in June of 2008 from the University of Chicago, where she studied religious studies and economics and was a member of...

By Eboo Patel | April 1, 2009; 02:30 PM ET | Comments (4)

Virtual Community of Inter-Religious Leaders: the Journal of Inter-Religious Dialogue™

Today's guest blogger is Joshua Stanton. Joshua is the co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Inter-Religious Dialogue™ and a rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College. He is the recipient of numerous leadership awards, including the Hyman P. Moldover Scholarship for Communal...

By Eboo Patel | March 25, 2009; 11:27 AM ET | Comments (5)

Counter-Terrorist Storytelling

It's vital for all of us to counter "young Muslim terrorist" stories with "exceptional Muslim youth" stories

By Eboo Patel | March 20, 2009; 10:15 AM ET | Comments (138)

St. Joseph's Day

Today's guest blogger is Erik Schwarz, founder of Interfaith Works, a nonprofit based in New Orleans, Louisiana, that partners with a wide range of faith communities and other organizations around innovative social-change projects. He also co-directs The Institute for Faith...

By Eboo Patel | March 18, 2009; 04:10 PM ET | Comments (0)

"Choose Your Own" Commemoration

Today's guest blogger is Becca Hartman, a Research Associate at the Interfaith Youth Core. Becca originally joined the IFYC as a Public Interest Program Fellow from Northwestern University, where she studied Philosophy and Religion and was active in organizing interfaith...

By Eboo Patel | March 11, 2009; 01:42 PM ET | Comments (0)

India's 'Slumdog' Role Model

The Indian who won two Academy Awards for music shows that Muslim pluralism is flourishing.

By Eboo Patel | March 9, 2009; 10:11 AM ET | Comments (45)

Mumbai Revival

Why did Mumbaikers overwhelmingly view the 2008 terrorist attacks as a case of pluralism vs extremism rather than Hindu vs. Muslim?

By Eboo Patel | March 6, 2009; 10:17 AM ET | Comments (66)

Holding Our Brothers, Fathers, Sons Accountable

From the most conservative traditionalists to Muslim pro-feminists, all along the spectrum there is a growing men's acknowledgment of the corrosive effects of this violence on our communities.

By Eboo Patel | March 2, 2009; 01:33 PM ET | Comments (25)

Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream in India

The dream of India is the dream of pluralism, the idea of different communities retaining their uniqueness while relating in a way that recognizes they share universal values.

By Eboo Patel | February 23, 2009; 10:09 AM ET | Comments (15)

Then They Came for the Bahá'ís

An attack on the Bahá'ís is an attack on all of us who champion the cause of religious pluralism and freedom.

By Eboo Patel | February 18, 2009; 01:17 PM ET | Comments (4)

Defeating Al-Qaeda

Al-Qaeda rises and falls not so much on the actions of its hard-core adherents, but on whether it can bring other Muslims into its fold.

By Eboo Patel | February 16, 2009; 09:15 AM ET | Comments (50)

Lessons From the Land of Lincoln and Obama

As we look back, let's remember the story of unity that the myth of Lincoln teaches us -- the story of unity that Obama stresses time and time again.

By Eboo Patel | February 13, 2009; 10:37 AM ET | Comments (6)

Why I Joined Obama's Faith Council

President Obama's vision for the faith-based council connects his domestic goals with his foreign policy goal of reaching out to people of all faiths and nations.

By Eboo Patel | February 6, 2009; 10:24 AM ET | Comments (22)

Finding Citizen Change-Makers at Boarding School

Today's guest blogger is Hannah McConnaughay, an Outreach Education and Training Associate at the Interfaith Youth Core. Hannah graduated in June of 2008 from the University of Chicago, where she studied religious studies and economics and was a member of...

By Eboo Patel | February 5, 2009; 02:07 PM ET | Comments (1)

Muslims Speaking Up for Islam and Peace

The report states that such peacemaking efforts are organic to the tradition of Islam itself, and Muslim intellectuals are increasingly articulating these dimensions of Islam both within Muslim circles and beyond them.

By Eboo Patel | February 2, 2009; 12:27 PM ET | Comments (88)

Obama's Patchwork Heritage and Worldview

One of President Obama's key stories has always been about diversity as strength. And his life is the embodiment of that dimension of the American dream.

By Eboo Patel | January 30, 2009; 10:19 AM ET | Comments (4)

Hum Honge Kamyab/We Shall Overcome

Today's guest blogger is Jenan Mohajir, a program associate for the Outreach Education & Training program at the Interfaith Youth Core. She is extensively involved with the Muslim community through several grassroots initiatives in Chicago, IL "Hum Honge Kamyab." Throughout...

By Eboo Patel | January 28, 2009; 10:20 AM ET | Comments (2)

Obama Reaches Out to the Muslim World

Not only was Obama the first President to mention the word "Muslim" in an inauguration speech, he did it with his hand out instead of with his fist clenched.

By Eboo Patel | January 26, 2009; 12:52 AM ET | Comments (109)

The Legacy of King's Letter

Today's guest blogger is Angie Chan, a senior Linguistics Major at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, most of Angie's time is spent working with the Interfaith Youth Core's Fellows Alliance program, as well as acting as...

By Eboo Patel | January 21, 2009; 01:44 PM ET | Comments (0)

Who's Praying for Obama?

As the inauguration excitement fades and the prayer services come to an end, will these leaders continue to pray for Barack Obama? More importantly, will they and will we continue to join together on common ground?

By Eboo Patel | January 16, 2009; 10:19 AM ET | Comments (26)

What Is the Difference Between Bravery and Courage?

Filmmaker and human rights advocate Ronit Avni is today's guest blogger; she is also the Founder & Executive Director of Just Vision, a non-profit that researches, documents and creates media about Palestinian and Israeli civic peace builders. Recipient of Auburn...

By Eboo Patel | January 14, 2009; 11:27 AM ET | Comments (3)

Barack Obama: Faith and Community

It's clear to me that the Obama administration means to engage the efforts of ordinary citizens in the long march to solving poverty.

By Eboo Patel | January 12, 2009; 09:35 AM ET | Comments (7)

A Different Kind of Conversation About the Middle East

"Step One is recognizing that this is a difficult dialogue ... That's crucially important... [And] when you realize that it's difficult but that you're willing to take it on, I think that's where the courage starts ..." -- Ola, Interfaith...

By Eboo Patel | January 9, 2009; 02:16 PM ET | Comments (3)

Status Quo vs. Solution for Middle East

The sad truth of the Middle East conflict is that many Muslims and Jews agree that the Solution Rulebook makes sense to them, but when the crisis escalates and hits the front page (like now), the old logic takes over and Muslim and Jewish organizations revert to the Status Quo Rules.

By Eboo Patel | January 8, 2009; 06:17 AM ET | Comments (51)

De-Militarizing Young Israelis and Palestinians

My encounter and recent events in Gaza have forced me to think seriously about the consequences of militarizing, year after year, entire generations of young people in Israel and Palestine.

By Eboo Patel | January 7, 2009; 11:32 AM ET | Comments (6)

US Jews, Muslims Need New Playbook

It's time for us to find a Gaza and Middle East solution together, not circle the wagons and shout talking points.

By Eboo Patel | December 31, 2008; 01:14 PM ET | Comments (157)

The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: External Violence, Internal Turmoil

Today's guest bloggers are Joshua Stanton and Mirah Curzer. Joshua is a first-year rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College. He is also founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Inter-Religious Dialogue™ and a 2007 - 2008 Fellow of the Interfaith Youth...

By Eboo Patel | December 10, 2008; 12:29 PM ET | Comments (2)

Stealing Eid

Eboo Patel | The terrorists of Mumbai stole many things - lives, property, tranquility. Add the Hajj and Eid to the list.

» Kamran Pasha: Hollywood Goes to Mecca

By Eboo Patel | December 8, 2008; 10:17 AM ET | Comments (235)

Chaos and Intimacy in Mumbai

Today's guest blogger is Zeenat Rahman, a Senior Program Coordinator at the Interfaith Youth Core. She recently completed a tour of six countries in Western Europe, where she explored religious pluralism in the region. I have heard the phrase "this...

By Eboo Patel | December 3, 2008; 03:55 PM ET | Comments (1)

Music and the Possibility of Peace

Daniel Barenboim, the Argentine Israeli Maestro, is back in the United States this week for, among other things, a chamber concert with his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra at the United Nations, working for peace.

By Eboo Patel | November 24, 2008; 10:11 AM ET | Comments (132)

Saudi Hypocrisy or Saudi Tolerance?

Maybe King Abdullah, by articulating the central Muslim value of religious pluralism on the world stage, will find the citizens of his Kingdom demanding that he implement it at home.

By Eboo Patel | November 14, 2008; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (77)

Ultimate Truth & Interfaith Work

Today's guest blogger is Amber Hacker, a graduate of University of North Carolina Wilmington and a Leadership Associate at the Interfaith Youth Core. Amber manages the bridge-builders network, an online community for leaders of the interfaith youth movement. I believe...

By Eboo Patel | November 12, 2008; 04:11 PM ET | Comments (0)

The Joy of Alignment

My grandfather has this impossible-to-believe ability to find humor and positivity in any situation.

By Eboo Patel | November 6, 2008; 11:44 AM ET | Comments (1)

Faith as heritage, faith as recognition

Today's guest blogger is Remz Pokorny, a senior at Brandeis University, majoring in Political Science and Middle East Studies. He is also an IFYC Fellow and an active member of the Brandeis Baha'i Association. Let's start at the beginning: My...

By Eboo Patel | October 29, 2008; 12:37 PM ET | Comments (6)

Whose Religious Values?

As a young voter and interfaith activist, this is what I like to hear. For my peers, focusing on these urgent issues creates common ground for walking across the lines of faith. Without having to agree on the meaning of marriage, we can lobby together for health care and renewable energy.

By Eboo Patel | October 15, 2008; 02:22 PM ET | Comments (15)

Philanthropy for Fear

So now the Muslim-hating film Obsession has shown up in the mailboxes of students at the University of North Carolina. Add that to the 28 million copies the Clarion Fun sent out as an insert in Sunday newspapers in swing...

By Eboo Patel | October 10, 2008; 09:56 AM ET | Comments (16)

Religulous, or Just Ridiculous?

Maher's dogged pursuit of rationality in the face of the faithful is particularly fascinating because his end result - vehemently dismissing religious belief in all forms - is neither reasonable nor humble.

By Eboo Patel | October 8, 2008; 06:13 PM ET | Comments (158)

Rick Warren, Interfaith Activist

Warren's words and work signal an important turn in American Evangelical tradition - from viewing people of other faiths primarily as lost souls requiring conversion to viewing them as partners in the plan to make earth more humane and just.

By Eboo Patel | September 29, 2008; 10:14 AM ET | Comments (98)

On 9/11, Bowing and Clearing Our Heads

Eboo Patel | We are not at war with a religion. We are at war with extremists. This is not a Muslim vs. Christian world, it is a Pluralism vs. Extremism world.

» Tim Shriver: The Post-9/11 Task for All Faiths

By Eboo Patel | September 11, 2008; 11:57 AM ET | Comments (99)

Secularism Good for the Soul

Those of us trying to bridge the faith divide would do well to welcome the nonreligious.

By Eboo Patel | September 8, 2008; 08:57 AM ET | Comments (21)

"Traitor": the Challenges of Hollywood and the Muslim World

Today's guest blogger, Dr. Cynthia P. Schneider, teaches, publishes, and organizes initiatives in the field of cultural diplomacy, with a focus on relations with the Muslim world. For the Brookings Institution, she leads the Arts and Culture Initiative within the...

By Eboo Patel | September 3, 2008; 06:25 PM ET | Comments (5)

Vodoo Helping to Heal New Orleans

Today's guest blogger is Erik Schwarz, founder of Interfaith Works, a nonprofit based in New Orleans, Louisiana and Washington, DC that partners a wide range of faith communities and other organizations around innovative social-change projects. He also serves as an...

By Eboo Patel | August 29, 2008; 05:19 PM ET | Comments (8)

Ramadan and Fasting in a Parallel Universe

What makes Ramadan markedly different in America is that it truly brings all faiths together.

By Eboo Patel | August 28, 2008; 10:46 AM ET | Comments (81)

Interfaith Dialogue on the High Seas

It didn't matter at all that my heritage was different than theirs, and they welcomed me with open arms.

By Eboo Patel | August 25, 2008; 02:59 PM ET | Comments (3)

Kashmir is not Hindu vs. Muslim

Today's guest blogger is Hafsa Kanjwal, a recent graduate of Georgetown University and a Director of KashmirCorps. Hafsa is a former Interfaith Youth Core Fellow and recently joined IFYC as a staff member. Much to the dismay of the Indian...

By Eboo Patel | August 20, 2008; 10:21 PM ET | Comments (298)

Interfaith Youth At Work in New Orleans

Since Katrina, diverse faith communities have come together in the absence of government to open their arms, hearts, heads, homes, wallets, prayers and places of worship for New Orleanians.

By Eboo Patel | August 19, 2008; 03:58 PM ET | Comments (8)

What We Can Learn from Bahá'í Elections

In sports, violations are often imposed for unsportsmanlike conduct. In similar fashion, voters could discourage negative attacks between the candidates, through opinion polls and on Election Day.

By Eboo Patel | August 15, 2008; 01:57 PM ET | Comments (7)

Speak for Yourself

The peaceful and pluralistic must work to make their voices heard through actions that speak louder than those of the aggressors. American Muslims will find that voice through civic engagement.

By Eboo Patel | August 12, 2008; 06:38 PM ET | Comments (3)

Conflict or Cooperation? A Case for the Interfaith Youth Movement

The world would have us hate one another, but here we are coming together to do something we all care about. There must be something divine in that.

By Eboo Patel | August 11, 2008; 03:05 PM ET | Comments (0)

The New Interfaith Generation

Many older Americans still don't know someone from another faith, but their children do. The first "Interfaith Generation" in America is growing up.

By Eboo Patel | August 4, 2008; 10:56 AM ET | Comments (10)

Piecemeal Pragmatic Pluralism

How can we encourage interfaith dialogue on public policy issues without predetermined universal principles of adjudication?

By Eboo Patel | August 1, 2008; 02:16 PM ET | Comments (18)

Guest Blogger: How U.S. Jews Can Best Help Israeli Jews

Much as the American Muslim community can provide an example to its European counterpart, it might be possible for the American Jewish community to model intra-religious tolerance for Israeli society.

By Eboo Patel | July 23, 2008; 02:54 PM ET | Comments (5)

Guest Blogger: My Vegetarian Faith

When I told the Peruvian family I was staying with that I didn’t eat meat, they were quick to express their sympathy for what they undoubtedly considered an unfortunate condition. Their solution to my particular ailment happened to be rice and potatoes.

By Eboo Patel | July 16, 2008; 12:32 PM ET | Comments (68)

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