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

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)

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)

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)

Peter King's Muslim hearings

It appears that a small number of young Muslim men are sitting in basements watching and reading twisted material online that tells them to kill others.

By Eboo Patel | December 22, 2010; 12:45 PM ET | Comments (210)

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)

For American Muslims, a year of living dangerously

Farhana Khera: 2010 has been one of the most difficult and fearful years on record for many American Muslims, surpassing even those dark days following the tragedy of 9-11.

By Eboo Patel | December 2, 2010; 09:24 AM ET | Comments (66)

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)

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)

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)

Million Muslim march on the mall?

Khizer Husain: Political commentators assert that Muslims have not been vocal and visible enough to show their love of American ideals and disgust for violence in the name of their religion. But will a National Mall rally with Muslim women in star-spangled hijabs and toddlers hoisting placards with patriotic themes do the trick?

By Eboo Patel | October 8, 2010; 09:54 AM ET | Comments (39)

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)

Beck vs. King

King's views about God's plan and Beck's views - or at least the views of many of his invited speakers - have sharp differences.

By Eboo Patel | September 1, 2010; 07:10 PM ET | Comments (18)

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)

"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)

'Un-Christ-like' intolerance of Cordoba House

Fear is being used to foment anger and political zealotry. Somehow we are to believe that the construction of a 15-story Islamic community center in New York City will be a tipping point leading to the decline of American civilization, the dissolution of Christian faith, and the reversal of hundreds of years of western legal precedent.

By Eboo Patel | July 29, 2010; 02:08 PM ET | Comments (35)

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)

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)

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)

The new wannabee jihadis

New Muslim extemists really aren't; they're just gangsta wannabees posing as jihadis.

By Eboo Patel | April 9, 2010; 09:02 AM ET | Comments (11)

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)

Faith Council's final meeting

Obama's faith council modeled how people who disagree strongly on issues can seek and find common ground.

By Eboo Patel | March 10, 2010; 07:28 AM ET | Comments (3)

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)

Stanford standing united

When a group of anti-Semitic extremists came to Stanford, students across all faiths stood together to resist.

By Eboo Patel | February 10, 2010; 12:42 PM ET | Comments (19)

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)

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)

Jim Wallis's moral vision

As Wallis points out, Wall Street bonuses are a symptom of a larger problem: the erosion of underlying values.

By Eboo Patel | January 22, 2010; 08:56 AM ET | Comments (0)

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)

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)

Going McCarthy

Homophobia, anti-Semitism, and racism must never go unchecked. The same is true for Islamophobia.

By Eboo Patel | November 17, 2009; 02:16 PM ET | Comments (1)

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)

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)

The Last Days of Ramadan

There is a New Years quality to Ramadan. It's how many Muslims mark time, and it's when we make resolutions.

By Eboo Patel | September 18, 2009; 09:13 AM ET | Comments (4)

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)

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)

What Makes People Good

What are the possibilities of being good if your focus is entirely on the present?

By Eboo Patel | July 28, 2009; 10:19 AM ET | Comments (0)

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)

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)

Two Forces Shaping Iran

Obama's victory in 2008, death of the Prophet's grandson in 680 -- two events fueling protests in Iran.

By Eboo Patel | June 24, 2009; 09:21 AM ET | Comments (11)

Obama vs. Ahmadinejad

I hope Obama reaches out to Iran's huge, rising under-30 generation and not just its iron-fisted government.

By Eboo Patel | June 15, 2009; 09:29 AM ET | Comments (15)

Silencing von Brunn

Instead of focusing on the killer, let us rather pour our energy into how we can honor the victim's life.

By Eboo Patel | June 12, 2009; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (14)

Obama, Cairo and Interfaith Service

Obama's speech demonstrated that the interfaith service movement has arrived.

By Eboo Patel | June 8, 2009; 09:26 AM ET | Comments (3)

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 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)

A Righteous American Muslim

Mian Ashraf exemplified both the Muslim and the American traditions.

By Eboo Patel | May 15, 2009; 10:16 AM ET | Comments (10)

The Fist and the Open Hand

Do we choose the way of Bin Laden or Dr. King? Clenched fists win only if the rest of us keep our hands in our pockets.

By Eboo Patel | May 11, 2009; 09:52 AM ET | Comments (20)

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)

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)

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)

Faith Council Begins Its Work

Tuesday's first gathering of faith leaders showed how Obama has already changed this country.

By Eboo Patel | April 9, 2009; 10:11 AM ET | Comments (17)

The War on "War on Terror"

The Obama administration is working to change the "clash of civilizations" framework by changing its rhetoric.

By Eboo Patel | April 3, 2009; 10:29 AM ET | Comments (208)

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)

Holy Warriors in National Armies

The disturbing rise of religious nationalism in Christian, Jewish and Muslim security forces.

By Eboo Patel | March 30, 2009; 10:03 AM ET | Comments (27)

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)

Poem for Spring

Muslim communities in America are celebrating Navroz -- Persian New Year -- and spring.

By Eboo Patel | March 23, 2009; 10:26 AM ET | Comments (6)

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)

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)

India, the Aspiring Pluralistic Democracy

The world's oldest democracy and its largest democracy should lead the world in interfaith cooperation.

By Eboo Patel | March 5, 2009; 10:19 AM ET | Comments (18)

Geert Wilders on Capitol Hill

Don't deport the anti-Islamic politician, or ban his film. Let's teach him the American value of religious liberty.

By Eboo Patel | February 26, 2009; 08:19 AM ET | Comments (142)

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)

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)

World Leaders and Interfaith Cooperation

We have a former British Prime Minister and a new American President each articulating a vision of interfaith cooperation and building institutions to make good on that vision.

By Eboo Patel | February 9, 2009; 09:57 AM ET | Comments (19)

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)

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)

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)

Rick Warren and Our Either/Or Culture

Win or lose, you have to go to work with people who believe (perhaps passionately) differently than you.

By Eboo Patel | December 19, 2008; 10:16 AM ET | Comments (50)

The Power of Protest

This is why you don't see Pakistanis protesting their own government, but rather Denmark's. Because in Denmark, they might have a say.

By Eboo Patel | December 15, 2008; 12:37 PM ET | Comments (1)

In Defense of Sonal Shah

To link Sonal Shah to the activities of the Hindu nationalist right is offensive and inaccurate.

By Eboo Patel | December 11, 2008; 09:51 AM ET | Comments (133)

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)

Terrorism and Patriotism in India

India is one of the most diverse countries in the world - a carnival of ethnic groups, religious communities, languages, tribes, castes, etc. In fact, the idea of India is the idea of pluralism.

By Eboo Patel | December 5, 2008; 12:21 PM ET | Comments (24)

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)

Is She Muslim Enough?

Inspired by Obama's "Joshua Generation," some day soon a Muslim American women will rise up and run for Congress, and face similar challenges in her own community.

By Eboo Patel | November 21, 2008; 08:28 AM ET | Comments (11)

Obama and the Old Guard

Barack didn't ask the permission of the Old Guard - in the black church, in the civil rights generation, or in the Democratic party. He understood that the past was further away and the future nearer than any of the Old Guard thought.

By Eboo Patel | November 17, 2008; 10:15 AM ET | Comments (20)

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)

New American Gospel

When Obama took the stage, I heard my little boy stir. He felt the earth shift. We all did. As I looked at television images of crowds in Atlanta and Chicago and Kenya, I felt like I saw the faces of King and Lincoln and Mandela.

By Eboo Patel | November 5, 2008; 02:32 AM ET | Comments (35)

Studs Terkel and Barack Obama

The spirit of Studs Terkel is going to fire the soul of this nation for a long time to come.

By Eboo Patel | November 3, 2008; 10:09 AM ET | Comments (10)

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)

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)

Biden, Palin Focus on Issues, not Ideology

Eboo Patel | Conservative Christians might be lukewarm to Sarah Palin's emphasis on tolerance for same-sex relationships.

By Eboo Patel | October 3, 2008; 08:00 AM ET | Comments (32)

How Islamophobia Works

"Obession" film incites concerns about Islam. We all should be concerned about its impact on truth and freedom.

By Eboo Patel | September 26, 2008; 10:16 AM ET | Comments (27)

Generation Service

When the history of my generation is written, national service will be considered our most important contribution to America.

By Eboo Patel | September 19, 2008; 12:33 PM ET | Comments (5)

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)

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)

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)

Darfur & the Olympics: A Jewish Lament

The hour is indeed dark for the women, children, and men of Darfur, but it need not always be so. If people of conscience are willing to dedicate themselves to ending the genocide in western Sudan, it can happen.

By Eboo Patel | August 8, 2008; 11:15 AM ET | Comments (67)

The New Christian Woman

I am grateful to be a member of the Presbyterian Church. The church has blessed me with the freedom to answer God's call, whatever the next call may be.

By Eboo Patel | August 6, 2008; 11:07 AM ET | Comments (4)

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: 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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