Podcasts about interfaith relations

GUEST PREACHER: REV. DR. KATHERINE GEORGIA A. THOMPSON The Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson is the General Minister and President and the Chief Executive Officer of the United Church of Christ. Rev. Thompson is the first woman and first woman of African descent to serve as leader of the denomination. She is a writer, poet and theologian who has contributed to numerous publications. Her book of poetry Drums in Our Veins was published in 2022. Prior to this call, Rev. Thompson served in the national setting of the United Church of Christ for 14 years – two years as Minister for Racial Justice, eight years as Minister for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, and four years as the Associate General Minister for Wider Church Ministries and Co-Executive for Global Ministries. She was elected as Associate General Minister in 2019. As General Minister and President of the UCC, Rev. Thompson is the head of communion and the spiritual leader of the church, as well as the executive leader of the church. Her passion for justice and equity moved her work on behalf of the UCC into a global context when she served as Minister for Racial Justice. This passion for justice was a catalyst for her global advocacy to reduce the marginalization experienced by African descendant peoples and other communities globally. She continues to participate globally bringing her leadership to addressing a variety of issues including global racial justice, gender justice, and human rights. Before joining the national staff in 2009, Rev. Thompson served in the Florida Conference United Church of Christ as a Pastor and on the Conference staff as the Minister for Disaster Response and Recovery. She also worked in the nonprofit arena for over 10 years in leaderships positions. Rev. Thompson earned a Bachelor of Arts from Brooklyn College in New York, a Master of Public Administration from North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC, and a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in New York. She also studied Public Policy at Duke University and earned her Doctor of Ministry at Seattle University. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from Heidelberg University in 2023.

Hey there, we're so glad you're tuning in to our podcast! This sermon is the seventh and penultimate sermon in our 8-week summer sermon series called "The Elephant in the Church." This sermon is based on Matthew 15:21–28, and focuses on what it means to be a Christian in a pluralistic, multi-faith world. We hope this sermon will be a word of both encouragement and challenge to you this week. To find out more about this summer sermon series, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.williamsburgbaptist.com/summer2024.html⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. To find out more about our church, you can head on over to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.williamsburgbaptist.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you have a moment, we'd also love for you to click over to follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We are a small but vibrant and growing congregation, and there are lots of ways to connect. Please don't hesitate to reach out if we can help support you in any way! Thanks so much for tuning in!

In this episode of the AltWire podcast, host Derek Oswald sits down with Matisyahu to discuss his EP, 'Hold the Fire.' Matisyahu shares the inspiration behind his music, including a vivid dream that influenced his song "Fireproof". He reflects on his journey from a wilderness retreat to reconnecting with his Jewish roots and pursuing a music career. The conversation touches on themes of perseverance, spirituality, and the role of music in religious experiences. Matisyahu also offers his thoughts on the rising antisemitism over the past few years in the US, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and how the digital age has reshaped his creative process. Join us for an insightful discussion on resilience, faith, and artistic expression.00:00 Introduction to the AltWire Podcast00:28 Discussing 'Hold the Fire' EP00:51 The Dream Behind the Song "Fireproof"03:21 Wilderness Retreat and Personal Growth05:30 Journey into Judaism06:25 Interfaith Relations and Music's Role08:06 Addressing Antisemitism09:13 Vision of Peace and Music Industry Changes09:59 Creative Process in the Digital Age12:46 Balancing Family and Music13:45 Looking Forward: Future Plans14:30 Closing Remarks

This series of interviews filmed at the 2024 National Religious Broadcaster's Convention provides a unique and relevant perspective of the nation of Israel through the eyes and experiences of its people, from government leaders to advocacy activists to post-October 7 volunteers—and more.

Jud Hendrix has worked at the intersection of personal development and social transformation for over 30 years. He is a teacher, social innovator, community organizer, and movement builder. He helped to envision and launch the Kentucky Interfaith Network with the Center for Interfaith Relations, he co-hosts the Louisville's Alliance for Sustainable Gun Violence Reduction, he co-founded the Big Table: The World's Largest Potluck, and created and hosts Walk A Mile In My Shoes: Migration Simulation. For the last 10 years he has been an adjunct professor at Bellarmine University, teaching courses on personal development and social change. He has a degree in Psychology, a Master of Divinity degree from Louisville Presbyterian Seminary, and is currently finishing his PhD in Education and Social Change researching the power of collaborative networks for large systems change. Last year he and his colleagues completed three different Ecosystemic Social Network Analyses, which he will be sharing the results of with us today

Religious diversity on college and university campuses can be a complicated subject. Varieties of traditions and worldviews have been present at institutions of higher education for a long time, yet recognizing and welcoming those various religious identities has not always automatically followed.Today's episode of ReligionWise features Adeel Zeb, who has served as a Muslim college chaplain on several campuses over the last decade. Additionally, his work has been profiled in a number of outlets, including the Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, and the Washington Post. This wide ranging conversation considers not only Adeel's work as a Muslim chaplain, but also contemplates the path towards Islamic clerical leadership, pressures towards assimilation among 2nd and 3rd generation college students, and shared characteristics of minority religious identities at majority Christian institutions.

Join Fred Bodimer in the weekend religion report as he covers updates on Catholic parishes' appeals in St. Louis, with one union upheld and another rejected by the Vatican. Additionally, Fred discusses the alarming increase in anti-Semitic incidents, reaching a record 5,404 reported cases in 2023. The report emphasizes the need for a community response to combat hate and anti-Semitism, as well as highlighting a rise in anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate reported by the Council on American Islamic Relations.

The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas probably has you and your families, coworkers, and others, thinking and talking about the history and dynamics of the Jewish people and the Palestinians. It may also have you thinking about the relationship between the Catholic Church and our sisters and brothers of other faiths. Father Erich Rutten, pastor of Christ the King and St. Thomas the Apostle in Minneapolis, joined host Patrick Conley to help us navigate the complexity of interfaith relationships and discuss the Vatican II declaration, Nostra Aetate. Learn more about the Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies and ways you can get involved with interfaith engagement. Like what you're hearing? Leave us a review, subscribe, and follow us on social media @practicingcatholicshow! Direct social media links: Instagram Facebook YouTube

4 Ideas for Building Interfaith Relations

William Crawley talks to interfaith experts about navigating Jewish-Muslim relations against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war. As we celebrate 400 years of the publication of Shakespeare's first folio, Professor Regina Schwartz, an expert in both explains how 'Love thy neighbour' is central to understanding the Bard and the Bible. Hear about the Diwali baskets being made in Birmingham to celebrate the big day. Angry meetings and an intractable issue: The General Synod of the Church of England gets ready to talk same sex blessings this week. Reporter Harry Farley has the details

In the spirit of solidarity with our Palestinian Brothers and Sisters, today & the rest of our episodes (indefinitely) will be dedicated to building awareness for their struggle! We were honoured to host The President of the ICV Adel Salman & Executive Board Member Sarah Baarini on the pod. The ICV is the peak body representing the Muslim community in Melbourne and Victoria.  We delved into how the ICV works to speak on behalf of the community in light of the current situation in Palestine, how we can effect change from where we are, raising awareness, calling out politiciansand much more! All of the ICV's Links are Below: https://icv.org.au/ https://m.facebook.com/icv.official https://instagram.com/icvaus?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== https://www.linkedin.com/company/islamic-council-of-victoria/ Don't forget to share and comment (

Last week Texas Impact concluded a series of kick-off events for our Houston Faith Votes campaign in partnership with local congregations and organizations in Houston. We aired the audio from the first of three faith leader panels and y'all loved it so much we thought we'd do it again! The material from these conversations isn't Houston-specific, but hopefully inspires all of us to engage our congregations in civic engagement work, and specifically to mobilize our congregations and communities to participate in every election.  This weeks panel was moderated by Kim Mabry, Interfaith Relations at Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston, and features Rev. Dr. Joe Samuel Ratliff, Senior Pastor of Brentwood Baptist Church, Bishop Michael Rinehart, Bishop of the Gulf Coast Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Rev. Mike Stone, Dean of the Galveston Convocation and Rector of St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church, and Judge Manpreet Singh, Judge in the Harris County Civic Court No. 4 and a leader in the Sihk community.

Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson is the newly elected General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ. Rev. Thompson is the first woman and first woman of African descent to serve as leader of the denomination.   Prior to this call, Rev. Thompson served in the national setting of the United Church of Christ for 14 years – two years as Minister for Racial Justice, eight years as Minister for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations and four years as the Associate General Minister for Wider Church Ministries and Co-Executive for Global Ministries. She was elected as AGM in 2019. Her passion for justice and equity moved her work on behalf of the UCC into a global context, affording the opportunity to participate globally in efforts to reduce the marginalization experienced by African descendant peoples and other communities globally.   Before joining the national staff, Rev. Thompson served in the Florida Conference United Church of Christ as a Pastor and on the Conference staff as the Minister for Disaster Response and Recovery. She also worked in the nonprofit arena for over 10 years in senior leaderships positions.   Rev. Thompson earned a Bachelor of Arts from Brooklyn College in New York, a Master's in Public Administration from North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC, and a Masters of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in New York. She also studied Public Policy at Duke University and earned her Doctorate in Ministry at Seattle University. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from Heidelberg University.   Her book "Drums in Our Veins" can be purchased via this link. Social Media links of UCC: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Karen Georgia is also on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.   The songs picked by all our guests can be found via  our playlist #walktalklisten here.    Please let me/us know via our email innovationhub@cwsglobal.org what you think about this new series. We would love to hear from you.   Please like/follow our Walk Talk Listen podcast and follow mauricebloem on twitter and instagram.  Or check us out on our website 100mile.org.  We also encourage you to check out the special WTL series Enough for All about an organization called CWS.   

Have you ever struggled to communicate with someone from a different cultural background in the workplace? Do you want to learn how to build a more inclusive and diverse team? On today's episode, hosts Jeff Bond and Vicki Flier Huson sit down with Soumaya Khalifa, founder of Khalifa Consulting, which provides cross-cultural training and education to businesses and individuals. In addition to her consulting work, Soumaya is the founder and executive director of the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta (ISB), one of the most distinguished community-building organizations in the area.Today's discussion centers around the challenges of navigating cultural differences in the workplace, and how to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in a globalized world. Tune in to hear Soumaya Khalifa share her insights and experiences on how to bridge cultural gaps and create a more harmonious work environment. From her years of consulting experience, Soumaya offers practical advice for leaders who want to develop cultural competence and foster a culture of respect and inclusivity. Resources related to this episode Visit https://khalifa.consulting/ Visit https://isbatlanta.org/ Follow Soumaya at: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/soumayakhalifa/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/soumaya.khalifa.7 Twitter - https://mobile.twitter.com/soumayakhalifa Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta - info@isbatlanta.org Khalifa Consulting -  soumaya@khalifa.consulting Credits Theme Music

Rev. Ryan “Mango” Althaus is the Minister of Interfaith Relations for the UUA of Santa Cruz and Regional Inclusion Affiliate for the National Presbyterian Church USA. Ryan dove into the field of mental health following an eating disorder relapse which landed this one-time professional marathon runner and certified Psych Chaplain in an in-patient psych unit. You can learn more about his journey to reclaim his faith, life, and laugh in his recently released memoir From Emaciated to Emancipated, and find his podcast, blog, past sermons archive, and coaching practice by visiting thesurfingmango.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rev. Ryan “Mango” Althaus is the Minister of Interfaith Relations for the UUA of Santa Cruz and Regional Inclusion Affiliate for the National Presbyterian Church USA. Ryan dove into the field of mental health following an eating disorder relapse which landed this one-time professional marathon runner and certified Psych Chaplain in an in-patient psych unit. You can learn more about his journey to reclaim his faith, life, and laugh in his recently released memoir From Emaciated to Emancipated, and find his podcast, blog, past sermons archive, and coaching practice by visiting thesurfingmango.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the 4th episode of the 3rd Season of PR Unmasked. In this episode, hosted by the Concordia Forum, Muddassar Ahmed sits down in conversation with Ambassador Deborah E. Lipstadt, the current US' Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. Ambassador Lipstadt has a storied career as a historian, academic, and award-winning author, and in today's episode, she is discussing the growth of antisemitic rhetoric in the US & Europe, its history and what transatlantic communities can do to combat it now, and in the future. Ambassador Lipstadt is also answering questions from Mike Katz, the National Chair of the Jewish Labour Movement; Attorney & Award-Winning Author, Rabia Chaudry; Labour MP for Manchester, Gorton Afzal Khan, and Imam Abdullah Antepli, Associate Professor of the Practice of Interfaith Relations at Duke University. Before being confirmed as Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism in March 2022, Ambassador Lipstadt served as the Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish History and Holocaust Studies at Emory University's Tam Institute for Jewish Studies, which she helped to found. She has also taught at the University of Washington, UCLA and Occidental College. Special Envoy Lipstadt also served as the director of the Brandeis-Bardin Institute and was a research fellow at the Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Antisemitism at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Her numerous, award-winning books include: The Eichmann Trial; Denial: Holocaust History on Trial; Denying the Holocaust: The Growing Assault on Truth and Memory; and Beyond Belief: The American Press and the Coming of the Holocaust, 1933-1945. She received the National Jewish Book Award three times, most recently in 2019 for Antisemitism: Here and Now. Her biographical study of Golda Meir will be published by Yale University Press in 2023.

This is a rebroadcast. The episode originally ran in November 2019. Robert Millet, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and professor of Ancient Scripture and emeritus dean of Religious Education at Brigham Young University. Author of more than 75 published works, he has been involved in BYU Education Week for many years and is well-known as a commentator on the BYUTV Scripture Discussions program. He is also manager of Outreach and Interfaith Relations for the Church's Public Affairs department. Brother Millet chose to write his book The Holy Spirit: His Identity, Mission, and Ministry because the Spirit is so frequently referred to and discussed, but we might not appreciate all that it is. Highlights 03:00 Strategy for covering topics: he makes a list and works on it daily, narrowing it down over a period of weeks/months to develop the book. Work on prophetic statements that relate and continue narrowing the information. Also asking “what experiences have I had with this”. He wanted to cover the topics of sons of perdition, the light of Christ, and God's power. 13:00 How, as leaders, can we have a better understanding of the Holy Spirit: having it, losing it, etc. 13:47 What does it mean to “lose the Holy Ghost”? We lose feeling, we withdraw ourselves. You can't take a vacation from the Spirit – you can't sit still; you either fall back or move forward 19:45 The Holy Ghost “strives with us”. It “battles with us”. There will always be an element of the Spirit to help you; you can't “lose it”. All people can have the Spirit. They may not have the gift of the Holy Ghost that comes from baptism, but they certainly can have the Spirit and inspiration. 25:40 How do you know when a sin is forgiven? Study Mosiah 4:1-3 (joy, peace of conscience, larger measure of the Spirit). “Just don't do things that are offending to the Spirit.” 28:40 Where is “grace” in the doctrine? The Holy Ghost is an act of God's grace to us. We can put ourselves in a position to receive that gift by our actions. “The sun doesn't stop shining just because I put a bag over my head, it continues to shine”. It is the same with God; He loves us through everything. 32:30 Justification and Sanctification 44:10 Be cautious about “I feel impressed that…” It is good to teach what you feel, but if you announce that it came from the Spirit, it can come across as boastful. 45:35 How about church callings and the Spirit? If you pray to start a meeting and pray for the Spirit to guide decisions, you don't need to kneel individually about all decisions. As we strive to live our lives to keep the Spirit with us, we will see that the Holy Ghost has been guiding us in all decisions and shaped our lives. Those decisions were inspired, and hopefully good judgement. We don't need to pray over every decision. “The Spirit prepares us today for decisions we have to make in the future.” 53:00 Joseph McConkie story about calling Stake Presidents: The Lord fits us to our assignments. “God honors the servant”. Difference of being called “by God” or “of God”. 55:00 Final story related again to his friend Joseph McConkie, prior to him leaving to Scotland as a Mission President. Asked him if he had read everything and felt prepared. “What do you think?” He said, “What could cause us not to worry about 63 rules? I will teach my missionaries this: never do anything that would cost you the influence of the Holy Spirit.” That is a great standard to live by. Callings in the Church are not to be superheroes but to live in the way to be directed by the Holy Spirit. It is a solemn responsibility. Mosiah 26: Alma “feared that he would not do right”. As leaders we need to strive to do that. Links The Holy Spirit: His Identity, Mission, and Ministry Grace in the Bishop's Office | An Interview with Robert Millet Photo of Robert Millet by Richard Crookston Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Listen on YouTube Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library

Robert Millet, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and professor of Ancient Scripture and emeritus dean of Religious Education at Brigham Young University. Author of more than 75 published works, he has been involved in BYU Education Week for many years and is well-known as a commentator on the BYUTV Scripture Discussions program. He is also manager of Outreach and Interfaith Relations for the Church's Public Affairs department. Brother Millet chose to write his book The Holy Spirit: His Identity, Mission, and Ministry because the Spirit is so frequently referred to and discussed, but we might not appreciate all that it is. Highlights 03:00 Strategy for covering topics: he makes a list and works on it daily, narrowing it down over a period of weeks/months to develop the book. Work on prophetic statements that relate and continue narrowing the information. Also asking “what experiences have I had with this”. He wanted to cover the topics of sons of perdition, the light of Christ, and God's power. 13:00 How, as leaders, can we have a better understanding of the Holy Spirit: having it, losing it, etc. 13:47 What does it mean to “lose the Holy Ghost”? We lose feeling, we withdraw ourselves. You can't take a vacation from the Spirit – you can't sit still; you either fall back or move forward 19:45 The Holy Ghost “strives with us”. It “battles with us”. There will always be an element of the Spirit to help you; you can't “lose it”. All people can have the Spirit. They may not have the gift of the Holy Ghost that comes from baptism, but they certainly can have the Spirit and inspiration. 25:40 How do you know when a sin is forgiven? Study Mosiah 4:1-3 (joy, peace of conscience, larger measure of the Spirit). “Just don't do things that are offending to the Spirit.” 28:40 Where is “grace” in the doctrine? The Holy Ghost is an act of God's grace to us. We can put ourselves in a position to receive that gift by our actions. “The sun doesn't stop shining just because I put a bag over my head, it continues to shine”. It is the same with God; He loves us through everything. 32:30 Justification and Sanctification 44:10 Be cautious about “I feel impressed that…” It is good to teach what you feel, but if you announce that it came from the Spirit, it can come across as boastful. 45:35 How about church callings and the Spirit? If you pray to start a meeting and pray for the Spirit to guide decisions, you don't need to kneel individually about all decisions. As we strive to live our lives to keep the Spirit with us, we will see that the Holy Ghost has been guiding us in all decisions and shaped our lives. Those decisions were inspired, and hopefully good judgement. We don't need to pray over every decision. “The Spirit prepares us today for decisions we have to make in the future.” 53:00 Joseph McConkie story about calling Stake Presidents: The Lord fits us to our assignments. “God honors the servant”. Difference of being called “by God” or “of God”. 55:00 Final story related again to his friend Joseph McConkie, prior to him leaving to Scotland as a Mission President. Asked him if he had read everything and felt prepared. “What do you think?” He said, “What could cause us not to worry about 63 rules? I will teach my missionaries this: never do anything that would cost you the influence of the Holy Spirit.” That is a great standard to live by. Callings in the Church are not to be superheroes but to live in the way to be directed by the Holy Spirit. It is a solemn responsibility. Mosiah 26: Alma “feared that he would not do right”. As leaders we need to strive to do that. Links The Holy Spirit: His Identity, Mission, and Ministry Grace in the Bishop's Office | An Interview with Robert Millet Photo of Robert Millet by Richard Crookston TRANSCRIPT coming soon Listen on YouTube Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library The Leading Saints Podcast has ranked in the top 20 Christianity podcasts in iTunes,

In this Didomi Podcast episode, Wissam al-Saliby interviews Canon Dr Andrew Smith, Director of Interfaith Relations for the Bishop of Birmingham of the Church of England. Dr Smith shares, “We are not called to tolerate our neighbour or to respect him. I am commanded to love him!”  But what does it mean to show Muslims, Hindus and followers of other religions in the United Kingdom that we love them? And how did the peacemaking efforts that Dr Smith has led since 2000 influence his response to this month's tensions in his city and to the violence that erupted between Hindus and Muslims in Leicester and Birmingham in the UK? Show links: https://thefeast.org.uk/ Connect with the Didomi Collective via: Email contact at didomi.co  Newsletter https://podcast.ausha.co/didomi?s=1 Twitter https://www.twitter.com/didomi_co Instagram https://www.instagram.com/didomi_co

My guest this week is Anne Watkins, who came to Lampeter in 1985, after originally expecting to work for the Civil Service, where she studied Philosophy and Ethics in Western Thought. Anne recalls hearing the sheep bleating on the hills and knowing that Lampeter was the place for her. We talk about long friendships especially with the overseas students and about how Philosophy helped her to think carefully. Anne also did an MA in Interfaith Relations. Anne talks about growing up in Cardiff and her earliest memories and her traumatic transition to high school. She remembers her Catholic education and the Corpus Christi procession. She remembers listening to the charts when growing up and discusses how her dreams have changed over the years.  We find out why Anne couldn't join the Merchant Navy and how she always wanted to travel. Anne failed her ‘O' levels but ended up staying and working in Higher Education and made it her mission to improve education for others. Anne is a fanatical record keeper by way of diaries and photograph albums. She started keeping a diary in 1974 and reflects on how the photo interest in the early days, pre-digital, was expensive. Anne talks about the teachers who inspired her, and remembers dancing around a cauldron at school and being given animals to look after. She also remembers some of the gigs she went to see when growing up. Anne then talks about what has changed in recent years in terms of going out vs. staying at home due to lockdown. We get to hear her lockdown story which involved her having to change her routine. She returned to letter writing and encouraged others to do so. Anne talks about why she found coming out of lockdown difficult, and how she spent much of lockdown without internet. Towards the end of the interview, Anne talks about how she would live her life again in the same way and how she tries not to dwell too much on what is negative. She considers whether she maybe has been living too much in the past, discusses why friendships are crucially important and why her home has been referred to as a shrine. Please note: Opinions expressed are solely those of Chris Deacy and Anne Watkins and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the University of Kent.

This sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Mark Swanson on April 06, 2022. Dr. Swanson is Harold S. Vogelaar Professor of Christian-Muslim Studies and Interfaith Relations; Associate Director of A Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice.

Re-creation through recreation. Our guest is Rev Ryan Althaus and topics include mental health, spirituality and psychedelics. Ryan starts by describing his history with mental health issues and says his goal now is to get his laugh back by recognizing that maybe he is not crazy but kooky. He describes some of his psychedelic experiences and how they helped him to learn how to surrender and to open to more of a sense of playfulness and innocence. We touch on yoga, breathwork, spirituality and daydreaming. We end by going back and forth sharing our recent dreams. NOTE: I am collecting recordings of people speaking their dreams out loud to play on future shows. Please send audio or video files to katherine(at)ksqd.org The Kooky Side of Crazy airs every other Thursday at 6pm at KSQD.org or recordings can be found here: http://sweatysheep.com/discover/sweaty-sheep-goes-radio/ BIO: Rev Ryan Althaus is the Regional Presbyterian Hunger and Inclusivity affiliate of the National Presbyterian church, an up and coming author, and leader of Sweaty Sheep — a local ministry rooted in the utilization of recreation as a means of uniting our a diverse community of faiths, abilities, and labels. Ryan is also an advocate of mental health awareness and destigmatization, and this passion has motivated his management of a 14 person sobriety home in Santa Cruz and his hosting a bi-weekly radio show, ‘The Kooky side of Crazy,' Thursday evenings on KSQD 90.7FM. Captain Mango, as his salty sailing fellowship calls him, is a coast guard licensed Captain who hosts free sailing excursions on his 40 ft. Catamaran for individuals with disabilities, in the addiction recovery process, or working their way out of homelessness. He is also the Minister of Interfaith Relations of the Santa Cruz Unitarian Fellowship and you can learn more about his programs, listen to past sermons,  find links to his writings, and more at sweatysheep.com and contact him at 443-223-7334 or ryan@sweatysheep.com. We play clips from the following guest-selected song: Kooky Little Coconut by Brent Holmes. Ambient music created by Rick Kleffel new every week. Many thanks to Rick Kleffel for also engineering the show, to Tony Russomano for answering the phones and to Ewa Malady for audio editing. Show aired on April 9, 2022. The Dream Journal is produced at and airs on KSQD Santa Cruz, 90.7 FM, streaming live at KSQD.org 10-11am Saturday mornings Pacific time.  Catch it live and call in with your dreams or questions at 831-900-5773 or at onair@ksqd.org. If you want to contact Katherine Bell with feedback, suggestions for future shows or to inquire about exploring your own dreams with her, contact katherine@ksqd.org, or find out more about her at ExperientialDreamwork.com. The complete KSQD Dream Journal podcast page can be found at ksqd.org/the-dream-journal. You can also check out The Dream Journal on the following podcast platforms:  Rate it, review it, subscribe and tell your friends. Apple Podcasts Google Play Stitcher  Spotify

In this episode, we interview Miranda Lobermeir about her time in Rome, Italy and Amman, Jordan for the J-Term global seminar, "Interfaith Relations in the Middle East". We talk about riding camels, the best Italian and Jordanian foods, and seeing two of the seven wonders of the world!

Have you ever wondered why the Jewish people dress up for Purim? Is Purim a biblical holiday? What can Christians learn from this meaningful holiday? In this episode, Ruth Guggenheim, Director of Interfaith Relations, World Emunah talks to Jeff Futers about the significance of Purim and the incredible work she does on behalf of the disadvantaged, abused and at-risk children and families of Israel.First Century Foundations is a Charity that supports ministries in Jerusalem and many other parts of the country of Israel. Our mission is to turn hearts around the world toward the land, people and God of Israel. PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW HERE. You can watch this entire episode on our YouTube channelMake sure you subscribe so you can be notified of First Century Foundations' regular uploads!Support the show (http://www.firstcenturyfoundations.com/donate/)

Hear how entrepreneurs Howard Brown and Cristian Valencia are getting people back out to Dr offices, schools, gyms, restaurants, airports, hotels, sporting events, concerts safely and quickly! Their company www.cleanpathbooths.com will be leading the way. Howard S. Brown: Whether it's as a tech entrepreneur, a fundraiser for non-profits, a board of directors president, or an inspirational coach, Howard rolls up his sleeves and makes things happen. His 25+ years of leadership success is built on a positive attitude, a willingness to do productive hard work, and a talent for building long-lasting relationships. An entrepreneurial sales leader able to predict trends and turn them into a vision for the future, Howard built two successful software start-ups and led them to IPO. He's proud to have led world-class sales, marketing and technology teams, generating $100m+ in new revenue growth, and independently raising millions of dollars in equity and working capital investments. Howard enjoys applying his experience to help companies strategize and scale to the next level. Creating the world's first interactive online community calendar for faith, Howard finds it especially rewarding to give back to the community. His extensive global network offers a wide range of resources and enables him to have a larger impact. The Detroit Community awarded Howard “Activist of the Year” for his leadership and service in Interfaith Relations. All entrepreneurs face challenges along their journeys, and the ability to solve problems and remove obstacles along the way helps develop a certain resilience. As a cancer survivor, having overcome many incredible challenges along his own journey, Howard was selected to participate in the Scientist-Survivor Program for the American Association of Cancer Research. Speaking engagements and advocacy enable Howard to share his experiences and shine a bright light for others who may need help and hope. Expertise includes: – Digital platforms: mobile, audio, video, broadcast/cable, cloud computing, social media, apps and online communities. – Smart enterprises: data collection, analysis, intelligence, insights and reporting. – Sales and marketing: sales strategies, revenue generation, business development, deal making and marketing strategies. – Fundraising: angel, venture, private equity, family office and digital crowdsourcing, face-to-face solicitation and capital campaigns – Public speaking: board training, motivation, sales and fundraising. – Consulting: start up development, sales strategies, raising capital, go-to-market and entering the US market from abroad. Cristian Valencia: Cristian Valencia is the CEO of Dide Chemicals & Logistics. He is an experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the logistics and supply chain industry. Skilled in Sales, Management, Business Development, Funding, and Business Networking. Strong business development professional graduated from Southern Connecticut State University. Connect with Jon Dwoskin: Twitter: @jdwoskin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.dwoskin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejondwoskinexperience/ Website: https://jondwoskin.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jondwoskin/ Email: jon@jondwoskin.com Get Jon's Book: The Think Big Movement: Grow your business big. Very Big!   Connect with Howard S. Brown: Website: www.cleanpathbooths.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/circlebuilder Instagram: www.instagram.com/howard.brown.36 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardsbrown/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/howard.brown.36   Connect with Cristian Valencia: Website: https://www.didechemicals.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristian-valencia-9b7a77143/

Zeynep Kariparduc, originally from Turkey, is now the Chair of the Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable. In Good Faith is the place to hear stories and accounts from believers, told in their own words. Our hope is to listen with an open heart, celebrating the power of faith and belief, and what those stories mean to the ones who tell them. Host Steven Kapp Perry talks with believers from all walks of faith—Catholic and Episcopalian, Buddhist and Baptist, Jewish and Hindu, Presbyterian and Seventh Day Adventist, Muslim and Latter-day Saint—in other words, human beings and believers, sharing their personal experience with the sacred and the divine. Sundays on BYU radio—and be sure to subscribe to the podcast!

The phrase "thoughts and prayers" has become overused almost to the point of cliché, but using faith and prayer as a tool to get through hardship is as old as recorded history. This week on "In Conversation," we explored the role of religion in healing from the traumatic events of 2020 — a particularly poignant question to ponder here in Louisville, where protesters spent a good part of last year fighting for racial justice. Louisville's 25th annual Festival of Faiths is underway this weekend, and some of the panelists joined us to explore this year's theme, faith and race. The festival is produced by the Center for Interfaith Relations, an organization dedicated to celebrating the city's diverse faith landscape. But this year, the planning process went beyond the center's walls, tapping community leaders from Simmons College, Spalding University, the Baptist Seminary of Kentucky, and the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary to help curate. Here are the guests you'll hear on our show this week: Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson Ronda Magee Imam Zaid Shakir Sarah Kelley

A weekly podcast exploring stories at the intersection of faith and culture through an inclusive Christian lens. This week Mitch and Autumn talk about the vaccine rollout for children, the current pending cases with justice hanging in the balance, and how we can all look forward to the future. Later, Sarah Riggs Reed, managing director for the Center for Interfaith Relations in Louisville, KY and Dr. Lewis Brogdon, associate professor of Preaching and Black Church Studies and director of the Institute for Black Church Studies at the Baptist Seminary of Kentucky, join the show to talk about the upcoming Festival of Faiths. Learn more at festivaloffaiths.org.

A weekly podcast exploring stories at the intersection of faith and culture through an inclusive Christian lens. This week Mitch and Autumn talk about the vaccine rollout for children, the current pending cases with justice hanging in the balance, and how we can all look forward to the future.Later, Sarah Riggs Reed, managing director for the Center for Interfaith Relations in Louisville, KY and Dr. Lewis Brogdon, associate professor of Preaching and Black Church Studies and director of the Institute for Black Church Studies at the Baptist Seminary of Kentucky, join the show to talk about the upcoming Festival of Faiths. Learn more at festivaloffaiths.org.

DATE: September 22, 2021 SHOW: Prelude to Positivity Producer: Tommy Geraci HOST: Tommy Geraci GUEST: Oz Sultan Mini Bio: Tommy Geraci: As an entertainment, social media and pop culture expert whose clients include celebrities, television shows, film producers and mainstream media,Tommy Geraci has provided social media coverage for the BAFTAS, Britannias, Emmys, Oscars, Golden Globes, Erase MS, and more. He has worked on the red carpet for movie premiers, including Transformers, White Rabbit, and the One Direction Movie as well as the BAFTAS, Erase MS, and the Golden Globes. Tommy also provided social media coverage for the convention circuit, including EyeCon and DragonCon. In addition, he writes for Addicted Magazine. Tommy's blog, Teeco71.com, highlights his interviews with celebrities, indie filmmakers and musicians, and the events he attends. Oz Sultan: Oz is know for Block chain Strategy, NFT builds, and Big Data. He is a Cryptocurrency Analyst, Digital Counter-terrorism educator, Interfaith advocate, Community Oragizer, and a District Leader - 70th Assembly in Harlem, NYC. LINKS: Tommy Oz SOCIAL MEDIA: Tommy: Twitter Instagram LinkTree Facebook YouTube Clubhouse Oz: Twitter Instagram Facebook Clubhouse

“The seeds of peace come from the ground.” “You don’t begin by going to library. Theology begins on the street. Go to understand what Scripture and tradition have to say about those questions [on the street], and new questions will arise.” Growing up Christian and attending seminary at a time of heightening tensions between Buddhists and Hindus in his native Sri Lanka, Shanta Premawardhana realized early in his life that received theology – deriving from text, scripture and tradition – could have a limited role in guiding how to live, compared to the theology arising from the contexts of people’s daily lives. “What shall I eat tomorrow? How shall I find health care for my child? How shall I find a job? Those are in the end theological questions,” Premawardhana says. “At that point, it doesn’t matter what is your faith.” Now, several decades later, Premawardhana has combined his extensive theological training with deep experience in grassroots organizing to be a global interfaith peacebuilder in some of the most conflict-ridden places of the world. He is President of the OMNIA Institute for Contextual Leadership, a Chicago-based organization which trains faith leaders – clergy and lay – to counter religious extremism and religion-based oppression, domination and violence. OMNIA trains people of faith to deconstruct theologies of exclusivism and superiority and reconstruct theologies of pluralism. It has trained over 3500 peacemakers around the world, who are organized into 158 Interfaith Peacemaker Teams in Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Each Interfaith Peacemaker Team has about 20 faith leaders who collaborate across identity barriers, build power by organizing people and organizing money, and act collaboratively to address critical issues that arise from the ground.  Inspired by the critical pedagogy of philosopher Paulo Freire, Premawardhana first cut his teeth in community organizing with the renowned Sarvodaya Shramadana movement of Sri Lanka, which was founded in 1958 and remains one of the world’s largest community organizing networks. Later Premawardhana did some Gandhian organizing while in further seminary studies in Madhurai, India, and then got engaged with Saul Alinsky-style organizing in the South Side of Chicago, which also inspired young community organizer Barack Obama.  At the same time, he was involved in interreligious dialogue, believing that the work of interfaith relations must move beyond theological conversations, and sought to bring seminary students to do theology differently. “Seminaries teach from the top down (received theology). But the theology we want students to take away is contextual theology. Theology must begin with the questions and struggles of people on the ground, … and we should seek scripture and tradition to respond to that,” Premawardhana has said. OMNIA's method of contextual learning, L3M, "Listening to, Learning from, and Living in Deep Solidarity with those in Margins," equips leaders to dismantle top-down "received" theologies of exclusivity and superiority, and build bottom-up "contextual" theologies. OMNIA is the off-spring of SCUPE (Seminary Consortium of Urban Pastoral Education), which for 40 years trained seminary students in Chicago to take the context of the city seriously, and to build a theology from questions on the streets. In 2018, OMNIA received the prestigious Paul Carus Award for excellence in interfaith action by the Parliament of the World's Religions. Prior to OMNIA, Premawardhana served as the Director for Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation at the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland. He was also the Associate General Secretary for Interfaith Relations at the National Council of Churches, USA, where he initiated and co-led a dialogue table of senior Jewish and Christian leaders in the United States addressing critical questions of theology and justice, and also initiated a similar dialogue table with senior Muslim and Christian leaders. While serving as pastor of Ellis Avenue Church in Chicago for fourteen years, he engaged in community organizing in the South Side of Chicago. He is an emeritus trustee of the Parliament of the World’s Religions, National Council of Churches, USA, and Common Cause Illinois. He earned his MA and Ph.D. in Religion at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, having attended seminary in Sri Lanka as well as in India prior to arriving in the United States in 1981. After his doctoral studies, he stayed in Chicago and founded the Chicago Ashram of Jesus Christ, a Christian community with an outreach to South Asian immigrants. For Premawardhana, whose Christianity was informed by Buddhism to be always one of a disciplined journey rather than an arrived-at salvation, the “missional” mindset of many religions leads them to want to teach, not continue to learn. Premawardhana seeks to turn the mission paradigm upside down where those on the margins teach those in the privileged center: “Those who are hungry today have something important to teach us about economic justice, about faith, about resilience. When we get that, our questions are different, our answers are different. What’s wrong with our theology? How can we engage with those in the margins? Those in the margins will missionize us, will teach us, will convert us.” Join us in conversation with this inspiring bridge- and peace-builder!

“The seeds of peace come from the ground.” “You don’t begin by going to library. Theology begins on the street. Go to understand what Scripture and tradition have to say about those questions [on the street], and new questions will arise.” Growing up Christian and attending seminary at a time of heightening tensions between Buddhists and Hindus in his native Sri Lanka, Shanta Premawardhana realized early in his life that received theology – deriving from text, scripture and tradition – could have a limited role in guiding how to live, compared to the theology arising from the contexts of people’s daily lives. “What shall I eat tomorrow? How shall I find health care for my child? How shall I find a job? Those are in the end theological questions,” Premawardhana says. “At that point, it doesn’t matter what is your faith.” Now, several decades later, Premawardhana has combined his extensive theological training with deep experience in grassroots organizing to be a global interfaith peacebuilder in some of the most conflict-ridden places of the world. He is President of the OMNIA Institute for Contextual Leadership, a Chicago-based organization which trains faith leaders – clergy and lay – to counter religious extremism and religion-based oppression, domination and violence. OMNIA trains people of faith to deconstruct theologies of exclusivism and superiority and reconstruct theologies of pluralism. It has trained over 3500 peacemakers around the world, who are organized into 158 Interfaith Peacemaker Teams in Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Each Interfaith Peacemaker Team has about 20 faith leaders who collaborate across identity barriers, build power by organizing people and organizing money, and act collaboratively to address critical issues that arise from the ground.  Inspired by the critical pedagogy of philosopher Paulo Freire, Premawardhana first cut his teeth in community organizing with the renowned Sarvodaya Shramadana movement of Sri Lanka, which was founded in 1958 and remains one of the world’s largest community organizing networks. Later Premawardhana did some Gandhian organizing while in further seminary studies in Madhurai, India, and then got engaged with Saul Alinsky-style organizing in the South Side of Chicago, which also inspired young community organizer Barack Obama.  At the same time, he was involved in interreligious dialogue, believing that the work of interfaith relations must move beyond theological conversations, and sought to bring seminary students to do theology differently. “Seminaries teach from the top down (received theology). But the theology we want students to take away is contextual theology. Theology must begin with the questions and struggles of people on the ground, … and we should seek scripture and tradition to respond to that,” Premawardhana has said. OMNIA's method of contextual learning, L3M, "Listening to, Learning from, and Living in Deep Solidarity with those in Margins," equips leaders to dismantle top-down "received" theologies of exclusivity and superiority, and build bottom-up "contextual" theologies. OMNIA is the off-spring of SCUPE (Seminary Consortium of Urban Pastoral Education), which for 40 years trained seminary students in Chicago to take the context of the city seriously, and to build a theology from questions on the streets. In 2018, OMNIA received the prestigious Paul Carus Award for excellence in interfaith action by the Parliament of the World's Religions. Prior to OMNIA, Premawardhana served as the Director for Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation at the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland. He was also the Associate General Secretary for Interfaith Relations at the National Council of Churches, USA, where he initiated and co-led a dialogue table of senior Jewish and Christian leaders in the United States addressing critical questions of theology and justice, and also initiated a similar dialogue table with senior Muslim and Christian leaders. While serving as pastor of Ellis Avenue Church in Chicago for fourteen years, he engaged in community organizing in the South Side of Chicago. He is an emeritus trustee of the Parliament of the World’s Religions, National Council of Churches, USA, and Common Cause Illinois. He earned his MA and Ph.D. in Religion at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, having attended seminary in Sri Lanka as well as in India prior to arriving in the United States in 1981. After his doctoral studies, he stayed in Chicago and founded the Chicago Ashram of Jesus Christ, a Christian community with an outreach to South Asian immigrants. For Premawardhana, whose Christianity was informed by Buddhism to be always one of a disciplined journey rather than an arrived-at salvation, the “missional” mindset of many religions leads them to want to teach, not continue to learn. Premawardhana seeks to turn the mission paradigm upside down where those on the margins teach those in the privileged center: “Those who are hungry today have something important to teach us about economic justice, about faith, about resilience. When we get that, our questions are different, our answers are different. What’s wrong with our theology? How can we engage with those in the margins? Those in the margins will missionize us, will teach us, will convert us.” Join us in conversation with this inspiring bridge- and peace-builder!

This week we welcome Reverend Greg Han to the studio. Rev. Han has been the Director of Interfaith Relations & Education, Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston for six years. The work of Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston is all about ‘dialogue, collaboration, and service.' These three qualities are in high demand, whether it be through our Meals on Wheels, Refugee Services, or Volunteer Houston. Today we talk about the refugee crisis and how Interfaith Ministries is providing services for displaced families in need. IMGH.org https://www.houstonchronicle.com/lifestyle/houston-belief/article/Houston-s-faith-community-prepares-to-receive-16413140.php

Panel Two: Presentation by Sister Isabel Smyth on the creation and the environment in Christianity. (Part 2 of 3) Sister Isabel focused on the Catholic perspective with an analysis of Pope Francis' letter, Laudato si that sets out the Pope's care for creation using the theology of creation as a motivation for believers. It reflects a change in the theology in response to changes in society, as is the ongoing process within Catholicism. The initial understanding of Genesis was that nature was created for the ease of human beings, however, due to the original sin of Adam and Eve, humans were left on earth to suffer in their sinful state. This reading had far-reaching consequences in Christianity including implications for the treatment of women. The changes in Laudato si came about as a recognition that the chapters of Genesis contained truth but were written as myths. The changes also reflect our evolving knowledge of science and cosmology. Sister Isabel is the Scottish Catholic Bishops' Secretary for Interfaith Relations, secretary of the West of Scotland Council of Christians and Jews and a member of the UK Churches Committee for Interreligious Relations. In 2007 she was awarded an OBE for her work in interfaith relations. She taught for over twenty years in the religious education department of St Andrew's College of Education and has long-standing experience in interfaith work and has served on a variety of interfaith and religious education bodies including the Churches Agency for Inter-Faith Relations in Scotland and the UK Interfaith Network.

On today's episode of Conversations For The Animals, hosts Tena Lundquist Faust and Tama Lundquist speak with longtime partner and friend of the animals, Reverend Greg Han, Director of Interfaith Relations and Education at Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston. In this 30-minute discussion, Reverend Han touches on the moral and ethical responsibility we have in caring for and respecting the companion animals in our community.

This week, we bring you highlights from AJC Virtual Global Forum 2021. First, in a conversation moderated by Manya Brachear Pashman, we hear from H.E. Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of Hedayah, and Rabbi David Rosen, AJC Director of International Interreligious Affairs, in The Siegler Family Annual Muslim-Jewish Symposium on How Interfaith Relations Helped Drive the Abraham Accords. Then, two college student activists, Julia Jassey, University of Chicago ‘23, and Talia Rosenberg, University of Pennsylvania ‘21, help us understand today's challenges and opportunities on campus for pro-Israel students during the AJC Virtual Global Forum's session, The View from Campus, moderated by Meggie Wyschogrod Fredman, AJC Deputy Director of Young Leadership. ___ Episode Lineup: (0:40) H.E. Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Rabbi David Rosen, Manya Brachear Pashman (21:38) Julia Jassey, Talia Rosenberg, and Meggie Wyschogrod Fredman

This sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Mark Swanson on April 28th, 2021. Dr. Swanson is Harold S. Vogelaar Professor of Christian-Muslim Studies and Interfaith Relations, Associate Director of A Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice, and Director of Advanced Studies.

"Conversion of the Heart as a Critical Tool Towards Economic Justice" is our fourth topic of this 4-part series with Raphael Mkuzi Send your questions for this episode to SoulForum@oslc.net and you may be selected to join the speaker in a live Q/A Zoom Forum. Curator: Rev. Dan Senter Host: Raphael Mkuzi is a 2nd year PhD student at The Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California, and in the field of Historical and Cultural Studies of Religion (HCSR), having concentration in Comparative Religion. Originally, he is a catholic priest from Malawi, Africa with academic background in ‘Interreligious Dialogue and Peacebuilding Between Muslims and Christians.’ He did his Advanced Masters degree in Systematic Theology in the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, Europe. Right now, his research interest is on the theme: Interreligious/Interfaith Peacebuilding Through Economic Justice in the Context of Malawi, Africa. Accordingly, he is taking courses in Economics at the University of California, Berkeley. 

Grammy award-winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma speaks with conductor, composer, and musician Teddy Abrams about the power of music, healing cultural differences, and other timely topics. Yo-Yo Ma has recorded more than 100 albums, is the winner of 18 Grammy Awards, and has performed for nine American presidents, most recently on the occasion of President Biden’s inauguration. He has received numerous awards, including the National Medal of the Arts, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Kennedy Center Honors. He has been a UN Messenger of Peace since 2006, and was recognized as one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020. Teddy Abrams is the acclaimed Music Director of both the Louisville Orchestra and the Britt Festival Orchestra. Abrams has fostered interdisciplinary collaborations with organizations including the Louisville Ballet, the Center for Interfaith Relations, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Speed Art Museum, and the Folger Shakespeare Library. His rap-opera, ‘The Greatest: Muhammad Ali,” premiered in 2017, celebrating Louisville’s hometown hero. Abrams’ work with the Louisville Orchestra has been profiled on CBS News Sunday Morning, NPR, and in The Wall Street Journal.

"Economic Justice and Interreligious, Intercultural and Political Peace" is our third topic of this 4-part series with Raphael Mkuzi Send your questions for this episode to SoulForum@oslc.net and you may be selected to join the speaker in a live Q/A Zoom Forum. Curator: Rev. Dan Senter Host: Raphael Mkuzi is a 2nd year PhD student at The Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California, and in the field of Historical and Cultural Studies of Religion (HCSR), having concentration in Comparative Religion. Originally, he is a catholic priest from Malawi, Africa with academic background in ‘Interreligious Dialogue and Peacebuilding Between Muslims and Christians.’ He did his Advanced Masters degree in Systematic Theology in the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, Europe. Right now, his research interest is on the theme: Interreligious/Interfaith Peacebuilding Through Economic Justice in the Context of Malawi, Africa. Accordingly, he is taking courses in Economics at the University of California, Berkeley. 

"Religions and Ethics" is our second topic of this 4-part series with Raphael Mkuzi Send your questions for this episode to SoulForum@oslc.net and you may be selected to join the speaker in a live Q/A Zoom Forum. Curator: Rev. Dan Senter Host: Raphael Mkuzi is a 2nd year PhD student at The Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California, and in the field of Historical and Cultural Studies of Religion (HCSR), having concentration in Comparative Religion. Originally, he is a catholic priest from Malawi, Africa with academic background in ‘Interreligious Dialogue and Peacebuilding Between Muslims and Christians.’ He did his Advanced Masters degree in Systematic Theology in the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, Europe. Right now, his research interest is on the theme: Interreligious/Interfaith Peacebuilding Through Economic Justice in the Context of Malawi, Africa. Accordingly, he is taking courses in Economics at the University of California, Berkeley. 

"Beyond Capitalism, Socialism and Welfare Economy: Working Toward a Profound Economic Justice" is our first topic of this 4-part series with Raphael Mkuzi Send your questions for this episode to SoulForum@oslc.net and you may be selected to join the speaker in a live Q/A Zoom Forum. Curator: Rev. Dan Senter Host: Raphael Mkuzi is a 2nd year PhD student at The Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California, and in the field of Historical and Cultural Studies of Religion (HCSR), having concentration in Comparative Religion. Originally, he is a catholic priest from Malawi, Africa with academic background in ‘Interreligious Dialogue and Peacebuilding Between Muslims and Christians.’ He did his Advanced Masters degree in Systematic Theology in the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, Europe. Right now, his research interest is on the theme: Interreligious/Interfaith Peacebuilding Through Economic Justice in the Context of Malawi, Africa. Accordingly, he is taking courses in Economics at the University of California, Berkeley. 

In this episode of Culture Shock: Awakening the Humanity in Our World host, Michelle Werner, discusses Islam with Imam Abdullah Antepli. Twitter: @aantepli Instagram: @abdullah.antepli Imam Abdullah Antepli is an Associate Professor of the Practice at Duke University's Stanford School of Public Policy. He previously served as Duke University's first Muslim Chaplain and then as Duke's Chief Representative of Muslim Affairs. Also, he was the Director of the Duke Islamic Studies Center. Prior, he served as the first Muslim Chaplain at Wesleyan University and then moved to Hartford Seminary in Connecticut, where he was the Associate Director of the Islamic Chaplaincy Program & Interfaith Relations as well as an adjunct faculty member. Imam Antepli completed his training and education in Turkey where he worked on various faith-based humanitarian and relief projects in with the Association of Social and Economic Solidarity with Pacific Countries. Imam Antepli has advised Secretary of State John Kerry's Office of Faith-Based Initiatives, and various federal and international agencies, including the United Nations. He even gave the opening prayer, twice, at the U.S. House of Representatives! He is the founder and executive board member of the Association of College Muslim Chaplains (ACMC) and a board member of the Association for College and University Religious Affairs (ACURA). Imam Antepli co-founded the Muslim Leadership Initiative at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. Imam Antepli has done many interviews and talks that can be found on YouTube. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michelle-werner/support

In this episode, Thaniel Wenger speaks with Spyridoula Fotinis, Coordinator of Programs & Special Assistant, Inter-Orthodox Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, about her work with the United Nations and the Orthodox Christian Ministries Network on Homelessness. Read her CrossRoad Down the Road article at crossroadinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/DTR2019-digital-pages-.pdf (page 17). You can contact Spyridoula at goarch.org/-/spyridoula-fotinis.

This week's podcast is about Interfaith relations, with Tom Wilson (Director of the St Philips Centre) and Laura Johnson (who heads up training for churches at the St Philips Centre) joining Jon to talk about some of the “whys” and “hows” of interfaith dialogue and confident Christian engagement with our friends and neighbours from other faith groups.

Today we have another installment in our God Shot's series where we take a deep dive into systematic theology. Using Daniel Migliore's book, Faith Seeking Understanding, Tony and Charmaine Chvala-Smith help us understand Christian's responsibility to dialogue and have relationships with other faiths. Host: Carla LongGuests: Charmaine and Tony Chvala-Smith

This sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Mark Swanson for LSTC’s online chapel service on Wednesday, April 29, 2020. Dr. Swanson is the Harold S. Vogelaar Professor of Christian-Muslim Studies & Interfaith Relations and Associate Director of Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice.

This is the third episode in a four-part podcast series on maintaining spiritual and emotional wellness during the COVID-19 crisis. Rabbi Rami's guest today is his friend and colleague at the One River Foundation, Frank Levy. Based in Alabama, Levy is the retired Bureau Chief of Public Health Preparedness for the Houston Department of Health and Human Services, and former Director of Interfaith Relations at Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston. He frequently lectures on public health preparedness. Levy makes three key recommendations for what we can do during the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen for the tips, and be well! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the third episode in a four-part podcast series on maintaining spiritual and emotional wellness during the COVID-19 crisis. Rabbi Rami's guest today is his friend and colleague at the One River Foundation, Frank Levy. Based in Alabama, Levy is the retired Bureau Chief of Public Health Preparedness for the Houston Department of Health and Human Services, and former Director of Interfaith Relations at Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston. He frequently lectures on public health preparedness. Levy makes three key recommendations for what we can do during the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen for the tips, and be well!

Today’s reflection on Station 8 - Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem - comes from The Rev. Gregory Han and Elena Korbut. The Rev. Gregory Han is a “half-Asian, midwestern-Raised, Jesuit-educated, Harvard-trained, Texas-residing, Presbyterian Minister." ince summer 2014, he has served as the Director of Interfaith Relations & Education at Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston. He is on the faculty of the Honors College at the University of Houston, and he also speaks and teaches widely across the Houston area. He holds degrees from Georgetown University and Harvard Divinity School. Elena Korbut is the Community Engagement Manager in the Refugee Services Department at Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston. She works on connecting refugees to the local community as she believes that this connection is instrumental in helping refugees make Houston their home, to contribute to building a strong and diverse community so they can thrive. Her passion for serving the refugee community is fueled by her experience as an immigrant and someone who is familiar with challenges one faces when moving to a different country. Hometown is a podcast from Episcopal Migration Ministries. Check out EMM’s blog for latest updates, opportunities, and alerts: Blog: https://episcopalmigrationministries.org/blog/ Our theme song was composed and recorded by Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at https://abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Episcopal Migration Ministries: www.episcopalmigrationministries.org, www.facebook.com/emmrefugees, Twitter & Instagram, @emmrefugees

In this episode Jamie Howison interviews Archbishop Linda Nicholls, the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada. Archbishop Nicholls was elected to the office of Primate at the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada, held in July 2019.  At the time of her election she was serving as Bishop of the Diocese of Huron, and prior to that as Area Bishop of the Trent-Durham region in the Diocese of Toronto. She also has almost twenty years of ministry experience as a parish priest in the Diocese of Toronto, and also worked for the national church as Coordinator for Dialogue for Ethics, Interfaith Relations and Congregational Development for the Anglican Church of Canada. A graduate of Wycliffe College in Toronto, she also holds degrees in music and education, as well as a Doctor of Ministry from the University of Toronto.  Archbishop Nicholls is the first woman to be elected to the office of Primate of the Canadian Church, and only the second woman in the worldwide Anglican communion to serve as a primate. To find out more about Archbishop Nicholls and her ministry, please visit the Primate's designated section on the website of the Anglican Church of Canada.Comment on this episode on our website. Subscribe to the show wherever you listen to audio and we invite you to rate us or write a review of what we are doing on Apple Podcasts. Reviews help others join the conversation.* * *This podcast is created at saint benedict's table, a congregation of the Anglican Church of Canada in Winnipeg. where we've been making great audio since 2006. Listen to other recent episodes on our website and see our entire catalogue of almost 500 shows on our hosting page.Our MissionTo provide rich and stimulating audio resources to the wider church and engage topics and issues relevant to the concerns and questions of the larger culture in which we live.

Robert Millet, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and professor of ancient scripture and emeritus Dean of Religious Education at Brigham Young University. Author of 76 published works, he has been involved in BYU Education Week for many years and is well-known as a commentator on the BYUTV Scripture Discussions program. He is also Manager of Outreach and Interfaith Relations for the LDS Church’s Public Affairs Department. Brother Millet's most recent book is The Holy Spirit: His Identity, Mission and Ministry. His decision to write about this topic is related to his fascination with the work of The Holy Spirit. It is so frequently referred to and discussed, but we might not appreciate all that it is. Highlights 3:00 Strategy for covering topics: he makes a list and works on it daily, narrowing it down over a period of weeks/months to develop the book. Work on prophetic statements that relate and continue narrowing the information. Also asking “what experiences have I had with this”. He wanted to cover the topics of sons of perdition, the light of Christ, and God's power. 13:00 How, as leaders, can we have a better understanding of the Holy Spirit: having it, losing it, etc. 13:47 What does it mean to “lose the Holy Ghost”? We lose feeling, we withdraw ourselves. You can’t take a vacation from the Spirit – you can’t sit still; you either fall back or move forward 19:45 The Holy Ghost “strives with us”. It “battles with us”. There will always be an element of the Spirit to help you; you can’t “lose it”. All people can have the Spirit. They may not have the gift of the Holy Ghost that comes from baptism, but they certainly can have the Spirit and inspiration. 25:40 How do you know when a sin is forgiven? Study Mosiah 4:1-3 (joy, peace of conscience, larger measure of the Spirit). “Just don’t do things that are offending to the Spirit.” 28:40 Where is “grace” in the doctrine? The Holy Ghost is an act of God's grace to us. We can put ourselves in a position to receive that gift by our actions. “The sun doesn’t stop shining just because I put a bag over my head, it continues to shine”. It is the same with God; He loves us through everything. 32:30 Justification and Sanctification 44:10 Be cautious about “I feel impressed that…” It is good to teach what you feel, but if you announce that it came from the Spirit, it comes across as boastful. 45:35 How about church callings and the Spirit? If you pray to start a meeting and pray for the Spirit to guide decisions, you don’t need to kneel individually about all decisions. As we strive to live our lives to keep the Spirit with us, we will see that the Holy Ghost has been guiding us in all decisions and shaped our lives. Those decisions were inspired, and hopefully good judgement. We don’t need to pray over every decision. “The spirit prepares us today for decisions we have to make in the future.” 53:00 Joseph McConkie story about calling Stake Presidents: The Lord fits us to our assignments. “God honors the servant”. Difference of being called “by God” or “of God”. 55:00 Final story related again to his friend Joseph McConkie, prior to him leaving to Scotland as a Mission President. Asked him if he had read everything and felt prepared. “What do you think?” He said, “What could cause us not to worry about 63 rules? I will teach my missionaries this: never do anything that would cost you the influence of the Holy Spirit.” That is a great standard to live by. Callings in the Church are not to be superheroes but to live in the way to be directed by the Holy Spirit. It is a solemn responsibility. Mosiah 26: Alma “feared that he would not do right”. As leaders we need to strive to do that. Links The Holy Spirit: His Identity, Mission, and Ministry Grace in the Bishop’s Office | An Interview with Robert Millet Photo of Robert Millet by Richard Crookston

Teddy Abrams is a widely acclaimed conductor, as well as an established pianist, clarinetist, & composer.  As Music Director of the Louisville Orchestra & Music Director & Conductor of the Britt Classical Festival, Teddy also served as Resident Conductor of the MAV Symphony Orchestra in Budapest, which he first conducted in 2011. A tireless advocate for the power of music, he continues to foster interdisciplinary collaboration with organizations including the Louisville Ballet, the Center for Interfaith Relations, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Speed Art Museum, & the Folger Shakespeare Library. His extensive community outreach continues to reach new audiences & bring classical music into increasingly diverse communities. Teddy’s previous seasons have included debuts at the Kennedy Center & with Colorado, North Carolina, & New Jersey Symphonies, as well as a return to the New World Symphony. Recent guest conducting highlights include engagements with the San Francisco, Houston, Vancouver, Phoenix, & Jacksonville Symphonies; Florida Orchestra; & Louisiana and New Mexico Philharmonics. He has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with the Indianapolis Symphony, & recently conducted them with Time for 3 for a special recording for PBS. Prior to these stints, he served as Assistant Conductor of the Detroit Symphony from 2012-2014. From 2008 to 2011 Teddy was the Conducting Fellow & Assistant Conductor of the New World Symphony (NWS) & conducted many performances, including subscription concerts & numerous other full & chamber orchestra events. He has conducted the NWS in Miami Beach, Washington, D.C. & at Carnegie Hall, with a recent return to conduct the NWS on subscription with Joshua Bell as soloist. An accomplished pianist & clarinetist, Teddy has appeared as a soloist with a # of orchestras—including play-conducting the Ravel Piano Concerto with the Jacksonville Symphony in Fall 2013—& has performed chamber music with the St. Petersburg String Quartet, Menahem Pressler, Gilbert Kalish, Time for Three, & John Adams, in addition to annual appearances at the Olympic Music Festival. Dedicated to exploring new & engaging ways to communicate with a diverse range of audiences, Teddy co-founded the 6h Floor Trio in 2008. Together, they founded & direct GardenMusic, the music festival of the world-renowned Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami; they continue to tour regularly throughout the U.S. Teddy studied conducting with Michael Tilson Thomas, Otto-Werner Mueller and Ford Lallerstedt at the Curtis Inst. of Music, & with David Zinman at the Aspen Music Festival; he was the youngest conducting student ever accepted at BOTH institutions! He is also an award-winning composer & a passionate educator – he has taught at numerous schools throughout the USA. His 2009 Education Concerts with the New World Symphony (featuring the world premiere of one of Teddy’s own orchestral works) were webcast to 100’s of schools throughout South Florida. Teddy performed as a keyboardist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, won the 2007 Aspen Composition Contest, and was the Assistant Conductor of the YouTube Symphony at Carnegie Hall in 2009.  He has held residencies at the La Mortella music festival in Ischia, Italy & at the American Academy in Berlin.  He was a proud member of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra for 7 seasons, & graduated from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor of Music, having studied piano with Paul Hersh.

Sermon by the Reverend Canon Mark Poulson, Canon for Interfaith Relations, at Evensong on Tuesday 2 July 2019.

The Rev. Dr. Mark Swanson, Harold S. Vogelaar Professor of Christian-Muslim Studies and Interfaith Relations and associate director of A Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice, preached during worship in the Augustana Chapel at LSTC on April 10. His text was Luke 18:31-34.

In this thoughtful conversation, Imam Abdullah Antepli examines the parallels and differences between Muslim and Jewish experiences in America. Imam Antepli completed his basic training and education in his native Turkey. From 1996-2003 he worked on a variety of faith-based humanitarian and relief projects in Myanmar (Burma) and Malaysia with the Association of Social and Economic Solidarity with Pacific Countries. He is the founder and executive board member of the Association of College Muslim Chaplains (ACMC) and a board member of the Association for College and University Religious Affairs (ACURA). From 2003 to 2005 he served as the first Muslim chaplain at Wesleyan University. He then moved to Hartford Seminary in Connecticut, where he was the associate director of the Islamic Chaplaincy Program & Interfaith Relations, as well as an adjunct faculty member. He previously served as Duke University first Muslim chaplain from July 2008 to 2014. In his current work at Duke, Antepli engages students, faculty, and staff across and beyond campus through seminars, panels, and other avenues to provide a Muslim voice and perspective to the discussions of faith, spirituality, social justice, and more. Imam Antepli also serves as a faculty member in the Duke Divinity School, teaching a variety of courses on Islam and Muslim cultures.

Robert Millet, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and professor of ancient scripture and emeritus Dean of Religious Education at Brigham Young University. Author of 76 published works, Millet has been involved in BYU Education Week for many years and is well-known as a commentator on the BYUTV Scripture Discussions program. He is also Manager of Outreach and Interfaith Relations for the LDS Church's Public Affairs Department. Highlights 6:45 Experiences with the scripture discussion series on KBYU 10:00 Teaching and administrative experience at BYU 11:45 His experience writing 77 books 13:30 What led him to write The Atoning One and the growth of a Christ-conscious movement in the LDS Church 24:30 Teaching doctrine in Sunday School 29:00 Importance of knowledgeable teachers 31:45 Creating an environment where class members feel safe to be vulnerable 37:30 The leader’s role in correcting doctrine and creating safety at church 43:00 The Atonement and grace in the Bishop’s office 44:00 The Bishop should always be teaching kindly 45:00 The Bishop as a channel for God’s grace 53:00 Teach what the steps of repentance mean and give study assignments 55:30 Bring closure to the individual 58:15 Don’t take the fast track to repentance 1:01:30 Leadership offers the opportunity to see others as the Lord sees them Links BYUTV Scripture Discussions The Atoning One Image: LDS Living/Deseret Book

Rev. Dr. Curtis Freeman discusses the current Baptist/Methodist theological dialogue.

In this episode, Kate spoke with Umar Werfete. Umar is a lecturer and a head of research at the State Islamic University of Jayapura in Papua, Indonesia. He also researches religious issues in Papua in his position within the Division for Research and Development, Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI) Papua and is responsible for peace education initiatives and interfaith dialogue in his position within the Division of Peace Education and Interfaith Relations, Council of Papuan Muslims. We discuss key issues in interfaith relations in Papua today, and how civil society groups work to promote peace between faith communities in Papua when the potential for clashes between Muslim and Christian communities remains high. We also discuss how developments outside Papua affect interfaith relations, including the ways in which Muslim-Christian relations in Muslim-majority Java affect interfaith relations in the province, as well as the kinds of programs and initiatives that have proven most successful for Umar and his colleagues in reducing conflict among cultural and faith groups in Papua.

Once again, it is time to break down the walls of religion. Julie Mickler, Nora Bradbury-Haehl and I, will discuss how both religion & spirituality have supported us during our lifetime. How have these supported you?

Many people believe their religion is the only way to salvation. In fact, many wars and prejudices have occurred through the centuries because of this belief. Each month Nora Bradbury and Julie Mickler will highlight a different religion as we discuss the beliefs of that faith with the goal of discovering our common ground. Let’s end the arguments and embrace Interfaith Relations.

Mark Swanson is our Harold S. Vogelaar Professor of Christian-Muslim Studies and Interfaith Relations and Associate Director of Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice. He preached on John 21:1-19.

Many people believe their religion is the only way to salvation. If fact, many wars, arguments and prejudices have been formed through the centuries. Let?s end the madness and arguments about the root of our faith? LOVE! I have asked Nora Bradbury-Haehl and my dear friend Julie Mickler to help me with this conversation as we discuss Interfaith Relations.

Bobby Maddex interviews Nicholas Anton and Theodore Pritsis of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese about the United Nations programs that are a ministry of the Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical, and Interfaith Relations of the GOA.

Bobby Maddex interviews Nicholas Anton and Theodore Pritsis of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese about the United Nations programs that are a ministry of the Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical, and Interfaith Relations of the GOA.

Fr. Paul Sullivan, director, Vocations Office invites us to the Sacrament of Confession. Fr. Michael Diskin, assistant chancellor of the Diocese of Phoenix tells us about his involvement with an organization focused on interfaith relations. Jeanne O'Brien, Dame and Western Association Membership Chair with the Order of Malta shares about their work. Bishop Thomas J. […]

Pagans Tonight Radio Network presents: 8PM CST - Circle Sanctuary's Circle Talk:  Tonight, we are launching a new Circle Sanctuary Radio Ministries program, Circle Talk.  Join Circle Sanctuary ministers, Selena Fox, Chiron, Pathwalker and others for a discussion on perspectives and experiences with Pagans and Interfaith Relations.  Pagan Warrior Voices will also be a regular segment during the Circle Talk program. 9 PM~(1st & 3rd Wednesday) Wyrd Ways Live: Join Galina Krasskova and her guest tonight: Rhyd, an Anarcho-Socialist Punk-Bard, Social Worker, Writer and Welsh Polytheist who blogs at http://paganarch.blogspot.com/ The gods are what has failed to become of us  

Summary of today's show: On our Thursday show, Scot Landry, Susan Abbott, Gregory Tracy, and Fr. Roger Landry consider the new headlines of the week, including the Supreme Court's ruling on the Affordable Care Act; Cardinal Seán's Fortnight for Freedom town hall; last Saturday's ordination Mass; the Redemptoris Mater Seminary gala dinner honoring Rabbi David Rosen; the Catholic Appeal passing a milestone; and Catholic Press awards for the Pilot. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Susan Abbott Today's guest(s): Gregory Tracy, managing editor of the Pilot, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston, and Fr. Roger Landry, pastor of St. Bernadette Parish in Fall River Links from today's show: Some of the stories discussed on this show will be available on The Pilot's and The Anchor's websites on Friday morning. Please check those sites for the latest links. Today's topics: Supreme Court ruling; Fortnight for Freedom town hall; Ordination Mass; Redemptoris Mater dinner; Catholic Appeal; Catholic Press Awards 1st segment: Scot said big tech news from Susan. She finally got an iPhone and is turning to producer Rick Heil for help in learning how to use it. She has already added the ICatholicRadio app. It's been a busy week between the ordinations, the Fortnight4Freedom live,interactive town hall, the Redmeptoris Mater Seminary. They brought in Gregory Tracy and Fr. Roger Landry, who has just completed his move to St. Bernadette Parish. Scot said the live town hall was the first of its kind to his memory. Susan said she was impressed by the production values as well as the guests, Jim Garvey, president of Catholic University of America; Kim Daniel of CatholicVoices USA; and Angela Franks of Theological Institute for the New Evangelization. Greg said he liked it very much especially toward the end with the question and answer period. He liked the give and take among the panelists. Scot said that for those who hadn't been up to speed on these issues this town hall provided a lot of good background. Fr. Roger said he was also very impressed by the Q and A. He thought President Garvey looked like Christopher Plummer and speaks like a movie star. Angela Franks was incredibly powerful on how this isn't a war on women. Fr. Roger also thinks this is the kind of thing we should do more often, not just when we're in crisis. It's a great opportunity to learn a lot in one hour. Scot said Cardinal Seán very much liked it too and he thinks the cardinal would like to do similar things on other issues, like the Year of Faith this fall on what it's about and what he's asking Catholics in the Archdiocese to do. Scot said the Pilot article did a good job on getting quotes from the panelists, including Angela Franks: “You may have heard some in the secular media advance certain myths about the HHS mandate, which is the latest infringement on our religious liberty. For example, you might have heard that this issue is about access to contraception, or that this is just a Catholic issue, or that the Church is imposing her values on the rest of society. You might have heard that the Church is waging a war on women,” she said. “All are false, blatantly false. Clearly this issue cannot be about access to contraception, which is inexpensive and broadly available. If a person can afford a cell phone or even three lattes a month, she can quite likely afford to pay for contraception. Instead this issue is about forcing Church organizations and every Catholic to provide contraception and abortion-causing drugs and subsidize them, which are actions against public teaching,” she said. Susan said the comparison to phones and coffee grounds it in reality. Angela was succinct and refuted the major points we keep hearing in the popular press one by one. Susan also liked Angela's comment that it's up to the laity to take the lead on the front lines at the water cooler. Scot also quoted John Garvey's third point: “The framers of our constitution and the Bill of Rights protected the free exercise of religion because they thought it was important for human flourishing and happiness, but our society will not care about protecting religious freedom for long if it doesn't care about God. That is where we must begin to reform. We won't have and we probably won't need religious exemptions for nurses, doctors, teachers, social workers, if no one is practicing their religion. The best way to protect religious freedom might be to remind people that they should love God,” Garvey said. Scot said when we look at the Church as a family, many of our family members have stopped practicing their faith and we have to look in the mirror and see if we are still practicing our faith as strongly. If we don't care about our faith, then why should it be protected? Greg said the ambivalence of some Catholics was one of the arguments used against our religious liberty. Fr. Roger said the point illustrates how we got here. As for the how to move in the future, we have to grow in the importance of religion not just to society, but to each of us individually as well, which is why the Year of Faith is so important. Moving to other news, the ordination Mass took place at Holy Cross Cathedral last Saturday. The new priests are Fathers Eric M. Bennett, 31; Eric F. Cadin, 31; Felipe de Jesus Gonzalez, 34; John J. Healey, 62; Adrian A. Milik, 30; and Michael F. Sheehan FPO, 31. Father Michael Sheehan, a member of the Franciscans of the Primitive Observance, a religious community in the archdiocese, described the feeling of finally becoming a priest after completing his studies. “It is awesome. It is awesome in all of the senses of that word. On the one hand, there is the joyful thrill of knowing that you will be acting as Christ for people, and then on the other hand, there is the chilling responsibility that you will be acting as Christ for people,” he said. Father Sheehan's parents said their son felt the call to the priesthood from an early age. “I am extremely proud of Michael and all his accomplishments. It all culminates today in his ordination. We are very pleased and excited for him,” the new priest's father Gary Sheehan, 59, said. His mother Diane Sheehan, 57, said she knew her son would find success in his pursuits. “Michael has been a leader his whole life. We knew in second grade that he was going to do well whatever he did. God bless him. It has been a long time coming to this day,” she said. His grandmother, Anne P. Shannon, 83, said she knew her grandson had a calling since he was young. “I was attending the quarter of seven Mass every morning. He was with me, so I always knew that Michael was special, and that he indeed had a calling — and I was right,” she said. Scot said the ordination is the highlight for all the families, not just the new priests. Susan said she didn't attend the Mass, but watched it on TV and found herself compelled to watch the whole thing. She said she took notes on Cardinal Seán's homily in which he talked about St. Peter's denial, which he said wasn't made to a soldier with a knife, but to a waitress with an attitude. She talked about the images of the imposition of hands and how the CatholicTV coverage allowed for the sacred silence that occurred at several times during the Mass. Fr. Roger said the words of the sacrament are a continuing call to conversion 13 years after his own ordination. He looks at his hands differently now because of the sacraments he now performs with them. His hands are an extension of his body as he is an extension of Christ's Body. Fr. Roger talked about how as a priest he is now on call 24/7. He recalled a conversation with actor Jim Caviezel who played Jesus in the Passion of the Christ about the pressure that's on him all the time now to live up to that image and how he wondered how priests lived up to that their whole lives. Greg said he thought how fortunate he's been able to go to the last 10 out of 11 ordination Masses. What he recalls is the sense of emotion among the ordinands both before and after the Mass. One of his favorite moments was when the Cardinal blesses the hands of the new priests and then kisses them. The six men are starting their new assignments today. Breaking news this morning is that Archbishop Fulton Sheen has been declared Venerable, which is the second big step toward canonization. Fr. Roger said when he was in the diocese of Peoria, he'd heard about a miracle attributed to Sheen, which could advance him to the next step of beatification. He also called attention to the cause of Servant of God Alvaro del Portillo y Diez de Sollano, who was also declared Venerable, and was a major contributor to Vatican II as well as a close collaborator with Pope John Paul II. from on . Also in the Pilot this week is a story about the Redemptoris Mater Seminary gala dinner last Sunday. Susan said her first close-up experience of the NeoCatechumenal Way and the seminary was the big concert this past May at Symphony Hall and so she wanted to come to this dinner. She said it was a great dinner, honoring Rabbi David Rosen, the International Director of Interreligious Affairs of the American Jewish Committee and Director of its Heilbrunn Institute for International Interreligious Understanding. He is also the former Chief Rabbi of Ireland. He is a past chairman of the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations and is also Honorary Advisor on Interfaith Relations to the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. He serves on its Commission for Interreligious Dialogue, and represents the Chief Rabbinate on the Council of Religious Institutions of the Holy Land. Susan said he spoke about the struggle of the Jewish people for survival as well as the teaching of the Church in the Second Vatican Council on our Jewish elder brothers in faith. He also spoke about Pope John Paul II's friendship with the Jewish people. After the rabbi spoke, the seminarians of Redemptoris Mater sang “Shema Israel,” a song based on one of the most important Jewish prayers, to honor the speaker and the message. … The archdiocesan liaison to the Jewish community, Father David C. Michael gave his thoughts on the speaker and the meaning of the night for Catholic and Jewish communities in Boston. “Reaching out in love and understanding to one another, that is an important place to begin. Then we have to deepen that relationship, that's where the hard work begins. The hard work begins in the deepening,” he said. “I think that his quote of John Paul II was absolutely on target where the pope says before we can be a blessing to the nations we have to be a blessing to one another,” Father Michael said. Greg said Rosen is very significant in terms of Catholic-Jewish relations. When the Holy Father calls inter-religious meetings, it's Rosen who is called to stand next to the Pope as a representative of the Jewish faith. The audio of Rosen's speech will be on the Pilot's website on Friday. Scot said June 30 is a milestone date for the Catholic Appeal, because it's the end of the fiscal year and the end of the parish campaign. Scot said they are within $100,000 of making their fiscal year goal of $14 million but still have a long way to go to make the calendar year goal of $14 million in 2012. Scot also noted that the Pilot won seven Catholic Press Awards among 64 total awards given. Greg won an award for a photo he took to illustrate a story on the new Roman Missal. They also won an award for their editorial on the Maria Talks website as well as another on the Defense of Marriage Act. The Anchor also won an award for the columns written by Fr. Timothy Goldrick. The award was given by the Society for the Propagation for the Faith. Scot also profiled the obituary of Fr. Joseph Moynihan who was a pastor for 22 years in Westwood. 3rd segment: cot said the Supreme Court decision this morning was surprising, that Chief Justice Roberts sided with the so-called liberal wing. Scot read from : Today the United States Supreme Court issued a decision upholding as a tax the provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires individuals to purchase a health plan—the so-called “individual mandate.” For nearly a century, the Catholic bishops of the United States have been and continue to be consistent advocates for comprehensive health care reform to ensure access to life-affirming health care for all, especially the poorest and the most vulnerable.Although the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) did not participate in these cases and took no position on the specific questions presented to the Court, USCCB's position on health care reform generally and on ACA particularly is a matter of public record.The bishops ultimately opposed final passage of ACA for several reasons. First, ACA allows use of federal funds to pay for elective abortions and for plans that cover such abortions, contradicting longstanding federal policy.The risk we identified in this area has already materialized, particularly in the initial approval by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of “high risk” insurance pools that would have covered abortion. Second, the Act fails to include necessary language to provide essential conscience protection, both within and beyond the abortion context.We have provided extensive analyses of ACA's defects with respect to both abortion and conscience.The lack of statutory conscience protections applicable to ACA's new mandates has been illustrated in dramatic fashion by HHS's “preventive services” mandate, which forces religious and other employers to cover sterilization and contraception, including abortifacient drugs. Third, ACA fails to treat immigrant workers and their families fairly. ACA leaves them worse off by not allowing them to purchase health coverage in the new exchanges created under the law, even if they use their own money.This undermines the Act's stated goal of promoting access to basic life-affirming health care for everyone, especially for those most in need. Following enactment of ACA, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has not joined in efforts to repeal the law in its entirety, and we do not do so today.The decision of the Supreme Court neither diminishes the moral imperative to ensure decent health care for all, nor eliminates the need to correct the fundamental flaws described above.We therefore continue to urge Congress to pass, and the Administration to sign, legislation to fix those flaws. Scot said it seems a measured statement. If the whole act had been struck down, the 50-plus lawsuits filed against the HHS mandate wouldn't have been needed, but today we're in the same position we were in yesterday. Greg noted that the justices in the minority would have struck down the whole law. He said the bishops were always in favor of expanding healthcare for the poor, just in a way that doesn't violate consciences. Scot said these lawsuits filed Catholic institutions continue and it is another constitutional issue about religious liberty. Today's decision was on the government's authority to enact an individual mandate. Scot said his analysis is that this clearly expands federal power, even if it's a tax on those who won't buy federal healthcare. Roberts said you can't force someone to buy healthcare, but you can tax someone for almost anything. Greg said Roberts also said he wasn't saying that this tax is a good idea. He's essentially saying that we need to respect the will of the people through their elected officials in passing a law if it's constitutional. It may not be a good law, but it's constitutional. It also means it can be repealed by the representatives as well. Scot said this is the second biggest court decision in his lifetime, second only to Bush v. Gore. Greg noted that this is different from Roe v. Wade when it invented something that didn't exist before. In this case, the court was only giving deference was being given to the elected representatives.

Join us tonight as Anne Newkirk Niven, foundress of Sagewoman Magazine discusses the trends in pagan publishing, interfaith relations, seeding younger women into the Crone Movement and 25 years of change in the community. In the second part of the show, Victoria Gevoian will shared with listeners the importance and power of Tibetan Breathwork, more specifically, the 8 Super Keys to Yoga Breath.  These breaths prepare the body for any spiritual path a person may choose to take.  It fans the flame within and even effects the way we think!

Imam Abdullah completed his basic training and education in his native Turkey. He is the founder and executive board member of the Muslim Chaplains Association and a member of the National Association of College and University Chaplains. At Hartford Seminary in Connecticut, he was the associate director of the Islamic Chaplaincy Program & Interfaith Relations, as well as an adjunct faculty member.

Imam Abdullah completed his basic training and education in his native Turkey. He is the founder and executive board member of the Muslim Chaplains Association and a member of the National Association of College and University Chaplains. At Hartford Seminary in Connecticut, he was the associate director of the Islamic Chaplaincy Program & Interfaith Relations, as well as an adjunct faculty member.

Imam Abdullah completed his basic training and education in his native Turkey. He is the founder and executive board member of the Muslim Chaplains Association and a member of the National Association of College and University Chaplains. At Hartford Seminary in Connecticut, he was the associate director of the Islamic Chaplaincy Program & Interfaith Relations, as well as an adjunct faculty member.

Imam Abdullah completed his basic training and education in his native Turkey. He is the founder and executive board member of the Muslim Chaplains Association and a member of the National Association of College and University Chaplains. At Hartford Seminary in Connecticut, he was the associate director of the Islamic Chaplaincy Program & Interfaith Relations, as well as an adjunct faculty member.

Progressive Christian Faith: How It Enhances Interfaith Relations - Address to Progressive Christian Network of Victoria - June 2007