Project Interfaith

Youthful Curiosity

2012-02-01T16:42:00.006-06:00

by Project Interfaith board member, Mary Palu.

My husband and I have two amazing (in my slightly biased opinion) daughters, ages four and one. At Christmas our four-year-old daughter asked if we celebrated Hanukkah. We are Catholic, so the simple answer was, “No.” She then followed up with, “Why not?” Again, the simple answer was, “Because we aren’t Jewish.” Since she’s four that answer seemed sufficient to her.

But her question got me thinking about how we, as parents, can sustain the youthful curiosity our children have about other faith traditions. As a parent, I hope our daughters find a sense of love, hope, community and support within their own faith, whatever that may grow and evolve to be. But I also hope they embrace the way others in their lives choose to live out their faith.

So, here’s what I’m pledging to do to help make this a reality for my daughters.
1. Experience: Find opportunities for our family to see how others put beliefs into practice –attending services in other faith communities, participating in faith traditions with friends, etc.
2. Share: Share our faith traditions with our friends and ask them to do the same with us.
3. Read: Our girls love books. Find stories that explore faith in an engaging way. Here’s where I insert a shameless plug for Project Interfaith’s upcoming Children’s Storytime series! http://projectinterfaith.org/page/childrens-storytime
4. Listen: Use our children’s’ questions as opportunities for both them and us to learn and grow.

These are simple things, but I know it takes a concerted effort to make them happen. I’m sure there are lots of other ideas and I hope that others who read this might share them.

I’m honored to be a part of an organization that is dedicated to creating ways for people to not only understand, but actively engage and dialogue with those whose background and identity is different than their own. This is immensely important in creating a community that doesn’t just tolerate people of all faiths, beliefs and cultures – but embraces them in a way that makes all of our lives richer. In today’s world we need organizations like Project Interfaith that are doing this in a thoughtful, deliberate way.

A Better Christmas Future

2012-01-27T15:47:00.002-06:00

by Project Interfaith Communications Intern, Mary Shorun.

Christmas is the day of our Lord, the day that Jesus was born. I grew up in Nigeria, where I was raised to understand the tremendous significance of Christmas – that we ought to go to Mass in our most cherished outfits, me and my sisters in matching expensive lace fabric that my mom would have queued to buy at the clothing store. My father is most happy on Christmas, but he does not fail to threaten leaving anyone behind – anyone like me who got up from bed first and showered last. His priest’s blessings are too important to him, and he wouldn’t miss them for anything.

It is this Christmas mindset that I came to the States with three years ago. Christmas of 2010 went by quietly in Omaha, Nebraska, the frozen white snow falling from the sky reminded me of my home’s warm pleasantness and how much I should be praying to head back someday soon. 2010 was a good year, probably the best I can remember since coming to the States. Christmas, at that time, resonated home.

Then came 2011, which would have joyously ended, but for some haraming absurdity that’s been going on in an almost desert-encroached Northern Nigeria. My phone’s shrill wail woke me on Christmas day. It was my friend who called. In my half-sleep state, I could barely make out the words “bombing,” “church,” and “Catholic.” I mumbled “hun-hun” and hung up. She called back. I didn’t answer. When I finally came to, I grabbed my PC and attempted to launch my favorite site: facebook. There, I saw the gory pictures, the handiwork of humans devoid of compassion. A radical Muslim sect, Boko Haram, had detonated bombs at one St Theresa's Catholic Church, a few minutes after unsuspecting worshippers had been dismissed from church. I saw children whose heads had been popped open. I trembled as I saw adults – once happy men and women who had gone to church to worship their God – struggling to survive the pain that had been inflicted upon their being. The number of deaths that have resulted from these attacks are estimated at 190. For all of 2011, the total number of deaths is placed at 450. How can the dignity of the person be so trampled on?

My pastor Martin always asks me what I am passionate about; what I hate. He says he hates oppression. I think I do too. But what I am really passionate about, what I hate, as of now, is brutality – man’s inhumanity to man. I loathe it. It makes me sick. I cannot explain enough how much I detest inhumanity. I wept on Christmas day. I was emotionally traumatized on the day of our Lord. I wept so much that not even the comfort of my sisters’ soothing words could console me. The worst I feared on Christmas day was no Christmas presents from friends or family. I didn’t even think to fear a killing spree in my own country. I didn’t envisage such a sad condition of life in Nigeria. How did we get here? What happened to the once known giant of Africa? What kind of new giant is this one?

So has gone Christmas of 2011. After all of this savagery and these violent acts, I can only hope for a glorious 2012; a 2012 void of evil.

Mary is a Communications intern for Project Interfaith. She is currently studying Information Systems at Bellevue University, and is also involved with another nonprofit, Taking it Global, where she currently volunteers as online magazine editor and guest blogger. During her time with Project Interfaith, Mary hopes to gain valuable insights into the nonprofit sector while also learning about cultural and religious diversity. At some point in her life, Mary hopes to dive fully into the nonprofit sector. She enjoys cooking, writing, reading, and taking road trips.

Choosy Moms Choose....?

2012-01-19T09:30:00.010-06:00

by Project Interfaith board member and guest blogger, Emily Moody.

I grew up in a small town in South Dakota where everyone was Christian. Well, maybe not everyone, but if you weren’t, you surely didn’t talk about it. Our community had seven churches: one Catholic Church and six Protestant churches. My family went to the Lutheran church every Sunday--and every Wednesday because that was choir practice or confirmation class or bell choir practice or soup supper or Lenten services or...you get the picture.

Faith/church/religion was a big part of my life, which was due in large part to my parents. We never talked much about other religions, probably because in a small town we just weren’t exposed to them. Fortunately, my parents never said a disparaging word about other religions. I never heard “ours is the right religion”. And really, although Christian teachings were the foundation of my religious education, what my parents stressed more than anything was what my father called “The Greatest Commandment”: Love one another.

And that meant love every single person, regardless of their beliefs, traditions or church membership. “Love your neighbor,” he would say. “And who is your neighbor?” my father would ask somewhat rhetorically. “Everyone is your neighbor!” (Which, in a small town with one stoplight, was fairly accurate.) As a child I didn’t realize how significant this statement was and what an impact it would have on my life.

When I got married, my Catholic-raised husband and I had many conversations about religion and how we would want to raise a child spiritually. Neither of us wanted to “choose” Lutheran or Catholic for our child- it just didn’t seem fair to the other person whose religion would be excluded. If we elected to raise our child in the Lutheran church, then we would preclude him/her from learning any of the teachings of the Catholic Church that my husband grew up with and vice versa.

It also just didn’t seem fair to choose a religion for someone else. Faith or non-faith is such a private, intimate thing, and it seemed unreasonable for us to unilaterally choose simply based on how we were raised even if it was our own child. But most importantly we wanted our child to learn that Christianity is not necessarily the only path to meaningful spirituality.

We certainly weren’t prepared to raise him or her in a faith totally different than what we knew either. We discussed that really we just wanted our child to be a good person- to be kind, compassionate, empathetic, loving, accepting, but maybe not particularly religious.

Then we had a child, and despite valiant efforts, we can’t seem to find the Church of Kind, Compassionate, Empathetic, Loving, Accepting and Not Particularly Religious.

When I think back, I have many good memories of Sunday school, summer Bible camp, and oh yes, even Bible music camp! My religious identity was a valuable part of my childhood. But what do I want for my own daughter?

Do I want her to belong to a particular religious community? How do I teach her that there are many different religions and one, even the one she belongs to, is not necessarily the only path to virtue?

I wish I could say we’ve found clarity in the past year (she’s now 14 months), but we haven’t. We are still searching for the best way to raise our child in an interfaith way in our interfaith world. As we continue our faith journey as a trio, I do know one thing that we will be sure to instill in our daughter: above all things, love one another.

About Emily: I am proud to be a part of an organization dedicated to promoting interfaith diversity, dialogue, education and understanding in Omaha. Project Interfaith has proven to be a valuable resource for people who are seeking knowledge about cultures and beliefs that differ from their own. In a world where misunderstanding and intolerance can lead to fear and hatred, Project Interfaith is working to create a community of respect and inclusivity. What a wonderful thing for Omaha and the world.

Knowledge Is Power

2011-12-05T16:26:00.001-06:00

by Project Interfaith Programs Coordinator, Sierra Pirigyi

I grew up in a Northwest Iowa town called Ida Grove. Population: 2,142. Obviously very small, Ida Grove isn’t exactly a hub of intercultural activity. According to the 2010 Census, Ida Grove is 97.9 percent white. And although the United States Census does not capture religious demographics, I can tell you that the majority of Ida Grove’s residents are Christians. Growing up, I always had a hunger to learn about the different cultures and religions of the world. Unfortunately, growing up in such a homogenous community limited any potential intercultural or interreligious experiences I might have had. The closest McDonald’s was 30 miles away—forget about a mosque or a synagogue!

Growing up in this type of environment, my only vehicle for learning about other faiths, beliefs and cultures was the internet. Books were a challenge—the local library was not exactly expansive and the closest Barnes and Noble was over an hour away. Therefore I was basically relegated to using the internet in order to learn about the world. The web, however, can be dangerous territory. Google the word “Jew” for example and you will find many disturbing search results. Hate sites, misinformed bloggers ... You name it, you’ll find it—often cleverly disguised as objective information. Which brings me to the importance of having truly objective, credible resources.

I also used Wikipedia a lot… a lot, a lot. Not for school papers or projects, of course. My teachers warned us against that. But for my personal research into the random places and things I was interested in, I used Wikipedia-- because it’s the first result that shows up for every search, of course! Now I’m not bashing Wikipedia, but had something like Project Interfaith existed when I was growing up, I would have had a more reliable place to go.

Project Interfaith works to grow understanding, respect and relationships among people of all faiths, beliefs and cultures. One of the ways in which we do this is through ensuring access to reliable information and resources on religious and cultural diversity. This is vitally important in a world where information and misinformation is all around us. From our Educator Trunks on the World’s Religions, our Religious Diversity Guides to our Resources for Health Care Providers, Project Interfaith is helping people throughout the community and world increase their awareness and understanding of different faiths and belief systems.

This has never been more important than it is now. Intolerance and misunderstanding is rising globally. People are afraid of their neighbors because they simply do not know enough about them to understand their differences. By connecting community members with credible resources and objective information, Project Interfaith helps to create a better-functioning society and world. A world where all people, regardless of faith, belief or culture are equally valued, included and protected. A world where dialogue between people of different backgrounds is not only welcomed, but encouraged and seen as vital to a healthy society. A world where misunderstanding and ignorance are replaced by understanding and respect. Knowledge is power, and it can and will lead us to where we want to go.

If you’d like to help Project Interfaith achieve these goals and become a partner in creating this world, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. Your gift will help us expand our ever-growing collection of resources, allow us to create more innovative and inspiring programs, and ultimately build the world we all wish to see.

Sierra Pirigyi is Project Interfaith's Program Coordinator. She is currently a junior at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, double majoring in International Studies and Spanish. Sierra is also working on a TESOL Certificate and pursuing certification through the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. She has attended the University of Colorado-Denver and Metropolitan Community College as well. Sierra previously worked as an Administrative Assistant for Project WISE, a Denver, Colorado non-profit working with low-income women. This is what first sparked her interest in not-for-profit work. Sierra began interning with Project Interfaith in February 2010, assisting in various fields until discovering her passion for programming. Although currently undecided about her exact career plans, Sierra intends to continue working in the non-profit field, hoping someday to do humanitarian work with children and youth in Latin America. Sierra enjoys learning about history, religion, philosophy and international politics. In her spare time, she likes to read and write.

Rethink Church

2011-11-08T10:59:00.009-06:00

by guest-blogger, Reverend Debra McKnight.

In my denomination, The United Methodist Church, the phrase, “rethink church” has been branded on everything from t-shirts and hats to Conferences and conversations. But if we are honest, when it comes right down to it, rethinking anything is easer to put on thousands of sweatshop-free t-shirts than it is to actually do. Change and the fear of loss that comes with it invites us to hold on tight, and if we are not careful, we can love something (even our faith community) to death.

If you will allow me to embellish on a church growth legend, imagine a consultant working with an aging congregation. He found they were brave enough to recognize they were missing out on the diversity of voices from other generations but not brave enough to make change.

Frustrated he asked, “How many of you love your Grandchildren?” Hands shot up!

“How many of you,” he continued, “love your grandchildren so much you would give them money if you new it made a difference in their wellbeing?” Hands waved for attention and ladies started pulling photo books from their handbags to show off beautiful babies.

“How many of you would give even your own life for your grandchildren?” Hands stood at attention with the intensity one might expect of navy seals being briefed for a mission.

Then he asked, “Now how many of you would be open to adding new music in worship if it meant, your grandchildren would feel at home and find space for their spiritual exploration?” The forest of hands started to shrink.

Change is never simple for a faith community. I think in part because it challenges us to the core of who we are, and we take it as criticism rather than recognition that evolution is a part of life. It is seeded all around us, healthy elements of creation evolve; they find new ways to give life into the world, or they struggle to exist in changing climates.

At First United Methodist Church Omaha we are exploring church in a new way. This is not because we are dying, but because we are growing. It is an adventure to see how the space shapes and reshapes our experience. It is born out of the notion that evolution nudges us to change the DNA of our space and structures. So with care and courage, we have opened the Urban Abbey. An Abbey, originally a French Monastery, is a space for covenant relationship, for books, for food, for prayer and for wrestling with questions. We are exploring what this new space, that is part non-profit coffee shop and part bookstore does to shape community. I dream that it is a living sanctuary, active all week long, as refuge to folks who need space to study, reflect and worship, as safe space for folks brave enough to wrestle with questions and as creative space to inspire us to love the diversity of who we are. I dream that neighbors and friends will help us explore what that means to be an Urban Abbey.

Debra McKnight serves as associate pastor at First United Methodist Church. She is a graduate of Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, which invited her to love liturgy, explore diverse theological perspectives, and experiment with preaching in a rigorous academic community. While Dallas, Texas boasts fine winter weather, she is glad to be home in the great state Nebraska and grateful to be serving at First United Methodist Church Omaha. She owns a clergy collar for two occasions, parades and protests. Her work focuses on social justice, liturgics and young adult community building. While in Omaha she has started a Pub church, called Wesley Pub, though she doesn’t drink beer and now a coffee shop, called Urban Abbey, though she prefers tea. Most of all, she is grateful!

No Limits

2011-11-03T13:40:00.004-05:00

by Project Interfaith Development and Finance Intern,
Rema Nair

Having worked as an intern at Project Interfaith for seven months now, having met people of diverse religious backgrounds, and having learned a bit more about their religious traditions, I admit that these days I am struggling to believe in individual religious exclusivism which states that one religion alone takes us to GOD and heaven while the others take us to eternal damnation. However that does not mean that I do not believe in my Hindu religion, beliefs, values and faith, or my Indian culture and traditions. Ultimately, practicing what I know and believe everyday is how I've found meaning and purpose in a once alien culture. I love my culture and traditions. I respect the wisdom, knowledge and the insights it has given to me. However if someone were to say to me that practicing Hinduism alone would take me to that one exclusive path of self enlightenment, I would immediately beg to differ. I personally fail to understand how my creator can express himself or herself through just one particular religious faith, belief or tradition; touting and encouraging one particular religion as the only way to seek and find him or her when all religions’ scriptures talk and preach of the existence of only one GOD.

In fact if I was to live this particular notion day in and day out, I would find it terribly difficult to live my daily life. I mean just imagine my monotonous, dull and extremely boring homogenous world. I could only associate myself with people practicing the Hindu faith, beliefs, culture, values and traditions. I could never have been friends or been supported and influenced by all the awesome people I have known throughout my life who belonged to different religions, faiths, beliefs and cultures. Most awful of all, I could never have expanded my awareness and knowledge. I could never have experienced the beauty and richness of other religions by attending Jain Satsangs , visiting the Islamic center, the Buddhist monastery, Christian churches, Jewish synagogues, the Sikh Golden temple, or attending Sufi dance programs. Without religious and cultural diversity I would have turned into an ethnocentric, fundamentalist individual. I can only think with dread how such a homogenous association would affect my world views on a number of topics. Further my infamous food experiments in the kitchen associated with different religious festivities would never have seen the light of the day.

Claims of being the one and only means of achieving GOD and the divine truth lose their veracity in our technology driven modern world that is both pluralistic and diverse. Despite attempts, the major religions of the world were not able to wipe out many of the lesser known religions maybe because GOD truly wanted them to survive and flourish. Perhaps we should give credence to the saying that variety is the spice of life or, rather in this case, variety is the spice of GOD’s magical creation called universe. Of late this conviction leaves me with absolutely little doubt that GOD speaks to all of us through all the popular and not so popular religious beliefs, values and traditions of the world.

Rema Nair is the Development and finance Intern at Project Interfaith. Rema holds a Bachelor's degree in General Studies from University of Nebraska at Omaha, and also a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from the University of Bombay - India. During her time with Project Interfaith, Rema hopes to gain more experience with and understanding of the non-profit world. Rema is married to Pradeep Nair and has two daughters Shruti and Gayatri. Rema enjoys reading, travelling and spending time with her family. Rema is currently concentrating on getting her Masters Degree in Accounting from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Glass Houses

2011-10-28T08:39:00.003-05:00

by Tom Laird, Director of Development and Communications.

A roll of the eyes. A light chuckle. A shrug of the shoulders. A shake of the head. Condescension. Nothing bothers me more than condescension. Drives me crazy. “Fingernails on a chalkboard”, “screaming baby on an airplane”, “aluminum on my teeth” crazy. And yet every now and then condescension is precisely what I encounter in my interfaith work. Upon explaining to someone my work with Project Interfaith I get a look in response which basically says, “Bless your heart, you simple, misguided man, for undertaking such unimportant work. After all, my religion is the right religion. All others are a waste of time and not to be taken seriously.” That’s right. One look says all of that. DRIVES. ME. BATTY.

And I’d be lying if I said these encounters don’t affect me because they do. That I just shrug them off, because I don’t. That they just roll off of my back, because they don’t budge. At least not for a while anyway. I recently had such an encounter that bothered me for a good 3 days. Every time I thought about that condescending response to my work I became angry all over again. All the things I shoulda coulda woulda said in response came to the forefront of my mind. Internal questions ran rampant. Who are these people? How can they respond so flippantly to this important work? Who do they think they are to act this way? Why, if I ever acted that way….have I ever acted that way?

I have. Oh man! I had crafted such a beautiful soap box made of indignation and self-righteousness in my mind. Mid-climb to the top of my soap box, it came crashing down beneath me, because I absolutely have reacted with condescension to another’s faith. And what’s more, it was my own. (Insert record scratch and “say what?” here.) See, I’m one of those people who was raised in one faith tradition but is currently not practicing that faith tradition. For reasons of my own, I have decided to step away from that faith. It doesn’t work for me. The “why” is not important in this venue. What is of importance, is that I am guilty of responding with condescension to those individuals who still choose to practice that faith, internally saying, “Oh brother!” when the topic of that faith arises. And this is absolutely wrong of me. Those still practicing this faith are beyond entitled to do so. Just because this faith doesn’t suit me doesn’t mean that others shouldn’t or can’t find their answers there. Here I thought I was so forward thinking with my interfaith work, promoting understanding, relationship, and respect for all beliefs or non-beliefs and yet there was a glaring oversight in my own backyard. How did I not see this?

Upon further introspection, I realized that I rationalized my inappropriate behavior in almost the same manner a person of any certain race would rationalize using a slur associated with that race. “It’s okay, I can say that slur, because I am that race.” “It’s okay, I can roll my eyes at that religion, because I used to practice that religion”. No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. At Project Interfaith, we strive to create a community and world where ALL faiths beliefs and cultures are valued protected and included. And when we say, “all faiths”, we should mean “all faiths”. Even those faiths we may disagree with for our own personal reasons. As far as my once-practiced faith is concerned, it’s time for me to pack away my eye-rolling. Time to put my shoulder-shrugging where it belongs; curbside along with the other garbage. Because the world we are striving to create has no place for it.

Tom Laird is Project Interfaith's Development and Communications Director. Tom holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Benedictine College where he received the Madonna Gamper Award for academic excellence. Tom began working as a volunteer with Project Interfaith in early January of 2009. A desired change of career path into the non-profit world has changed Tom's status from volunteer to intern to staff member. Tom enjoys reading, music, biking (bicycle, not motorcycle), and skiing (snow, not water).

From the Intern Files: I Know What You Did Last Summer

2011-09-29T16:22:00.007-05:00

by Project Interfaith Programming Intern, Kaitlyn Hayes

Thankfully, being away from Omaha over the summer didn’t bring my internship with Project Interfaith to a halt. Instead, I took Project Interfaith with me to my hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska, conducting outreach work on behalf of the organization. This included networking and sharing Project Interfaith’s mission, as well as exploring what interfaith interactions have been taking place throughout the Lincoln community. After spending my spring semester as a Program Intern for Project Interfaith, I felt not only prepared to discuss interfaith with anyone, but also excited to actually do so. The conversations I experienced this summer reminded me of how much I love interfaith work and how truly important it is to communicate with one another.

Lincoln does not currently have a substantial interfaith presence, at least as far as any formal organization is concerned. An interfaith council was instrumental in past years, but unfortunately no longer exists. I spoke to clergy and many others active in the Lincoln community about the past and about their hopes for interfaith in the near future. All are so passionate about promoting interfaith in Lincoln, but either don’t know where to start an interfaith movement, or have tried but didn’t get the momentum they were aiming for. Project Interfaith wanted to build relationships with the Lincoln community, but we were not sure what that relationship would look like. Once we knew more about the atmosphere in Lincoln, it became clear that those passionate about interfaith will need to interact and communicate more with one another if they are to lead others in interfaith interaction.

I am currently taking a Small Group Communication class at UNO. According to the class textbook, communication is a transaction between two people or a group of people, often working together to achieve a common goal. It seems like a no brainer, but reminders never hurt anyone: communicating with one another is extremely important. If people are to come together to do anything, whether it is to play a game of flag football or to help grow an interfaith movement, they need to communicate. Communication between people has obvious benefits. These benefits are known as synergy, or the positive results of collective discussion and action between people. I personally have truly benefitted from the conversations I’ve had with other people. There is always new information to be learned, new ideas to be shared, and new relationships to be built.

The meetings I had with people in Lincoln this summer were definitely synergetic. Conversations among people who all have the same goal of developing a greater interfaith presence in Lincoln brought new ideas and renewed energy to the movement. What’s next for Lincoln? More conversations. There is even talk of a potential Project Interfaith-facilitated discussion between clergy and other active members of the Lincoln community, to engage one another in conversation about interfaith in Lincoln.

Once we begin communicating with each other, we may begin to truly interact. These interactions, like those I had with people this summer, can provide insights, learning experiences, and shared excitement, and we can begin to really experience what it is like to live respectfully and harmoniously with one another. And that is what interfaith work is all about.

Kaitlyn Hayes is a program intern for Project Interfaith. She is currently studying Sociology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and is also pursuing nonprofit certification through the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. Kaitlyn is also involved with another nonprofit, Fine Lines, and is an officer for Circle K International (a community service organization). Through her time with Project Interfaith, Kaitlyn hopes to learn as much as she can about the nonprofit sector, as well as the diversity of our community. She enjoys people, learning, traveling (when she can), writing, and reading.

From the InternFiles: Only Time Will Tell

2011-09-29T08:57:00.005-05:00

by Project Interfaith fall intern, Joshua Campbell

I have a question for you, “What will the world look like in 100 years?” Will the diseases that haunt us today be easily cured by new medicines? Will robots help us do all those chores and errands we hate? Will we finally get those flying cars they promised us all those years ago?
Personally, my first thought is a number: 10 billion. According to the UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the world population will be more than 10 billion by 2100. We only have 6 billion people on the planet right now, and we already have a hard time getting along and providing for everybody.

Even though we have come so far in the last hundred years, many of our challenges have changed little over the last thousand. The causes of war, violence, and hate are still found in distrust, discrimination, and ignorance. Natural disasters still have the power to destroy communities and intervene in our lives without warning. The suffering brought about by loneliness and hopelessness is felt the same today as it was at the dawn of civilization.
This is why the mission of Project Interfaith is so important to me. As we try to build the world our children and grandchildren will inherit, it is more vital than ever to bring everyone into the discussion, to understand each other, and to grow the relationships that will allow us to make a better future.

Currently, in many parts of the world, differing religious, cultural, and philosophical traditions act as a source of division. But this is not the way it has to be. The religious and philosophical traditions of every civilization emerged as a way to face the challenges of the human condition. All have served as a source of inspiration, strength, and wisdom for people and all have something to contribute.

I have had the opportunity to experience the great variety of cultural, spiritual, and humanistic practices and philosophies in this world. Since I was a child, my interest in human diversity led me to constantly seek out new experiences that would allow me to learn and grow. This has led me to travel back and forth across the globe, endeavoring to discover and understand.
I have seen how my grandmother’s faith has given her the strength to overcome the many troubles she has faced in life. I have witnessed in Japan how religious communities can be inclusive without being meaningless, as people choose to celebrate births and festivals at the Shinto shrine, practice Confucian values in their daily life, get married in a Christian church, and mourn the passing of loved ones at Buddhist temples. I have learned from the Existentialist and Positivist philosophical traditions the responsibility of living in this world and the importance of understanding the world through human experience. And I have found, as I meet people from every corner of the globe, that the images, expectations, and feelings about different identities and communities I had developed as a child watching American TV were replaced by the faces of my friends and the memories of what we had shared.

So, what will the world look like in 100 years? I can’t answer this question alone. I need your help. This is why I choose to work for Project Interfaith and why I will continue to work to create to a community where all feel welcome - no matter what they believe or do not believe - and where we can all share and learn from one another. I hope you will join me in this adventure.
Joshua graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2011 with a degree in International Studies and Political Science. After studying abroad in Japan and South Korea, he volunteered extensively with the UNO international community. During this time he earned Nonprofit Leadership Alliance's National Certification in Nonprofit Management and Leadership. With a passion for nonprofit work and a dedication to engaging issues concerning cultural and religious diversity, Joshua felt Project Interfaith was a natural place to start his career and help the community.

September 11th a Time for Action as well as Reflection

2011-09-11T10:27:00.003-05:00

By Beth Katz, Project Interfaith Founder and Executive Director

I graduated from college a year before September 11, 2001. Though I was heavily involved in interfaith activities as an undergraduate student, I dismissed the idea of pursuing it as a career because while fostering greater interaction, understanding and respect among people of diverse faiths and beliefs seemed needed, it didn’t seem urgent. And then the terrorist attacks of September 11th occurred, forcing me to reevaluate my assessment.

It was as much people’s reactions in the tragedy’s aftermath as the terrorist attacks themselves that led me to conclude that we can no longer afford to live in the comfort of our ignorance and assumptions about each other. By then, I was a graduate student at the University of Michigan, located only forty miles from one of the largest and most vibrant Muslim communities in the United States, and I remember witnessing in the media and at the community level two contrasting reactions in the days and months following September 11th.

I saw the initial shock of what happened give way to anger, outrage, and suspicion, much of it targeted towards Muslims and Islam or – more accurately – towards individuals assumed to be Muslim: people with brown skin or who fit stereotypes of “looking” or “dressing” Middle Eastern. According to a study by Ball State University, FBI data suggests a 1,600-percent surge in anti-Islamic hate crimes in the days following the Sept. 11 attacks as well as a similar increase in hate crimes against people who may have been perceived as Muslim, Arabs and of Middle Eastern origin. Thus, not only were many innocent Muslim Americans targeted, but Sikh Americans, Hindu Americans, and others received hateful slurs, stares, and worse in the days and months following the terrorist attacks.

Yet, another reaction made a far more powerful impression on me...

This post is part of Beth's column, "The Accidental Theist," on Omaha.net. Read the full post at http://omaha.net/articles/reflecting-on-september-11th.

Misinformation at Our Fingertips

2011-09-06T13:19:00.003-05:00

by Project Interfaith board member and volunteer extraordinaire, Kale Sagheer

I was told recently that Project Interfaith is a front organization for a fundamental Islamist group that wants to impose Shari’ah law on America. “Why am I the last to know?” I asked with a smile. Nothing could be farther from the truth, however. Being involved with Project Interfaith has given me plenty of opportunities to learn about and become comfortable with other faiths, as well as my own. Especially my own. When people would ask if I was a Muslim, I used to answer “yes”, but then follow that with “albeit an unconventional one”. I always felt a bit strange calling myself a Muslim, especially in front of other Muslims. Why? Because I didn’t know everything I thought I needed to know to be a real Muslim. However, I’ve found that with my blond hair and blue eyes, I provide a very non-threatening persona and people are very willing to ask me the questions that have been worrying them. And I’ve found that there are many people who are worried about Islam and Muslims, in general.

I think Islamaphobia and fears of Islamization are both new issues facing our nation. We fear what we don’t know. That’s natural. And most people just don’t know very much about Islam. Why? Because until 9/11 there was never really a need. If you’re not a Muslim, why would you read about or learn about Islam? We learn first what’s necessary to our own lives, our own religion, and our own history, but I think it’s time we started to learn about who Muslims are. I know it’s easier to let the news tell us. We are a sound-bite nation, for sure, but we really need to check those facts. There is as much disinformation as there is information floating around. In addition, we all have a tendency to believe what we want to believe anyway. Why? Because it makes sense to us and fits our view of the world. I had a friend say to me a while back, “Wouldn’t you admit that Islam has a fundamentally violent theology?” Yikes! No! Not even close! While this friend is very intelligent and well read, she is also is a devout Christian and finds it perfectly reasonable to believe that Islam is inherently violent. The few Muslims she knows aren’t violent, but she still assumes that…maybe…probably…the rest of them could be.

Yes, there are violent terrorists who are Muslim, but we’re not all that way. Not even remotely violent! Most of us are too concerned with the same day-to-day concerns that everyone else has: work, kids, bills, etc. But what about the mysterious Muslims overseas? What do they do all day? They do the very same things. Except sometimes, in less fortunate countries, the daily concerns of surviving are way too consuming to even contemplate anything else. God Bless America for safe and secure daily living! There is not one single Muslim I know who doesn’t appreciate that. We like a free market economy, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. We like living here. Many say that the terrorists hate America because of these very freedoms. That’s not entirely true. The truth is much too complicated, and the history supporting the truth way too long, to fit into such a tidy sound-bite. Nevertheless, whatever that “truth” is, it doesn’t justify their actions or tactics. And all the Muslims I know would agree. Terrorism and inflicting pain and violence on innocent people is never okay in Islam. Never!

There is a small, vocal group of fundamental radicals who are giving Islam a bad name. Likewise, there’s a small, vocal group of Americans helping them by using this threat to incite fear of all Muslims. Muslims, in general, are not the enemy. The religion is not theologically violent. Unsolicited violence is not okay. Moreover, there is no compulsion in our religion. We can’t make you be Muslim if you don’t want to.

Now, I realize that I am really not that unconventional. I know some Muslims who wear hijabs (head coverings) all the time and I know a lot who don’t. I know some who are religiously conservative and some who aren’t. I know some who are politically conservative, some who are quite liberal, and many who fall somewhere in between. I know some who take the Quran literally and some who read it metaphorically. In this way, Muslims are no different from any other group of people. Think about all the people you know in your own faith. I would bet that for every one of those people, there is a Muslim with a similar personality and preferences somewhere in the world.

Having had an interest in faith, religion, and the reconciliation of her own beliefs with those of others since her teenage years, the opportunity to be involved with Project Interfaith seems like divine intervention. Though most of this "reconciliation" has been both private and personal, Kael has spent the last 5 years speaking to people, groups and individuals alike, in order to help them understand the similarities and differences between the Abrahamic faiths. As an educator, she have seen firsthand the ignorance, and consequent importance of fostering mutual understanding and respect, in the areas of faith and religion. To borrow the words of her father, "A true multiculturalist keeps both eyes open: one to the see the similarities, the other to see the differences." It is her hope that through Project Interfaith she can help others become thoughtful, discerning multiculturalists, too.

From the Intern Files: The Interfaith Opportunist

2011-08-25T14:22:00.004-05:00

by Project Interfaith Intern, Natalie Hatfield

No one really wants summer to end, but every ending is just the beginning of something new. I’m actually really looking forward to the new semester and the new classes I’m taking. Well at least the interesting ones! Not only does a new school year mean new classes, but it also brings new people and new opportunities to improve interfaith relations in Omaha. Our city has the distinct advantage of having a large international population both in the community and at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Over 1400 international students from over 116 countries study at UNO. Along with interning at Project Interfaith, I am the Director of International Student Services at UNO and the most important part of my job is to plan events that allow people from all around the world to come together. Through the events, I see a lot of these interactions and have come to realize that with so many international students comes a variety of religious beliefs.

I helped out with orientation for new international students, and though I didn’t even come close to meeting all of the 80+ students, I talked to individuals who practice Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and an atheist. Additionally, I led a campus tour of about 20 people, and although I didn’t ask, I’m pretty sure there were also Christians and Muslims in the group. All these new students, as well as the majority of international students at UNO, are in the same classes as the American students and are constantly creating international and inter-religious friendships.

The great thing about becoming friends with people from other cultures is that interfaith relations build easily and sometimes unintentionally. Religion might not be the first topic of discussion when meeting new people but as friendships grow, it always comes up somehow. Becoming friends with someone from a religion you are unfamiliar with helps change misconceptions about their religion. Each person acts as an ambassador for their religion and culture. These sorts of interactions provide a very relaxed, more personal way to accomplish interfaith relationships.

Outside of UNO, Project Interfaith helps create similar friendships within the Omaha community. What makes me love this organization so much is the variety in which we work towards understanding, respect and relationships among people of faiths, beliefs, and cultures. My first encounter with Project Interfaith was when I attended Dr. John Esposito’s lecture for Project Interfaith’s Community Conversation series nearly two years ago. I absolutely loved that program. I’m a little shy about talking to new people so I prefer the lecture setting but I know many people who would be grateful for a more laid back setting. Luckily, Project Interfaith has a wide variety of programs that make it easy for everyone to get involved and educated. For example, Project Interfaith presented a screening of the documentary, Taqwacore, last November which would appeal to the movie and music buffs. For the talkative types, the speed dialoguing event, “Face to Faith”, provided an opportunity for a more one-on-one experience.

However, one-on-one can be difficult sometimes if the person you’re talking with doesn’t agree with you. When asked what religion I follow, I usually reply “all and none” because I believe all the religions of the world are simply different paths to the same Divine. I don’t follow the dogma of any specific religion. Recently I had someone argue with me that I had to pick one religious tradition to follow. This person argued that I must choose one because religions contradict each other and that if I didn’t pick one, I must be an atheist. I’m so glad my conversation partner was not telling me which specific religion I had to follow but I couldn’t help but get a little frustrated with the lack of understanding. For people who are interested but wish to avoid such conversations, which can easily lead to heated arguments, I think Project Interfaith’s Community Mosaic Video Project (CMVP) is a great place to start. CMVP enables people to have that one-on-one experience but in the comfort of their own home. Viewers can get to know the interviewees through their videos and thereby learn more about their faiths. If you watch a video and feel a connection to what that person says, you are more likely to be receptive to learning more about them and their faith. Similar to my experience with international friendships, watching the CMVP videos humanizes religions. Religion becomes more than just a number of adherents and a list of beliefs when there is a face to go with it.

I really love that Project Interfaith makes these diverse opportunities available. Honestly I was a little surprised that such an organization existed in Nebraska. I’ve witnessed a lot of intolerance in the Midwest so I’m very glad Project Interfaith is here. I can’t think of a more perfect place for me to intern. One of my all-time favorite quotes is “Be the change you wish to see in the world” by Mahatma Gandhi and I feel like by working with Project Interfaith, I’m able to follow that advice!

Natalie Hatfield is a resource development intern at Project Interfaith. She is pursuing a major in Religious Studies and a minor in Anthropology at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Along with this internship, she is also working as the Director of International Student Services at UNO for 2011-2012. Her eventual career goals include achieving a PhD in Religious Studies or Anthropology and working for a museum, magazine or university. Natalie has been deeply interested in various religions and cultures since youth and is excited for the opportunity to work in this field with Project Interfaith. When she has free time, Natalie enjoys reading, studying international cultures and religion, traveling, and photography.

From the Intern Files: Finding my Place in the Mosaic

2011-08-17T14:20:00.005-05:00

by Project Interfaith Intern, Tony Pojar

I originally heard about Project Interfaith through an acquaintance at the “Big Omaha” event where I was volunteering. I had never heard of the organization before and I’ll admit I was a little apprehensive as I have no strong feelings toward religion. I was raised Catholic. I attended Catholic and Jesuit institutions all my life but since college I’ve felt out of step with my faith; like I was just going through the motions and not getting anything out of it. That is when I started looking for something else to fill the void. I have discovered that I favor the ways of Zen Buddhism; I enjoy taking time to meditate and self reflect. I also practice yoga to relieve stress and center myself. I wouldn’t say that I am set in stone yet, so I will continue to embark on my spiritual journey until I feel at home or reach enlightenment, whichever comes first.

Despite my initial reservation, my ultimate decision to intern with Project Interfaith is simple really. Project Interfaith fulfills two of my passions: one is my passion for video production and design, and the second is my passion for learning. I was brought on at the end of June as a video editor intern. I am responsible for editing the interviews for the Community Mosaic Video Project (CMVP). Through this position I have been able to get a first-hand look at how Project interfaith actively works to achieve their mission: Project Interfaith grows understanding, respect and relationships among people of all faiths, beliefs and cultures. The CMVP only furthers this mission (check it out!). The stories that I have encountered have been both interesting and eye opening.

Since graduating from Creighton University back in 2010, I have been missing the educational atmosphere so much I've been ravenous for learning. I’ve even started reading, of all things, Emergency Medicine books! But my position with Project Interfaith gives me the opportunity to learn while I'm working; allowing me to expand my knowledge of world religions (again, my favorite so far is Buddhism). One of the key objectives for Project Interfaith is teaching the public and bringing awareness about the diversity among and within different religions. In my work with the videos, I can see that there is a wide range of diversity within even the same religious group. I'll admit I came with my own preconceived notions and opinions about certain groups. But now that I have heard individuals’ stories I have a better understanding about the different practices of people ranging from the conservative to the liberal. It’s actually really interesting to see this; it’s one of those things so often overlooked in today’s society where we are only shown the extreme sides by the media.

Among the benefits of the Community Mosaic Video Project is that it provides an opportunity for people to learn things that they may have misunderstood or altogether didn’t know about a certain group. And in my opinion, the key for this to work is that people are going to have to be open and willing to listen while setting aside all of their preconceived notions and stereotypes.
As I continue working on the CMVP, I expect to learn more about people's personal beliefs and practices. As I grasp a greater understanding I hope to become an example of the success of Project Interfaith's mission. I look forward to continuing being involved with Project Interfaith and being able to see the CMVP through to the end. We've got some really exciting plans coming together with some awesome people working on their execution, so stay tuned for an event near you.

Tony graduated from Creighton University in 2010 with degrees in Graphic Design & Advertising as well as specializing in Video Production. He was the first student to achieve the level of Apple Certified Final Cut Studio Master Pro. He is currently assisting with the Community Mosaic Video Project as a video editing intern during the summer of 2011. He has made peace with his inner design geek and will not hesitate to yell out Command-Z every time something goes wrong. In his spare time he enjoys photography, camping, cooking and listening to Disney songs.

Project Interfaith's Community Mosaic Video Project will launch in January 2011. To stay on top of its progress and other Project Interfaith programs, subscribe to the Project Interfaith listserve at projectinterfaith.org.

The Team of Everybody

2011-08-07T14:32:00.007-05:00

by Sierra Pirigyi, Community Mosaic Video Project Coordinator

My boyfriend, Roger, is a big soccer fan. I didn’t grow up with soccer like he did, but I oblige and watch with him whenever Mexico is playing. I’m actually starting to enjoy soccer—I’ve been learning a lot about the game. I have the worst attention span though, particularly when it comes to sports (or action movies). I start to space off and become lost in my own thoughts when I’m watching something that doesn’t necessarily require my brain to be actively engaged. A few weeks ago, this is exactly what happened to me.

We were at home watching the U-17 World Cup Final (Mexico v. Uruguay), and the game had just ended. After Mexico won, the camera panned across the crowd in Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca. There were images upon images of the home crowd celebrating their victory. At one point, the screen showed a group of young girls in the crowd celebrating, and I thought, “Hey, they look just like Americans.” It was this thought that gave me pause. Wait, wait, wait . . . What do “Americans” look like anyway? I live in one of the most diverse countries in the world; there is no typical-looking American. I know this, and yet I couldn’t help but think that the crowd of Mexicans I was watching looked a lot like the people I see every day (Now granted, I do live in South Omaha).

My thought train then brought me to something Roger had told me a long time ago: that many people refer to the U.S. Soccer Team as “The Team of Everybody,” because it is made up of such a diverse group of players. I like thinking about the United States as the Team of Everybody, because we have such incredible diversity here in this country, whether that be ethnically, racially, religiously, or even politically. There are so many people here who come from such different backgrounds, who’ve had such different experiences, all of whom can exist in equality and harmony due to the very unique rights, freedoms, and protections that we all have.

This Team of Everybody includes people of all faiths, belief systems and cultures. No member of this team is any more important than the other, and not one is expendable. But having a team like this comes with an added challenge: the incredible complexity of identity. Just like there is no one face that looks “American,” there is no one face that looks Muslim, no one face that captures what it is to be Christian. We must recognize and respect this complexity and realize that any label we use comes with its own set of limitations.

While working on our Community Mosaic Video Project, I saw this illustrated to the greatest extent. There is great diversity of belief among different faiths and belief systems, but the diversity within those traditions is too often overlooked. Kael Sagheer, Project Interfaith Board member, once said it best: “If you’re a Christian, think of all the people you know who are Christian, or if you’re Jewish, think of all of the people you know who are Jewish. Think about the range of diversity that exists among all of those people that you know. Now realize that this diversity exists within every faith or belief system.”

Whenever we label someone, be that label American, Hindu or Republican, we must realize that no one word can encompass somebody’s identity in its entirety. There are many things that make up who we are and there is no set definition for what makes someone an [insert label here]. As we live, work and play together on our “Team of Everybody,” we must acknowledge these limitations and take the complexities of identity into account. I, for one, am proud to play for the Team of Everybody, and in my work at Project Interfaith, have gained an incredible amount of respect for the different faiths, belief systems and cultures that I have encountered—all of which are just as “American” as I.

Sierra Pirigyi is the Coordinator of Project Interfaith's Community Mosaic Video Project. She will be transferring to the University of Nebraska-Omaha this fall, to complete a dual Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Spanish. Sierra has previously attended the University of Colorado-Denver and Metropolitan Community College.

Sierra previously worked as an Administrative Assistant for Project WISE, a Denver, Colorado non-profit working with low-income women. This is what first sparked her interest in not-for-profit work. Sierra began interning with Project Interfaith in February 2010, assisting in various fields until discovering her passion for programming. Although currently undecided about her exact career plans, Sierra intends to continue working in the non-profit field, hoping someday to do humanitarian work with children and youth. Her regional interests lie primarily within Latin America and the Middle East.

Sierra enjoys learning about history, religion, philosophy and international politics. In her spare time, she also likes to read and write.

From the Intern Files: "Looking for Answers: The Questions I Roll With"

2011-07-29T08:35:00.007-05:00

by Project Interfaith Intern, Mike Siref

A lot of people have questions as children about how the world works. I am no different. When I was very young, I wondered what made me different? Why didn't my legs work like most other kids? Was I strange? I stopped asking those questions when I met a unique little girl who needed crutches to get around because her legs didn't work either. That wasn't the only reason she stood out to me. Her parents ran an adoption agency. She was white. Her sisters were African-American and Vietnamese. Like this young lady, I was adopted at a tender age, and also grew up in a diverse household.

My diversity came from religion. My adoptive father is Jewish and my mother is Catholic with a side of Cajun for good measure. I heard my situation explained best in middle school. “Hello, my name is Mike, and I am a Spicy Cashew!” I wouldn't trade this for anything.

Despite being part of The Hippie Generation, and a bit of a wanderer, my father has always had a strong connection to his Jewish faith. Evidence of his religious dedication surfaced in 1967, when he was presented with the unique opportunity to serve in The Israeli Army during The Six Day War. He lived in a kibbutz, and served as a cook for a handful of fellow soldiers. It wasn't until much later that I grasped the significance of some of the stories he has shared with me.

Although Catholic, my mother's upbringing wasn't based in rituals of faith, but rather family and cultural tradition. My grandmother was a very loud, opinionated, first-generation, French immigrant. She wanted things done a certain way, and had no problem being a disciplinarian if her orders weren't followed. Either that, or she'd let the parochial school system handle the discipline. My Grandfather was a Southern Gentleman, who spent 20 years serving in The United States Air Force. After retirement, he served the crazy Cajuns by working for the State of Louisiana. He is still the example to follow in my mother's family.

Coming from such varying backgrounds, my parents never forced either of their religions on me. As a young boy, I was fascinated by the history and trials of those in The Jewish Faith. I was enthralled on a yearly basis with the story behind and the significance of Passover. I also learned about the miracle of Chanukah throughout the years. I could recite several Jewish prayers while helping light the menorah. Despite that level of immersion, I have not gone through a Bar Mitzvah.

My dad also understands the camaraderie and symbolism behind Christmas. Every year, we would climb into the family vehicle in mid to late December to bring home a real Christmas tree in the range of six to seven feet tall. We would decorate it while watching Jimmy Stewart. However, the Christmas tree never went solo when I was a child. We also had a shorter tree wrapped in white lights. This was our Chanukah Bush.

Throughout much of my scholastic career, this unique environment sometimes made me feel like the residential Jewish expert. Although I took pride in this unofficial position, I often wondered why more kids weren't in a similar position? Why other families didn't look like mine? Why religion was and still is such a barrier in terms of curiosity and respect among people around the world? Despite the clouds of age and personal experience, I am still making an effort to answer these questions. I realize I should never stop asking them.

The internal Q&A sessions we have with ourselves as children change with age. As an adult, I have no problem thinking about the tough questions. In fact, I rather enjoy pondering them. Seriously. I have a chance to let my mind wander on religious paths while rolling toward a concrete goal of togetherness. Something like a spiritual Woodstock. Bring it on. Let's have some fun dealing with tough questions!

Mike Siref graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (before they dropped football). He earned A Bacheor's Degree in Psychology as well as some very unique friends that still walk with him today. He offers previous nonprofit experience to the team at Project Interfaith (MMI Americorps at The University of Nebraska Medical Center). Other cultures and religions fascinate Mike, who makes an effort to connect with people around him. Sports and good music are Mike's escapes. The Green Bay Packers, Chicago Cubs and college football pull Mike through the calender. "Everyone from Johnny Cash to Micheal Jackson is welcome on my stereo."

From the Intern Files: Like a Lomneth to a Flame

2011-07-20T14:14:00.010-05:00

by Project Interfaith Intern, Philip Lomneth

I’m not sure whether I found Project Interfaith or Project Interfaith found me. I do know, however, that when we collided, my passion for interfaith burst aflame and has not died down since.

In the fall of 2007, I was a Central High senior looking for where to go next in life. Groups such as the Anti Defamation League (ADL) and Conference for Inclusive Communities (now Inclusive Communities) stimulated a desire for social justice and sparked an interest in understanding people’s identities. While participating in programs or working with these organizations, I realized I sought something more, something different. We occasionally spoke about religious identity at these organizations but I remember always wishing to spend more time exploring those issues. Though my faith meant a great deal to me, I knew little about the beliefs of others and sought to learn more. Mentioning this to a friend and mentor at the ADL, he encouraged me to attend a program put on by a young interfaith group.

I can’t remember whether it was the lure of the topic of Islam, a religion I knew nothing about, or the excitement of going to my first interfaith event (again, something I knew nothing about), but on a November night, I headed to my first Project Interfaith program with great eagerness and a considerable amount of trepidation.

And I was blown away. Not only did I find the speaker engaging, but I felt amazed at the people who came. In that church, you could find Jews, Muslims, and Christians, people of all different persuasions sitting together listening to a man speak about Islam. This was something I wanted to be part of.

As I finished up my senior year, I kept looking ahead, kept focused on the day that I would leave Omaha. But. But I kept attending Project Interfaith programs, at least once missing school to hear a speaker and spending a Saturday touring a Hindu Temple and Greek Orthodox Church. Not only did I learn about different faiths from these programs, but Project Interfaith helped inspire me to create dialogue among the students at my school and truly promote the diversity we touted. While I felt glad to be leaving Omaha in the fall, already something began drawing me back.

The summer before I left, the Project Interfaith connection grew deeper. After a little push, I began volunteering at Project Interfaith, and though I didn’t feel I was saving the world as I worked there, I definitely felt something was happening. Everything was said in hushed tones with a sense of anticipation, as if people tried holding back their enthusiasm, for if they released, someone might take an opportunity away. Perhaps I remember this inaccurately, but I know with certainty that I felt we were doing something important, something that would grow.

Fast forward through the years as I study religion at school, returning to Omaha for breaks, occasionally attending a Project Interfaith event or volunteering in the summer, and always seeking advice on how to grow interfaith relations at my school. Though I valued all Project Interfaith did for me, a desire to be elsewhere, to go explore the world, learn about things I knew nothing about, and be challenged by what makes me uncomfortable kept me from dedicating more time to Project Interfaith.

Until now. Before leaving for a spring semester in Northern Ireland to study conflict and social change, Beth Katz, the Executive Director, mentioned Project Interfaith could use a few interns in the summer and encouraged me to apply when I returned. I had no idea where I would be, much less what I would feel like doing after a semester in Northern Ireland, but I now realize after immersing myself in learning about conflict and social change, peace and reconciliation, that I could not work with a better group than this. Why? Take a look at all Project Interfaith does in our community to build peace and make this a more welcoming place for everyone.

Philip Lomneth is a Roman Catholic who grew up in Omaha, attended parochial and public schools, and attends a private Lutheran college in Minnesota. He currently interns for Project Interfaith. He is fascinated with issues of identity: the way we shape it, how it shapes us, and how people use identities in interactions with others. He's not sure where he's headed in life, but knows he has passions for interfaith engagement and social justice which have been fueled in part by groups like Project Interfaith.

White Spaces

2011-07-13T09:14:00.013-05:00

by Project Interfaith guest blogger, Jennifer Formo

Last semester, I took a class on information design. I read a book by Daniel Pink called A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future. In the book, Pink explains his experience with trying to draw a self-portrait in an amateur drawing class. He completely botches the drawing where everything ends up completely out of proportion and cartoonish. He talks about how the left brain recalls symbols from childhood of how to draw a face, whereas the right brain actually sees relationships and integrates those relationships into a whole. Therefore, by shutting off our left brain, we can access the right brain to accurately draw the face as we see it, not as we think it should be from memory. For example, Pink drew his eyes too high on his face. It threw off the whole face because the eyes were not correct in relation to the rest of the face. “By botching that one relationship, [he] distorted the entire picture” (133).

In today’s world, there are many stereotypes that have been attached to different races, ethnicities, cultures and religions. Our identities are completely ingrained in those labels. Sometimes they are self-imposed; other times they are thrust upon us by society because of the way we look, how we dress, or where we grow up. Identity is a funny thing because as we grow up we are encouraged to identify ourselves as female or male first. Then we discover talents and we become an athlete, a musician or a scholar. Eventually, society places us on a merry-go-round of labels: from single, married or divorced, to poor, middle class, or rich. But if we were to strip those labels away, our true identity is actually what is left, the part of us that cannot be defined or labeled. It is our true essence.

As I watch my daughter grow up, I see that people are beginning to compare her to me. They say how much she is like me. She is stubborn, strong-willed, and perfectionistic. She loves to dance and play sports. She even looks like me. Sometimes I even find myself secretly wanting her to follow dreams I never had time to pursue. Even in my predominantly white, middle-class, suburban community, her identity is already set because she is my daughter. But my daughter is her own person who challenges those stereotypes every day. She surprises me with her words, thoughts and actions. She deserves to set her own path and become who she wants to be. Her true essence is all her own.

September 11 is brought up often when we discuss religious stereotypes. Obviously, in this country, Muslims are put high on the list of those who are persecuted for their beliefs. But just as my daughter’s identity is not based on the fact that she is my daughter, a Muslim’s identity should not be based on their cultural background or their religious convictions. By botching that one relationship, formed by the evil acts of a few fanatical Muslims, the entire picture of the Muslim community was distorted. Stereotypes run rampant in all sectors of society, whether it’s with gays and lesbians, the black community, or a poor sector of a city. So how do we see beyond those boundaries and into the hearts of individuals?

When speaking of his self-portrait, Pink talks about white space. He defines this negative space as “the area between and around an image” (133). By learning how to see the white space within the image, we can see relationships more accurately.

When I think about my identity, I realize that few people know or understand my white spaces. They see the image, the picture I produce. They see where I go to church, what I do for a living, who I associate with on a regular basis. But most people don’t know what I truly believe and what is in my heart. Most people don’t know my fears, my personal triumphs and struggles, my obstacles in life, or the love I have for my family and friends. Those are the white spaces I am talking about. Understanding a person’s true identity requires an investment into knowing that person, listening to them speak, and a look beyond their exterior and into their hearts.

White space is constant, pure and untouched by variances. White space never changes. I believe that when we begin to see beyond the stereotypes of others and into their white spaces, we will find that we are all very similar. We have the same love for our families, we have similar fears and we all have a desire to be seen for who we truly are. We see the purity, the core of who we are. My challenge to you then is to look for the white spaces in others and begin to see the relationship between each other. Only then will we be able to break down the walls of stereotypes and prejudices and find common ground and a broader understanding of the world.

BIO: Jennifer Formo is a volunteer for Project Interfaith. She has contributed to the Development Committee, the Community Mosaic Video Project and the Speed Dialoguing event, Face to Faith. Jennifer makes her home in Blair, Nebraska along with her five-year-old daughter, Ashley.

Beyond Violence

2011-05-27T14:23:00.013-05:00

By Guest Blogger Philip S Lomneth

Violence seduces youth. Not only do our movies, games, and TV shows make one wonder if we have an appetite for anything else, but a quick glance at the conflicts around the world will likely show young people on the front lines. What is the average age of enlistment in the U.S. Army? How old are many of the people we call terrorists? Though some of our ideas of destructive youth may come from stereotypes, in northern Ireland, those beliefs hold at least a grain of truth. During the Troubles, the average age for people joining paramilitaries was 17, and from 1982-2005, about a third of the people killed by paramilitaries were men aged from 15 to 24. Rightfully, this should disturb us, but I feel another point of violence’s seduction goes unnoticed; violence lures in young peace builders.

I am not referring to young people once dedicated to peace that turn around their values and pick up a Kalashnikov; rather, I refer to the young people desiring peace that often want to be on the front lines - where the “action” is. In the group of 14 American students I am with, we all are in awe of the individual who, at her internship, works with youth causing trouble on the streets. This internship, and others that deal directly with violent youth, are viewed as the most valuable, meaningful positions. Certainly, this work is necessary. When people throw petrol bombs over the so-called peace lines in Belfast, someone should step in to stop the antagonists. When local paramilitaries use punishment beatings, shooting youths’ kneecaps to keep them from causing further trouble, someone should try to reform their sense of justice, if nothing else. But is this enough? Can peace always be a response to violent action, or does peace mean something more?

When we engage in peace work that acts as a counter to violence, to conflict, what is our vision? Do we see a life beyond what we currently conceive? Is it simply an end to the petrol bombs and punishment beatings, an end to all conflicts, or do we dare to envision a society where such violence doesn’t exist? Do we simply accept it as a “fact” of life?

I came to Northern Ireland expecting, hoping, to work with violent people, people involved in conflict; that’s where I thought the greatest challenge and most learning would be. Instead, I came to a reconciliation called Corrymeela, and they challenged me with peace.

Sounds dangerous, no? Be careful not to trip as you run through the field of daisies.

But Corrymeela taught me that peace isn’t about running through fields or some fanciful dream where people always agree; rather, peace is about interfaces, about differences, about learning to live together, about life. At Corrymeela, we talk about interfaces, meeting points of distinct entities: nationalities, cultures and people. Any time you bring different perspectives together, tension inevitably arises. Using this tension for destruction, for killing, is violence. Using the tension to create something positive is peace.

This talk of meeting places for positive growth sounds nice, but when someone murdered Ronan Kerr this April, what use does any of this talk have? Should we not focus more on the perpetrators, ensuring that they are brought to justice and can never kill again? Yes, we do need to confront the people who murdered Kerr, but what a vision of peace demands is that we ask, “How can we live in community with the killers?”

Peace is not about starkly defining interfaces, erecting new walls and new prisons so that we can hide from differences, but about approaching those differences with care, while trying to understand and learn from each other. Peace is not about denying the variety, but seeing the other as such and loving the other all the more.

Is this not what interfaith work is about as well - Recognizing that we hold truly different beliefs and seeing this as an opportunity to learn, to understand someone else as someone else and loving them all the more? We can’t wait for violence to happen; we must seek out difference. We must dialogue in order to build understanding, build peace, and push out reasons for violence.

If we continue focusing on violence as the most important area for peace building, then will we not simply be responders to conflict, stopping individual cycles of violence, but failing to address the wider picture? If youth, young women and men, continue focusing on violence, then who will hold the vision for the future? Undeniably, we must take care of the fighting that goes on day-to-day, but if these conflicts end, how will we handle peace?

Holy Cow, Holy Misconception

2011-04-28T13:41:00.013-05:00

By Staff Blogger Rema Nair

"If someone were to ask me what the most important outward manifestation of Hinduism was, I would suggest that it was the idea of cow protection," Mahatma Gandhi, India's most respected and celebrated leader, once wrote. I could not agree more.

I have lost count of the number of times I have been asked about the “Holy Cow”. The most common question is, “why do you guys worship the cow?” Well, the answer is that few people, the world over, revere and respect the cow like the world's 900 million followers of Hinduism. The reason for this is that the cow, in Hindu society, is traditionally identified as a motherly figure, and as a symbol of unselfish giving. Reverence for cows can be found throughout the major religious texts. In Hindu mythology stories, cows also feature as the primary vehicles or principal gana (follower) of the manifestations of Hindu Gods…. examples include Shiva, and Krishna.

In India, among Hindu community members, cows often command the highest respect among all living creatures, roaming free without worry of being preyed on by either beast or man. Another belief that flourishes is that since the cow acts as a surrogate mother by sharing her milk with human beings, and in some cases even other animals for their whole life, the cow is truly the mother of the world. A person can be sent to jail for killing or injuring a cow because cow slaughter is legally banned in most of the states in India. This action is just one example of the Hindu’s intricate relationship with cows. In respecting the cow, Hinduism teaches Hindus to show respect for all living things - a belief that brings and binds together other beliefs the religion advocates, such as ahimsa (non violence), vegetarianism, cycle of birth and death (karma), sin, etc.

As the cat was to ancient Egyptian religion, the cow is to Hinduism. It is believed that the cow became important in India first in the Vedic period, and today has almost become a living, breathing symbol of Hinduism. No one knows for sure exactly what factors are responsible for cows to occupy such esteemed position, but some experts suggest that it may be due to their economic value in a predominantly agricultural economy of ancient India, representing capital investment. There is also some debate as to whether Buddhism and Jainism, with their ideology that all life forms are sacred and hence must be respected and treated well, influenced Hinduism to revere the cow.

Cows form the core of religious sacrifices, for without ghee (clarified butter), which is produced from cow's milk, no sacrifice can be performed. Ancient Hindu scriptures have it that nothing is more pious than the gift of cows, and of all gifts, the cow is still considered the highest gift in rural India and among the Brahmin caste. Cows are also thought to be purifiers, cleansers and sanctifiers, and cow dung is used as an effective sanitizer and as a fuel instead of firewood. Cow manure is also used as a high-quality fertilizer, and burnt cow dung is used as a tilak (a ritual mark) on the forehead. Most Hindus do not share the western contempt and disgust at cow fecal matter because they are conditioned from infancy not too, but instead regard it as a beneficial and useful organic product. Cow urine is also thought to be so pure that it is considered as one of the five amrit (nectar), and is often used in religious ceremonies, especially as purifiers. For many centuries in India, cow urine was also used in the preparation of extremely traditional medicines, since it is also believed to cure major diseases. Interesting to note here, is that many hard-core Hindus, even today, use leather products that are made only from hides of naturally deceased cows.

Milk from a cow also holds a key part in religious rituals; for example, it is customary to boil milk on a stove or even to lead a cow through the house as part of a housewarming ceremony. Since the cow is thought to be God's useful gift to mankind, consuming beef is considered sacrilegious to Hindus. On Gopastami – a Hindu religious observance day - cows are washed and decorated in the temple and given offerings in the hope that her gifts of life will continue. While there are no temples that exclusively worship the cow as its main deity, there are at least about 8 famous temples that I know house huge idols of cows within their premises that are revered by the temple devotees.

Reverence for cows, however, is not restricted to Hinduism, and can also be traced to other religions such as Zoroastrianism, where the Avesta (the holy book) expounds the cleansing power of cow urine declaring it to be a solution for all physical and moral evils. Although the ancient Egyptians sacrificed animals to obtain favors from gods, they did not sacrifice the cow because it was sacred to goddess Hathor, who had the form of a cow.

Whatever the rationality behind the importance for the cow and the use of its products, there is no mistaking that the cow has been and will continue to be an integral part of both religion and the society in both ancient and modern India.

Image courtesy http://www-ccs.cs.umass.edu/cris/bombay1998/powai/powai.html

Corrymeela: Understanding the Croi

2011-04-05T11:32:00.005-05:00

By Guest Blogger Philip S Lomneth

Almost two months ago, I arrived in northern Ireland to study conflict. Now, I’m at a retreat center on the beautiful northern coast with an organization dedicated to peace building. Instead of working with disadvantaged youth throwing paint bombs and rioting on the weekends, I work with kids; guiding them through team building activities and helping them learn how to cooperate. I walk along the road and see newborn lambs, bright spring daffodils, and waves crashing on the beach, not the murals of Belfast or the peace lines dividing cities here. To put it simply, it’s a far cry from what I thought I would be doing.

I work with an organization called Corrymeela, a group that had its start before the Troubles, standing on the foundation of promoting peace and reconciliation both here and throughout the world. From inception, Corrymeela was an open community, welcome to people of all faiths (or none), from all cultures, from any political affiliation. Thus, when the violence picked up and separations between Catholics and Protestants grew more pronounced, Corrymeela took a role in promoting cross-community understanding and healing of divisions. Corrymeela continues its work in this area, yet as the community grows more global, and more diverse, they struggle to maintain their identity and fundamental values.

At the center of Corrymeela’s site on the north coast, you find the worship space, the Croi. As the Irish word for heart, the Croi takes the shape of two chambers of a human heart with both a large and a small room flowing into one another. But the Croi is also shaped like an ear, and as a consequence, even when you whisper, someone across the room can hear all you say. To say the least, it can make for an almost ethereal worship experience, hearing words reverberating off the walls and people across the room whispering in your ear.

In the center of the room sits a small wooden table that always displays four objects: a candle, something from nature, a Celtic cross, and a Bible. Here, in the worship space open to all people, sit symbols of the Christian ethos pervading Corrymeela. How can Corrymeela claim to be an open community when the worship space blatantly displays religious symbols from a specific tradition? And if they discard every vestige of their beliefs, what authenticity do any of their actions have?

I came to Northern Ireland to study conflict and I land at a peace center, a place open to all, yet tied to a very specific set of beliefs. At first, it seems like a complete paradox: what does peace have to say about conflict (except maybe, “No!”) and how can a strong identity also be open to all? It is the tension between conflict and peace, identity and openness that allows Corrymeela the ability to do great things.

What is conflict? What is peace? Does a peaceful society entail a society without any conflict? These questions and more press down upon me as I work here, and I think Corrymeela lives out the answers more than verbally articulating them. To best illustrate this, I’ll try to work with the conflict mentioned above: that between openness and a determined sense of identity.

During my first days at Corrymeela, I commented on how wonderful living in an international community was. At a table we would have six people from six different countries, and four different mother-tongues. The center director quickly reminded me that with such a group also came an increased chance for disagreement since six different value systems, six worldviews came together at this place. Greater diversity certainly carries the possibility of conflict as well as greater understanding. Too often, people focus on one or the other to promote their agenda and fail to see the problems or the possibilities the other holds. We say to be strong in your identity, proudly display who you are, you but sometimes forget how often what we hold closest to us may hurt the other. Or we go too far the other way, claiming we are all the same and that no need for separation exists. Yet, in this instance, we disregard a person’s very identity.

Back to the heart, back to the Croi. The heart is our core; it is where our deepest emotions, our deepest feelings, emerge from. Would it be too much to say that from our heart our identity arises? And yet when we open our heart, is that not when we love? When we open our heart, we give from our core while also allowing others to enter: to give a part of them to us. When we open our heart, when we both give and receive, we may both hurt and be hurt. When we hold our faith closest to ourselves it is something we deeply wish to share, yet our faith may harm those closest to us while exposing ourselves to attack.

Here is where Corrymeela adds great insight into reconciling differences. Remember that the Croi takes the shape of both the heart and ear: Corrymeela encourages us to listen using our heart. I know it sounds cliché, but the Croi, the listening heart, models an open community. To be open is to be vulnerable and to be open is to share: to share what matters, we share from the heart, from what is most personal. But for an open community, a personal community, to stay open, people must listen to one another; certainly hearing the words people say but also the passion driving what people say. When the words sting the inner-most chambers of our hearts, we must strive to hear the force, the inspiration that encourages the words to come out. And when we speak, sharing from our heart, we must listen to the heartbeats of those around us: what calms them, what scares them, what causes them pain?

This is the open community Corrymeela strives to create: one that shares from the heart while acknowledging the pain and power of doing so, and thus the necessity of listening beyond the words people say. As they create this community they make their vision for a future a reality; not one without conflict, but one at peace.

We Are All Flowers in One Garden

2011-03-15T09:01:00.002-05:00

by guest blogger, Randall Krause

Underneath all of our beliefs, cultural differences and identities, we all share the same humanity, the same love, and the same being. When we connect from these more essential aspects of ourselves, we connect with all people.

So how do we do this? It’s easy. All we have to do is what is natural for us. Perhaps not natural for our egos, but rather for what’s more essential within us.

Recently, Swami Veda Bharati, a teacher in the Himalayan Yoga Meditation Tradition, wrote that "applied spirituality is to feel all hungry children’s hunger and loneliness of the bereft; to fill these empty spaces with selfless action." In this brief statement, Swami Veda captures the unifying force of acting from the heart: We open our heart; we feel the needs and pain of others; and act from love to ease their pain. Doing so is as natural as breathing. We know what to do without a lot of thinking and analysis.

This heart driven loving action can take many forms: Feeding the hungry; educating those whom education would lift; helping and serving our elders; visiting the sick; and so on.

This loving action is a form of worship, and it brings us together.

Love underlies all of our religions. Though the words may differ in our prayer books, all true religions exalt love, and when we are motivated by this essential force, we come together, grow spiritually, and make the world better.

Besides connecting with the love within us, we can also unify ourselves with others by connecting with our essential being through contemplative practices.

Modern life is so busy and it’s easy to get caught up in all of the doing. We rush around so much that our actions almost seem to define us, as if we were human-doings. However, we are called human beings for a reason: We exist, we be, and this being aspect of ourselves is perhaps the most essential part of ourselves.

The great contemplative traditions of all times have pointed to this being part of ourselves and guided us to experience it. When we do so, we find an identity for ourselves that is more central to us than the usual body-centered ego-identity, and we also find our oneness with all people and all life.

To experience our being, we quiet the mind and become aware. This sort of contemplative practice is common in all spiritual paths, and has been refined to an art in the meditative traditions. The following is a simple practice from the Himalayan Tradition that can be practiced by anyone. It’s called a “Two-Minute Meditation”. Here’s how you do it:

Sit with your spine erect and head, neck and hips aligned. You can sit on the front edge of a chair with feet on the floor and hands on your thighs. This makes it easy to have your spine erect. Relax any muscles not needed to maintain this sitting posture, and breathe deeply and smoothly. Let the body relax, letting go of any tension.

Close your eyes, turn you attention to the breath, and strive to breathe smoothly and continuously, minimizing (and with practice eliminating) any pauses that might appear in the breath.

As you exhale and inhale, be aware of the breath flowing out of and into your body. Sense the feeling of the breath as it leaves and as it enters your nostrils, and observe how your belly contracts as you exhale and expands as you inhale.

Let your attention remain on these sensations of breathing, allowing your body and mind to relax. When thoughts come into your mind, briefly notice their presence and quickly return your attention to the sensations of breathing.

After two minutes, you may choose to extend the meditation longer, or you may open your eyes and take a few moments to remain still and notice how you feel.

Try this brief meditation and notice your experience. This is a first step toward communing with your being. You may find it very relaxing.

There are many ways to feel our oneness with all people, all beings. These are two examples, both emphasizing experiences common to all religions. We humans truly are all flowers in one garden.

Randall Krause is Director of Himalayan Yoga Meditation Society of Los Angeles. Please see our website www.hymla.com for articles and information. Also, if you’d enjoy Yoga and Hiking in Switzerland in July, 2011, please see our site: www.yogahiking.info and join us in the Alps!

Talkin’ ’Bout My Generation

2011-03-10T09:00:00.001-06:00

Project Interfaith Executive Director Beth Katz guest blogs for Omaha.net.

We’re gearing up at Project Interfaith to bring in our next speaker, Sumi Loundon Kim (author and Buddhist chaplain at Duke University), and her imminent arrival has got me thinking about how generational differences are shaping faith communities and interfaith work. Kim will draw on her own experiences as a Gen X Buddhist and her work with young Buddhists (she’s edited two anthologies of writings by young American Buddhists) to share with the community how generational differences are impacting Buddhism in America... Click here to read more.

Let's Teach ABOUT Religion in Public Schools

2011-03-01T13:17:00.000-06:00

by guest blogger, Gary Groff

While attending a workshop at the JCC on teaching the Holocaust, Beth Seldin Dotan said “Gary, you’ve got to meet the Director of Project Interfaith, Beth Katz”. And thus began a terrific relationship between Project Interfaith, Beth and me (which has expanded to include her husband, Jesse and my wife, Paula.) I have served on the Advisory Board for almost five years now and have been involved in several educator workshops on religious diversity issues in public schools.

In May, 2009, I retired from the Bellevue Public Schools after 32 years in the classroom and was hired as an Adjunct Instructor in the Religious Studies Program at UNO. I was also hired as the Social Studies Department Chair at Omaha Central High School (Beth’s alma mater, but I won’t reveal which graduating classJ). In my role as Department Chair, I was able to implement into the curriculum at Central High an Introduction to World Religions course that I had created at Bellevue West.

The course is divided into six segments; Religious Responses, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. If time permits, other spiritual paths are explored, such as Baha’i, Native American spirituality, Sikhism or perhaps Jainism. The opening unit, Religious Responses, focuses on the important role that religion plays in human existence. We discuss the common elements found in a variety of spiritualities (ritual, symbolism, scriptures etc.) and then we use that base of knowledge to delve into the specific faiths of the next five units.

I think that the students would say that the one concept that I continually “harp on” is the need for religious literacy. I firmly believe that the best way to overcome prejudice toward and stereotyping of religious communities is to learn something about those communities. We here at Central High are extremely fortunate to have a great deal of ethnic, cultural and religious diversity present in our hallways and classrooms. My class roster includes Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Wiccans, and non-believers as well as a wide variety of Christian traditions. Needless to say, our class discussions can be very interesting! People have a tendency to fear what they don’t understand, and my objective in this class is to provide some understanding and appreciation of people with “other” religious beliefs. I can’t, and don’t espouse any one tradition; I tell the students that they certainly don’t have to believe what others believe, but they must respect the other person’s beliefs and their right to believe what they do. I am happy to say that the students are responding well to this concept. As these young people move on to college, jobs, the military, whatever their futures may hold, they inevitably will be working and living in a more religiously pluralistic society. I have had several students come up to me when they were home from college during a break and say, “I am so glad that I took your class. In my dorm are a number of ____ (fill in the religious path), and I actually understand why they …” So now, instead of fearing those “other” students, they can develop meaningful, positive relationships with them.

The course has a standard textbook (“Living Religions” by Mary Pat Fisher), but we also utilize multiple supplemental resources as well. One of my colleagues jokingly (I hope) told me one day how easy it must be to teach the course; “…all you have to do is open up the newspaper.” On some occasions, he may be correct. Every Monday in USA Today newspaper there is an editorial piece entitled “On Religion”. Prominent scholars in the field of religious studies (Stephen Prothero, Eboo Patel, Oliver Thomas, Tom Krattenmaker among many others) contribute their thoughts on the current issues involving religious diversity and the role of religion in our everyday lives. It’s a great way to start the week and get the kids involved in some very thought-provoking discussions. Another resource that we like to use, although not of great academic value, is Beliefnet (www.Beliefnet.com). The students can surf through this site and learn more about various faiths and also have some fun. There are jokes and funny bumper stickers relevant to specific faiths, articles about celebrities’ faiths, and lots of interesting quizzes; everything from the religiosity of The Simpsons to Belief-O-Matic, a survey that will match student beliefs with the beliefs of different spiritual paths. On a more academic note, the “Virtual Religion Index” (http://virtualreligion.net) from Rutgers University and “Religious Tolerance.org” (http://www.religioustolerance.org) are two very helpful sites.

I am enjoying my experience at Central High a great deal. The students are motivated and engaged and very enthusiastic about the course. One of the elements of the class that they all seem to enjoy are the field trips. I believe that it is imperative that the class get out and meet members of the various religious communities present in the metro area. We have visited the Jewish Community Center, the Millard Islamic Center and the Hindu Temple of Nebraska. When going on a field trip is not possible, we have guest speakers come in and present to the students. Guests have included Dr. Paul Williams from the Department of Philosophy and Religion at UNO, the Reverend Father Chris Margolitis from the Greater Omaha Greek Orthodox Church and Valdene Mintzmeyer from the Heartland Temple- Zen Center of Nebraska.

The mission of Project Interfaith (Project Interfaith grows understanding, respect and relationships among people of all faiths, beliefs and cultures) and the objective of the Introduction to World Religions fit hand in hand. We are both striving to alleviate the fear of the unknown “other” through education and appreciation. I have been enriched both personally and professionally through my relationship with Project Interfaith and can only hope that perhaps I have made some small contribution to promote the acceptance of, and respect for the religious diversity that is increasingly a part of our great American society.

Gary Groff is a long time Nebraskan who earned his B.S. in History at Westminster College (Mo.) in 1975 and his M.A. in Secondary Developmental Reading at the University of Northern Colorado in 1977. Gary’s areas of academic interest include the comparative study of the world’s religions and the study of the spiritual beliefs of America’s Founding Fathers.

Gary established a Title I Reading program in the Goodland (KS.) school district while teaching at Goodland Senior High School. In 1979, he moved to Bellevue, Nebraska and began a 30 year teaching career. During the last 12 years of that career, Gary developed and implemented a Comparative World Religions course for the Bellevue Public Schools. That course is now a permanent addition to the Social Studies curriculum at both Bellevue high schools. While teaching at Bellevue West, Gary also earned a graduate minor in religious studies at UNO. Upon retirement from BPS in May of 2009, Gary was hired as an adjunct instructor in the Religious Studies program at UNO. He currently serves as the department chair of the Social Studies department at Omaha Central High School where he has implemented the first World Religions course for Omaha Public Schools. In his “free” time, Gary enjoys following NU football (a season ticket holder since 1968!) reading, fishing and traveling with his wife, Paula. He also enjoys spending as much time as possible with his two grandchildren.

We Are All Flowers in One Garden

2011-02-24T11:22:00.005-06:00

by guest blogger, Randall Krause

It is common to think of ourselves as different from others, and, all too often, religion becomes one more way to separate ourselves from others rather than bringing us together. Yet, it doesn’t have to be this way. Our religion, our spirituality, can be a unifying force that helps us include others and celebrate the diversity of all people. It just takes a change of perspective.

Underneath all of our beliefs, cultural differences and identities, we all share the same humanity, the same love, and the same being. When we connect from these more essential aspects of ourselves, we connect with all people.

So how do we do this? It’s easy. All we have to do is what is natural for us. Perhaps not natural for our egos, but rather for what’s more essential within us.

Recently, Swami Veda Bharati, a teacher in the Himalayan Yoga Meditation Tradition, wrote that "applied spirituality is to feel all hungry children’s hunger and loneliness of the bereft; to fill these empty spaces with selfless action." In this brief statement, Swami Veda captures the unifying force of acting from the heart: We open our heart; we feel the needs and pain of others; and act from love to ease their pain. Doing so is as natural as breathing. We know what to do without a lot of thinking and analysis.

This heart driven loving action can take many forms: Feeding the hungry; educating those whom education would lift; helping and serving our elders; visiting the sick; and so on.

This loving action is a form of worship, and it brings us together.

Love underlies all of our religions. Though the words may differ in our prayer books, all true religions exalt love, and when we are motivated by this essential force, we come together, grow spiritually, and make the world better.

Besides connecting with the love within us, we can also unify ourselves with others by connecting with our essential being through contemplative practices.

Modern life is so busy and it’s easy to get caught up in all of the doing. We rush around so much that our actions almost seem to define us, as if we were human-doings. However, we are called human beings for a reason: We exist, we be, and this being aspect of ourselves is perhaps the most essential part of ourselves.

The great contemplative traditions of all times have pointed to this being part of ourselves and guided us to experience it. When we do so, we find an identity for ourselves that is more central to us than the usual body-centered ego-identity, and we also find our oneness with all people and all life.

To experience our being, we quiet the mind and become aware. This sort of contemplative practice is common in all spiritual paths, and has been refined to an art in the meditative traditions. The following is a simple practice from the Himalayan Tradition that can be practiced by anyone. It’s called a “Two-Minute Meditation”. Here’s how you do it:

Sit with your spine erect and head, neck and hips aligned. You can sit on the front edge of a chair with feet on the floor and hands on your thighs. This makes it easy to have your spine erect. Relax any muscles not needed to maintain this sitting posture, and breathe deeply and smoothly. Let the body relax, letting go of any tension.

Close your eyes, turn you attention to the breath, and strive to breathe smoothly and continuously, minimizing (and with practice eliminating) any pauses that might appear in the breath.

As you exhale and inhale, be aware of the breath flowing out of and into your body. Sense the feeling of the breath as it leaves and as it enters your nostrils, and observe how your belly contracts as you exhale and expands as you inhale.

Let your attention remain on these sensations of breathing, allowing your body and mind to relax. When thoughts come into your mind, briefly notice their presence and quickly return your attention to the sensations of breathing.

After two minutes, you may choose to extend the meditation longer, or you may open your eyes and take a few moments to remain still and notice how you feel.

Try this brief meditation and notice your experience. This is a first step toward communing with your being. You may find it very relaxing.

There are many ways to feel our oneness with all people, all beings. These are two examples, both emphasizing experiences common to all religions. We humans truly are all flowers in one garden.

Randall Krause is Director of the Himalayan Yoga Meditation Society of Los Angeles. Please see our website www.hymla.com for articles and information. Also, if you’d enjoy Yoga and Hiking in Switzerland in July, 2011, please see our site: www.yogahiking.info and join us in the Alps!

My Ignorance

2011-02-10T13:39:00.003-06:00

by guest blogger, Tim Brauhn

I grew up rural. That’s the important part of this story. I lived in a farming community about two hours west of Chicago. I was a Catholic; Catholicism was my received faith. Some of my friends were Catholics. The rest were from various Christian denominations. We didn’t talk about religion.

When I went to college in the suburbs, I fell away from the faith (I imagine that this happens to LOTS of college students) and continued on my way. Since I was finally in a place with a diversity of religious expression, I quickly realized that my views of other religions (especially Islam) were informed largely by my friends’ parents and their favored false information outlet: FOX News. The realization of my own ignorance pushed me to do some learning on my own.

So despite not being a “member” of any religions, I began spending an abnormal amount of time reading about them. Holy texts, histories, modern epigrams, condemnations, praises, and all other bits and bobs were devoured, and I worked both in class and out of class to connect them to the world around me. I could tell you (almost) anything you’d care to know about the world’s faiths. But I was only creating stale, two-dimensional constructs of religions, completely lacking in movement and life.

My roommate, himself an atheist and a recent graduate of my university, had been hired on in a resident fellowship position with our interfaith center. One day, he convinced me to come along with him as he led a group of students to the local mosque. Up to this point, I’d barely been in other Christian churches, let alone something totally out of the ordinary. I went along, curious as ever. I saw Muslims praying, saying the Arabic words that I had come to know in my studies. Afterwards, a whole slew of people came up to us and welcomed us to the mosque, smiled, asked if we had any questions, and for some strange reason, gave us a bag full of bagels.

I recalled how I used to think Muslims acted and looked – again, think FOX News. Furthermore, and the thing that really set me down the path to interfaith work, was the stunning realization that, far from being stale, two-dimensional constructs, religions were, in fact, full of religious people. These were strangers with hopes and families and fears and joys all intricately bound up in their ideations of God and their ultimate visions of human existence.

I had spent so much time learning the ins and outs of these religions (including the one that I had been born into), I’d forgotten that belief systems are nothing without the people of faith that compose them. I immediately involved myself with a few interfaith dialogue groups and returned to regular church attendance, although now I also made it a point to visit my local synagogue, mosque, both of the city’s Hindu temples, and many non-Catholic Christian churches. I was fed by the Hindus, honored as a guest by the Muslims, asked to turn up the heat by the Jews (it was Shabbat), and had my legs danced off by the African-American Baptists. I joined in prayer with them all.

I was spending my days with other people of faith, widely divergent and historically dissimilar to my own, but with strong points of connection around shared values of service, compassion, and justice. I loved every minute of it. During intense interfaith dialogue sessions, I came to see in greater detail how my own faith-life fit into theirs, and into the world as a whole.

After graduating, I joined the university staff in the role that my former roommate had held. I was a liaison to the faith communities that I had become great friends with, and I worked with them to involve students in dialogue and exchange events. I became convinced of the linkage between personal devotion and action across faith lines. This work led me to graduate studies in international relations, where I investigated the not-always-positive role that faith plays in global politics.

From there it was a short skip and a jump into the Faiths Act Fellowship, an elite program that brings together young people of faith across the world to promote the Millennium Development Goals and the great work that faith-based organizations are doing to “fix” things. The Fellowship is run by the Tony Blair Faith Foundation and the Interfaith Youth Core, two groups doing cutting-edge work in the multifaith realm. I traveled to Africa and saw church-run hospitals and malaria education classes at the local mosque. We asked, “What would happen if, in the developing world especially, these groups were to work together?”

This was the message that we carried back to our home countries. Here in the First World and in the Third World, people of faith do an enormous amount of charitable and earth-saving work. And that’s what drives me today. Interfaith dialogue made me a better Catholic (and a partial Hindu) and interfaith action showed me the power of personal conviction in solving the world’s injustices.

I’ve been blessed to live in a country where religious freedom is of utmost importance to almost everybody, and to meet people from dozens of different traditions. We might disagree on what happens or where we go after death, but we can certainly work together here and now to alleviate suffering, protect our environment, and promote justice.

Tim Brauhn is an interfaith activist commonly found at the intersection of social media and international development. He holds a BA in English from Aurora University, where he represented the university to area religious groups and civic associations. He received his Master of Arts degree in International Studies from the University of Denver's Josef Korbel School of International Studies. Tim was an inaugural member of the Faiths Act Fellowship. He is the Director of Operations for The 1010 Project, a Denver agency that provides business and entrepreneurial training in Kenya. Tim is also a consultant for humanitarian, social innovation, and general saving-the-world type programs.

Isrealities: Perspectives from Israel #3

2011-02-04T13:06:00.006-06:00

A blog series by Project Interfaith's International Blogger, Emily Muskin

If you are a child being raised Jewish in the United States, you will inevitably contribute to the planting of countless trees in Israel. This is not merely an account from my childhood but a proven fact – the Jewish National Fund has planted over 250 million trees in Israel since 1901. To say that trees are important in Judaism would be an understatement.

My father recently recounted the story of his childhood tree contributions. As a 22-year-old, he ventured across the world to Israel to work on a Moshav – an Israeli village – for two months. After his 14 hour flight, all he wanted was to do was find “his tree.” As an adult, he realized it was less about personally identifying his tree, and instead something bigger. A little over a week ago, I had the opportunity to celebrate the Jewish version of Arbor Day, Tu B’Shevat. This was my first acknowledgement of this holiday since my tree planting experiences as a child.

The Tu B’Shevat Seder was created in Safed, Israel by the Kabbalah movement in the 16th century. The festival marks the beginning of the spring season in Israel. The Seder was created to celebrate the spiritual significance of the fruit of the trees and vines. During the Seder that I attended, we drank four glasses of wine accompanied by dry fruits and nuts. Each glass represents a different realm of creation in the Kabbalist understanding of the universe. Additionally, our Seder invoked some unique interpretations of the holiday of the trees.

I am currently living on a reform Jewish Kibbutz that is making some enormous strides in the ecological field, and these concepts were cleverly interwoven throughout the Seder service. As a result of my naivety, I thought that the emphasis on ecology during the Seder was an original idea; however, there is evidence of ecological awareness throughout the Torah. This may seem like a trendy idea to some, but our ancestors were greatly aware of the connections between spirituality, nature and environmentalism.

Among other ecological mandates, the Torah outlines laws that tell us “to neither destroy wantonly, nor waste resources unnecessarily.” One is prohibited from cutting down fruit trees when surrounding an enemy city in wartime. There are laws for covering excrement, removing debris from public places, etc.

The Torah attributed importance to each element in nature, and we can learn a lot from these teachings in our modern society. Though the aforementioned concepts seem like common sense, in our world today, we have ignored much of this wisdom. I have now been studying at the kibbutz for over five weeks, and much of what we have learned with respect to ecological awareness and gardening practices can trace its roots to the writings of the Torah.

One of the participants in my program cleverly explained the connection among the spring Jewish holidays, Tu B’Shevat, Purim and Passover. As he put it, “Tu B’Shevat is the planting of the seed or idea, Purim is putting on the costume without commitment or experimenting with that seed or concept in your life, and Passover is the time for implementation.”

Similar to the planting of a new tree or the start of a new year, these fundamental holidays are a catalyst for change and reinvention of thought. Can we learn to grow from a lone tree to a forest? Can we be something bigger? It starts with a seed.

Isrealities: Perspectives from Israel #2

2011-01-25T13:54:00.006-06:00

A new blog series by Project Interfaith's International Blogger, Emily Muskin

Desert stretches before me, seemingly endless. Miles upon miles of sandy, barren landscape blurs the border between Israel and Jordan. Physical, legal, emotional, topographical; all of these words are associated with boundaries in our modern world. How many of our issues are brought on by real or imagined boundaries?

Being in the heart of the Middle East, in a country that in its short 63 years has had an extremely colorful history of border disputes, I can’t help but consider the impact of boundaries on our modern lifestyle. There is way more to a boundary than that which is legal, physical, or topographical. I am fascinated by the emotional and mental boundaries people put up between themselves and others.

How does one foster an environment in which people approach one another without boundaries? I don’t really know the answer to this question. However, I have spent the last month with a group of fifteen people who began as relative strangers. I will be sharing some of the observations I have had throughout this time, but first, a little background information.

I am currently enrolled in an ecological program on Kibbutz Lotan in the Arava Desert in the southern part of Israel. This program is seven weeks in length, and there are 15 participants involved. Five participants are American, five are Israeli, one is from Italy, one is from France, one is from England, and the last is from Poland. We range in age from 21 to 31, and nine of us are females, while the other six are males. Nine of us are Jewish, ranging from Conservative to extremely secular, while the other six are a mixture of Christian, Catholic, and spiritual.

We are an eclectic mix to say the least. We are all extremely different, yet we are living together in small circular domes, sharing showers, toilets and a small kitchen. We take classes together for at least nine hours each day and share daily meals.

This program has been somewhat of an interfaith experiment in action, and shockingly, it is working! The open interaction within this small and diverse community has been inspiring. Though I came here for an ecological program, I’ve been learning just as much from my fellow participants as I have from the course itself.

Right in the heart of Israel, where the harsh boundaries of a life in which bordering nations are in conflict are ever-present, it has been possible to build a healthy community. This environment is enclosed and intense, yet I strongly believe in the ability of people to break down barriers within many different societies. It is fascinating to explore the different types of boundaries in the modern world while finding new and exciting innovations to break them down.

Emily Muskin was the fall 2010 Development and Communications intern for Project Interfaith. She has graciously agreed to continue with Project Interfaith as our international blogger while she experiences Israel. She graduated from the University of Kansas in 2008 with a degree in Latin American Studies. In May 2010, she concluded her year of service with Americorps Vista Program and Goodwill Industries in Kansas City. This was where her interest in the non-profit world began. In her free time, Emily enjoys cookng, reading, traveling to foreign lands, and watching cheesy reality cooking shows.

Isrealities: Perspectives from Israel

2011-01-11T08:38:00.016-06:00

A new blog series by Project Interfaith's International Blogger, Emily Muskin

January 1, 2011

As I slowly stroll through the streets, sipping my pomegranate and orange concoction, I smell the wafting odors of freshly baked bread. The cobble stones threaten to throw me off balance at any second, and I feel a slow smile spread across my face at the thought of being back in this amazing place. The Old City of Jerusalem makes me feel as though I’ve stepped back in time.

David K. Shipley, a Pulitzer prize-winning American author once wrote, “Jerusalem is a festival and a lamentation. Its song is a sigh across the ages, a delicate, robust, mournful psalm at the great junction of spiritual cultures.” Though I have a hard time phrasing my feelings so eloquently, Shipley’s quote really describes the multifaceted dimensions of Jerusalem.

In one day, I walked on the cobble stones through the Armenian, Christian, Muslim, and Jewish quarters in the old city, and then exited to the modern, new city. I walked among Haredi (Ultra Orthodox) Jews dressed in traditional attire, young Israeli soldiers, tourists from all over the world, Christian laymen, Muslim women dressed in full religious attire, etc., etc., the list goes on and on!

I have visited Jerusalem on two prior occasions and have always been struck by the almost magical compilation of the cultures of past and present. The Old City of Jerusalem only comprises a 2.5 mile area, yet it is home to some of the holiest religious sites within the Abrahamic faiths. From the Western Wall to the Dome of the Rock to the Holy Church of the Sepulchre, I was literally drinking in history!

This city is also home to conflict on many different levels; conflicts of secularity vs. orthodoxy, Muslims vs. Jews, and modernity vs. history. The “great lamentation” and “mournful song” that Shipley speaks of seems to me to be these constantly conflicting ideologies. All of these diverse cultural groups coexist without really seeing one another.

This is a debate that I am not going to elaborate on just yet, except to say that the more I travel and see the world and other cultures, the more I appreciate the necessity for organizations like Project Interfaith. Before my journey to Israel, we discussed as a staff what the next step would be for people after they attended our programs and became interested in our work. I immediately suggested travelling, which is how this blog began in the first place. This will hopefully provide a little insight into my experience in expanding myself personally and spiritually. My hope is that this blog will reflect some of the passion and inspiration I have gleaned from my travels and interactions with diverse groups of people.

A Challenge to Your Comfort Zone

2010-12-16T10:16:00.006-06:00

by Project Interfaith Executive Director Beth Katz

Recently, I received an email from one of the pastors at a local megachurch. The two of us struck up a friendship after meeting at a conference on social media last spring. Shortly after the conference, we got coffee together to share more about our work in the community and realized that we were working toward many of the same goals for our community. We both tweeted about this initial meeting and that’s when things got sticky. Some people at his church saw our tweets and took the fact that he had met with me, a Jewish woman who runs an interfaith organization, as a sign that he was having doubts about his faith and identity as a Christian.

Since our initial meeting, we have been getting together periodically for coffee. The conversations we have had have been some of the most thoughtful and illuminating ones I’ve had and have given me a better insight into the faith community of which he is a part. In his most recent email, he told me that he continued to receive strong pushback from some members at his church about our friendship and about his support for interfaith work.

But despite the intense pressure he is receiving from some of his peers, he continues to attend our programs, meet with me and be engaged. And I thought “Wow- that takes some serious guts.” To risk your standing and credibility in your faith community and workplace to challenge the status quo, now that’s courageous.

And then I had to ask myself “What am I doing to really challenge the status quo even at Project Interfaith?” It’s pretty easy to get into your comfort bubble no matter who you are or what you do and interfaith work is no exception. I realize that if I am asking community members to step out of or at least stick a toe out of their comfort zones, I better be willing to do the same.

So I am setting a challenge for myself- just in time for the upcoming secular New Year. I am challenging myself beginning in January and through the rest of 2011 to each month meet with one person that I normally may have just assumed I would have little to nothing in common with or would be totally disinterested in interfaith work. This would include those I would conveniently label as “fundamentalists.” (Gasp! Yes, I’ll fess up- I, too, am guilty of labeling. Hi, my name is Beth and I am a human.) My goal is not to meet with these individuals to “convert” them to interfaith work. My goal is to meet with them to get to know them and to stretch my horizons- to really hear what makes them tick and to better understand their perspectives.

Naturally, to satisfy my dorkiness, I had to give this challenge a name. So I am calling it the “Go with Your Guts” Challenge because, let’s face it, it is going to take guts for me to meet with people outside my comfort zone. I’ll be sharing what I take away from these experiences each month on the Project Interfaith blog so be sure to check in.

I invite you to join me in the “Go with Your Guts” Challenge. Push yourself to meet with one person each month of 2011 who you might normally write off as having little or nothing in common with. And let me know how it goes by sharing your story on our blog. Who knows- if enough of us go with our guts, maybe we’ll find that the space beyond our comfort zones is actually a place worth spending some time in.

Beth Katz is the founder and Executive Director of Project Interfaith. Beth got bitten by the interfaith bug in college, where she first got involved in interfaith work as the co-founder of a student interfaith group. Her passion for creating a world where people of all faiths beliefs and cultures are valued and included led her to come back to her hometown of Omaha after graduate school to start Project Interfaith.

Beth frequently speaks and writes on interfaith issues and work, including writing a monthly column "The Accidental Theist" on the blog Omaha.net. She presents on Project Interfaith’s mission and work at local, national, and international events including at the Istanbul Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion, and at the 2009 Parliament of the World’s Religions.

Beth is an adjunct professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha where she has taught courses on international conflict resolution for the Political Science department and religious diversity issues in the schools for the College of Education. She is on the board of the newly-formed Center for Catholic Thought at Creighton University and is a member of the Nebraska Medical Center's Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Consultation Committee. She also has served on the Mayor’s Clergy Advisory Board in Omaha since being appointed in 2008.

Beth holds a Master of Public Policy and a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan as well as a Bachelor of Science in Education from Creighton University.

Treat the Cause, Not the Symptom

2010-12-15T12:18:00.006-06:00

by Project Interfaith Community Mosaic Video Project Coordinator, Sierra Pirigyi

‘Tis the season for giving. For many people, this means giving to the charities, causes and non-profit organizations that one supports. This holiday season, you can make a difference in the world by helping to grow understanding, respect, and relationships among people of all faiths, beliefs, and cultures by making a contribution to Project Interfaith.

Why give to Project Interfaith? Why not instead give to your local food bank, or to an organization that helps refugees in a war-torn nation? While these are no doubt worthy causes, they are all symptoms of something larger. Hunger, war, poverty and human suffering are all effects of a world without understanding, mutual respect, and real relationships.

Any health care practitioner would agree that the most important steps one can take to improve his or her health are preventative, not curative. Curative health care treats symptoms—the effects that have already resulted from poor health and poor health habits. Health care should instead focus on prevention, by changing the causes that are contributing to poor health and thus resulting in disease, and integrating the steps that will grow a happy, healthy, fully-functioning human being.

Changing the world works much in the same way. We must take a step back, focusing not on the symptoms of this broken world, but instead on the causes—the things that have lead us to a world full of poverty, strife, and inequality. The true way to improve the world is to change the way the world works in the first place, not just to deal with symptoms. You can take medication for your high cholesterol, or you can change your diet. You can endure radiation therapy for your lung cancer, or you can quit smoking. You can create a plan for a two-state solution in Israel and Palestine, or you can look at the root causes for this, among many, religious conflicts throughout the world—a lack of understanding, respect, and relationships among the various faiths, beliefs, and cultures.

The time is now, and it’s not too late. We can change the course of this planet. We can live in a world of peace and harmony, where each individual is free to live, believe, and practice those beliefs however he or she chooses. We can put an end to the religious conflict and intolerance throughout the world. We can do so by treating the root causes that have resulted in the unhealthy world we live in today. The lack of understanding that results in misconceptions. The lack of respect that results in the dehumanization of people throughout the world. The lack of relationships that helps perpetuate myths and stereotypes. In this ever-increasingly connected world, where we are ever-increasingly coming into contact with those who are different from ourselves, the work of Project Interfaith has never been more important. We can grow a happy, healthy, fully-functioning world. We simply need to start integrating the steps that will result in one.

Sierra is currently a Liberal Arts major at Metropolitan Community College. She plans to transfer to the University of Nebraska Omaha next fall, to complete her Bachelor's degree in International Studies with a Specialization in International Non-Profit.

Sierra began interning with Project Interfaith in February 2010, assisting in various fields until discovering her passion for programming. Although currently undecided about her exact career plans, Sierra intends to continue working in the non-profit field, hoping someday to do humanitarian work with children and youth. Her regional interests lie primarily within Latin America and the Middle East.

Hating the Haters and Other Profound Wisdom

2010-12-06T13:19:00.012-06:00

by guest blogger, Joe Gerstandt

Ack.

Yet another brush with my own hypocrisy.

I am having an unpleasant moment. I just caught myself being something other than what I claim to be.

You see...I seem to be bumping into a lot of close-minded people lately. You know exactly the people I am talking about. Ignorant people. A-holes. I bump into them in real life, I bump into them on-line and when I turn on the television. I am swimming in people that are clearly everything that is wrong with the world. And after a certain amount of this I just want to start kicking people in the shins. I thought that rather than kicking people I should just write a post about the close-minded people that are making me insane by ruining everything and then I wrote the title down on a scrap of paper.

And then I thought “what an arrogant and judgmental thing to say?”

So here I am having an unpleasant moment with myself. It is unpleasant because I claim to be a different kind of fellow.

I have come to believe that when I am having a lot of scratchy, challenging interactions with other people it is likely to be more an indication of my own mental, emotional, spiritual and social fitness than it is an accurate evaluation of these other people or their actions. I believe that. I believe that strongly.

But.

The unpleasant truth is this.

I still want to kick people that don’t "get it.” It only takes a few minutes of watching the “news” or hanging out on Facebook to come across some perspective that is woven through with sentiments that are racist or sexist in nature or that questions the validity of Muslims or gays or atheists or fill in the blank. And more often than not, when I come across these perspectives, I want to do battle. I want to punish these people for the ignorance, bias, arrogance and privilege that I believe I see.

…and that is only fair because they started it.

Peace through superior firepower, right?

And this is why the stuff that matters so much is so hard.

This is why inclusion is hard. This is why honesty is hard. This is why peace is hard. This is why collaboration and community and family and democracy and love are all hard things to actually live. They are really easy to have as aspirations...but they are really hard to actually deliver on.

They are really hard to deliver on because there is always some really good reason for us to make an exception. We can always find some interpretation of some ideology, be it political, religious, economic or philosophical, justifying our sitting in judgment of someone else. And if we are not incredibly careful we can find ourselves becoming part of the problem rather than part of the solution.

The world does not need any more problems.

And.

You and I cannot afford to waste our gifts, they are simply too precious. We must be solution people.

There is a book called As Bill Sees It that has been an important book for me. One of my favorite passages in this book is found on page 44.

"Too much of my life has been spent in dwelling upon the faults of others. This is a most subtle and perverse form of self-satisfaction, which permits us to remain comfortably unaware of our defects, too often we are heard to say, 'If it weren’t for him (or her), how happy I’d be!'

Our very first problem is to accept our present circumstances as they are, ourselves as we are, and the people about us as they are. This is to adopt a realistic humility without which no genuine advance can even begin. Again and again, we shall need to return to that unflattering point of departure. This is an exercise in acceptance that we can profitably practice every day of our lives.

Provided we strenuously avoid turning these realistic surveys of the facts of life into unrealistic alibis for defeatism, they can be the sure foundation upon which increased emotional health and therefore spiritual progress can be built."

Be good to each other.

Joe grew up on a family farm in northwest Iowa, served four years in the United States Marine Corps. Over the past decade, he has worked both internally and externally with corporate and non-profit organizations on issues related to diversity, inclusion and culture. Joe's work consists of helping people and groups of people truly understand diversity, inclusion, and culture so they can deliver better on their promises. His work is not about tolerance, sensitivity, or compliance it's about letting the dog off the leash. Joe lives in Omaha, NE with his wife, two daughters, and baby boy.

Interfaith Intersections: Giving thanks for religious freedom

2010-11-22T15:54:00.003-06:00

Project Interfaith Executive Director Beth Katz guest blogs for Metro Neighborhood News.

Thanksgiving is this month, prompting many of us to reflect on that for which we are most grateful. As I ponder this, I keep coming back to how grateful I am to live in a country that allows for the religious freedom of its residents and protects our rights as individuals to practice- and also to not practice- a religion or belief system. Sure, it may sound dorky of me to be gushing about our First Amendment (because that is where these fundamental rights and freedoms are enshrined) but it actually is quite personal...... Click here to read more.

From The Intern Files: Academics vs. Belief

2010-11-05T11:16:00.007-05:00

by Amanda Ryan, Fall Resource Development Intern for Project Interfaith

“What does a person with a degree in Religious Studies do?” I often get this question once I tell people of my choice in major. The next question typically is, “Are you going into ministry then?” After being a Religious Studies major for a little over a year, these questions tend to get a tad bit annoying. That is why I feel I need to differentiate between my academic pursuits and my personal beliefs.

I view pursuing a degree in religious studies as my opportunity to academically learn about all religions, to treat all of the religions equally and to learn about them in a like manner. It is not about whether I believe in the religion or not. It is about growing in knowledge about the religions and their followers. Religions, beliefs, and cultures have always fascinated me. The different practices of the world’s religions - their holidays, rituals, and faiths - are what have drawn me to studying religion. Religion has always been with us, from the early polytheistic societies of Mesopotamia to the religions of our present civilizations. It has influenced almost every aspect of people’s lives. Studying religion is a way to better understand the world around us, which is needed in today’s society.

For me it is important to leave my personal beliefs at the door when I walk into a class dealing with religion. I cannot let my belief interfere with my learning of a different religion or even my own religion, Christianity. Walking into a classroom with your own notions can make it hard to really grasp what you are supposed to learn in a religious studies class. For example, when I am reading for my Hebrew Bible class, I should not use my Christian interpretation of the biblical stories to understand what is going on. Instead, I must, critically think about the situation and why it was put in the Bible. This is what makes my academic studying of religions different from my own personal journey of spirituality. In no way have my studies changed my mind about my religion. If anything, it has made me realize why I believe in Christianity. It has also helped me realize why other people believe in Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and the many other world religions. In the end, I plan on using my Religious Studies degree to teach people about the different religions and help end ignorance about them, whether that is through working in education, continuing in the non-profit field, or in a totally different area in the workforce.

Amanda will be starting her second year at the University of Nebraska-Omaha in the fall. She is currently a Religious Studies major. At this time, she does not know what she will be doing with her degree, but can possibly see working in education. Amanda has spent time volunteering in Denver, Colorado during the Denver Christmas Conference. During her senior year of high school, Amanda wrote a research paper on Woodstock where she developed a deep love for 1960s culture. Amanda’s current interest include; music, art, and cooking. She is greatly interested in the human rights movement that is happening in Eastern Africa and would like to travel to Africa to help in this effort. Amanda also enjoys spending her free time sitting in the park; basking in the sun, while reading her current book of choice.

From the Intern Files: A Desire for Diversity

2010-10-27T11:04:00.009-05:00

by Emily Muskin, Fall Development Intern for Project Interfaith

Interfaith. One word that seems to strike fear into the hearts of many. It seems like such a simple and pleasant idea at the onset, "Let's bring people from all different cultures and religious groups together in order to build understanding and respect." Sounds pretty quaint right? Being brought up Jewish in Omaha, Nebraska, made the idea of interfaith relations a daily reality. I can't even recall how many times a person has said to me that I am the first Jewish person that they've ever met. On the other side of the coin, every time I meed a Jew from the east coast or another heavily populated Jewish area, I receive the same reaction. "Jews???? In Omaha, Nebraska?" Sometimes it seems that I'm too Jewish for Omaha and not Jewish enough for the rest of the world. My upbringing puts me squarely at the fray of the predominately Christian/Catholic Omaha community, and simultaneously, on the edge of the world Jewish community. This unique position has allowed for connection with many other groups that don't fall into the majority religious sector of our country. Before I was even born, the idea of religious diversity had been brought to my home, in the form of Thong. Thong is a Laotian refugee who came to live with my parents for two weeks and ended up staying for seven years. Thong is my sister in every form of the word except she is not of blood relation. Two years ago, my brother, my blood related sister, and I traveled to Thailand and Laos and stayed with Thong's family for several days. We giggled about all of the characteristics that they had in common with Thong, and happily wove through an extreme language barrier. This is just one of the many experiences that have opened my eyes to the unique impact of engaging with people that come from completely different backgrounds. Without really ever thinking about it too much, my life has been built around interfaith ideals to a certain extent. I love to travel, I gravitate toward people who were raised differently from myself, and I will try any food, from any country, at least once! I have almost hit a quarter of a century of living so far, and I can honestly say that my desire to pursue unique and diverse experiences has provided some of the most interesting and enlightening times of my life. My parents instilled these ideas within me at a very early age, yet I strongly believe that ANYONE at ANY age can pursue similar growing experiences.

Emily Muskin is the Development and Communications Intern for the fall. She graduated from the University of Kansas in 2008 with a degree in Latin American Studies. In May 2010, she concluded her year of service with Americorps Vista Program and Goodwill Industries in Kansas City. This was where her interest in the non-profit world began. As an intern for Project Interfaith, she hopes to gain more experience in grant writing and fund development. In her free time, Emily enjoys cooking, reading, traveling to foreign lands, and watching cheesy reality cooking show.

2010-10-14T08:25:00.006-05:00

From the Intern Files: Magnets, Metaphors, and Monotheism?

by Tom Laird, Project Interfaith Communications Intern

“Search for God. Search for God like a man whose head is on fire searches for water.” This quote comes from the book, Eat Pray Love. When I first read this quote my irreverent side automatically stood to attention. I could not help but think about a magnet which rests on the side of my friend’s fridge. The magnet states, “I found Jesus. He was behind my couch.” There. Done. Searched for and discovered. Once I was able to quell my cheeky side, I more seriously considered the quote. “Search for God.” Alright, how does one search for God? “…like a man whose head is on fire searches for water.” Ooookaaay, how does one decide if it is even important (head on fire important) enough for them to search for God in the first place?

I felt it would probably be most important to answer the latter question. After all if I didn’t care that my head was on fire, why would I go looking for water in the first place? Or back to the magnet, if I didn’t care enough to get up off the couch to look behind it what does it matter how I got up off the couch to look behind it? So, did I think looking for God was important or even necessary? I attempted to convince myself it was not. I began collecting evidence to support my assertion of indifference. Don’t go to church: check. Have doubt in the existence of Jesus: check. Not too pleased with the church I was raised in: check. Well, that was easy! No need for me to pack up and go on a manhunt for God. However, as I sat there pleased with my energy conservation, the counterargument to my claim gently cleared its throat and lightly tapped me on the shoulder. Have more than one book in my library which is faith related: check. Have chosen many faith-driven mentors in my life, nuns and priests included: check. Interning for an interfaith organization: check. Alright, alright, alright, FINE! I obviously have an interest in faith and God. My head was on fire and I need water.

So how do I find the water? I tried looking deeper into the church I was raised in but kept hitting the same roadblocks that turned me away in the first place. For me, that well was pretty dry. So much intolerance, such a superiority complex; our way is the only way to God, etcetera. How could that be so? The other 4 billion people on planet earth couldn’t be that misguided can they? No. It was not until I decided to look outside of familiarity that I started getting somewhere. Perhaps one of the most enlightening experiences for me was my visit to a Hindu temple. It was there that a great misconception of mine was clarified. I had always (mis)understood the Hindu faith to be polytheistic. Being welcomed into the Hindu temple for a tour and taught quite the opposite was a revelation. The Hindu faith is in fact monotheistic, having a God who reveals himself to humanity in different ways for different reasons. Hmmm, this sounded vaguely familiar. A burning bush, a tongue of fire, a man named Jesus; three separate manifestations of the same one God. Two seemingly polar opposite faiths did in fact have something in common; one God who materialized himself in a multitude of ways to help mankind. I liked the similarity I had found. Suddenly the Hindu faith didn’t seem so foreign and remote. Suddenly I felt a little more grounded in my faith. There it was; baby’s first interfaith moment. Somebody grab the camera.

This one experience alone, however, was not going to douse the flames on my head. I needed to continue to find the similarities between other faiths and my own. And so I have. I’ve attended religious ceremonies and holidays of other faiths. I’ve read books which have made comparisons between faiths. I’ve continued to meet with my nun and priest mentors telling them where I am on my interfaith journey. They have been very supportive and even excited for me. All of these interfaith experiences are helping me to organize and understand my own beliefs. I am now reminded of a magnet that I have on my fridge. It’s simply a hand with a middle finger wrapped around the index finger stating, “Me and God are like THIS!” True, it is just as cheeky and irreverent as the magnet mentioned prior, but it holds some truth for me now. Are God and I, “…like THIS!”? Not yet, but we are on much better ground than we ever were before I decided to get up off the couch and look behind it.

Tom Laird is Project Interfaith's Communications Intern for the fall of 2010. Tom holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Benedictine College where he received the Madonna Gamper Award for academic excellence. Tom began working as a volunteer with Project Interfaith in early January of 2009. A desired change of career path into the non-profit world has changed Tom's status from volunteer to intern. During his time with Project Interfaith, Tom hopes to gain more experience with and understanding of the non-profit world. Tom enjoys reading, music, biking (bicycle, not motorcycle), and skiing (snow, not water).

Interfaith Not Built in a Day

2010-09-23T15:04:00.008-05:00

By Philip Lomneth, Guestblogger

There in the room with me were the college pastor, a vice president, an esteemed faculty member, and several students. These were the people who could either help initiate an interfaith center on campus or could discard all the research, coalition building, writing and rewriting we did the past few months. Upon discovering that recent renovations would move the religion department out of the basement of the campus’s chapel and open the area to a variety of possibilities, a handful of students and I wrote a proposal to create an interfaith center in the space.

Now, three other students and I fielded questions from the planning committee entrusted with advising the president on possible uses for the space. Things seemed to be going well – all the preparation had paid off and we anticipated most of the questions that they threw at us. Then came the one no one expected. The pastor leaned over, elbows on his knees, hands clasped in front of his snowy white beard, stared us straight in the eyes, and asked, “Now, how can you assure me that this all isn’t some fad that will disappear in a couple of years?” I could hardly stifle my laughter.

A fad? If you could judge the level of interfaith dialogue at St. Olaf by the number of “Coexist” bumper stickers, then you would expect to hear faith conversations virtually everywhere you went. Unfortunately, what appears on people’s bumpers hardly gives an accurate picture of interfaith relations on campus.

The past few years, I’ve been part of a small interfaith organization, trying to increase awareness about different faiths as well as encourage collaboration between the various faith-based organizations on campus. This work, though rewarding, has been anything but easy. Our group struggles for relevance when many people think that the best way to treat people of other faiths is just to let them do their own thing. We strive to foster dialogue about faith when so many people feel uncomfortable talking about their beliefs outside of a group of their closest acquaintances or people who share similar convictions. Interfaith may well be popular in the sense that people understand the importance of learning about different religions, but when people come face to face with someone of a different worldview to discuss a topic that may well highlight the differences, the enthusiasm dissipates.

So how does one foster interfaith interaction in a community? After making plenty of mistakes, I think I’ve learned that often the first action one should take is to ask questions. Who makes up the community? How do individuals and groups relate to the community? How do people express their faith? What frightens, what excites, what intrigues people in this community? Perhaps it’s just me, but even though it seems obvious to try to understand a community before working with people, the enthusiasm of my passion often prevents me from adapting to the situation. I know to channel the fervor differently now.

Currently in my third year at St. Olaf, I feel I have a comfortable understanding of the community’s interests and commitments, so I can adapt my ideas to what people find worthwhile. I like to dream big and always have a collection of ideas I would like to see happen, but matching dreams with resources and community interest always proves to be a difficult problem. I may want to put on an extensive interfaith retreat, discussing what interfaith is, listening to speakers explore various traditions, and learning about how people came to be interested in interfaith work, but if I am the only one in attendance, what good have I done for the community? Initial endeavors for interfaith groups often must be low-key. And though one wants them to be provocative, one should be wary lest they estrange others.

By the end of last school year, the interfaith group here had fallen in membership to one core and a handful of periphery members. Our dialogue had neither been frequent nor meaningful enough to keep us together. Despite our limited status, upon finding out about the opportunity to create a permanent space dedicated to interfaith relations, our bonds revived, and we jumped at the chance. Now, we have started to feel the impact we made; interest has grown around our organization, and we recently found out some of our recommendations are being sent to the college president for further review. To make an impact in your community, you don’t need to be a large, powerful organization. Our group depended on the enthusiasm and commitment of a few members, and from our projects we developed connections with lasting impacts. An interfaith community is not built in a day; people desire continual and meaningful engagement. And as people build relationships, dreams become reality.

Philip Lomneth is a Roman Catholic who grew up in Omaha, attended parochial and public schools, and goes to a private Lutheran college in Minnesota. He is fascinated with issues of identity: the way we shape it, how it shapes us, and how people use identities in interactions with others. He's not sure where he's headed in life, but knows he has passions for interfaith engagement and social justice which have been fueled in part by groups like Project Interfaith.

From the Intern Files: What's the Point of Living Without Trying to Understand Life?

2010-08-27T11:35:00.006-05:00

By Lizzy McCue, Project Interfaith Intern

I grew up in a United Methodist home. Actually, I was baptized on the stage of my high school, before the church my parents went to broke ground for some office space, a few classrooms and the worship area we affectionately called the “gymtuary” or “sanctionasium.” Isn’t it ironic that the place where I was baptized was also the place that turned me away from organized religion?

My majors are Journalism and Political Science. You might ask why a girl with more secular interests would apply for an internship at an interfaith organization. I ask, have you ever noticed there has never been a non-Christian President of the United States? Or, do you remember the media coverage of Mitt Romney in the 2008 Presidential Elections? I don’t contest the United States in its secularity, but religion has played its hand in every day of American politics. And politics has played its hand in religion, too.

There is that Marxist quote, “Religion is the opiate of the masses.” I agree; religion is addictive. Although my interpretation is the study of religion, not practice, is the addiction. In classes such as “Comparative Governments,” “A History of the Islamic World” and “Medieval Europe,” I have studied the relationships of religion and government throughout continents and centuries. But that interest developed in the past few years.

In high school, the United Methodist church my family attended experienced a change in authority. It became dictated by the demands of the dollar bill. The resulting feud on how to ease construction debt (and a few other issues) split the congregation and left me with a rancid taste for organized religion. The “contemporary” services went sour for me, as well. I would rather not waste my time in a service built around badly composed, campy songs and short readings from the Bible.

Call me a cynic, but I would rather see analysis of how the lessons of the Bible can be illustrated and interpreted with a modern focus and understanding. Or, if you can’t guess from the classes previously mentioned, how Christianity has interacted with history. “To get where you’re going, you have to know where you’ve been” is the proper cliché, I believe. Either way, I want to know there is more than a little creative thought going into the sermons I hear, but substantive research and a figurative approach to reading scripture.

Project Interfaith fits my interest because what I want is more resources, more interpretations, more education, so that I can decide for myself what I want to believe, and be able to back those beliefs, maybe to other people, but mostly to myself. What is the point of living without trying to understand life?

This is the third in a series of posts by the Project Interfaith summer interns. They're reflecting on what drew them to interfaith work and to decide to work in the tiny work space with a big heart that is Project Interfaith as well as sharing their adventures in interfaith work. You can learn more about Lizzy by visiting the Project Interfaith website and by finding her on Facebook and Twitter (@dandelionspider).