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

Examining us examining Hasan

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

By Eboo Patel | November 16, 2009; 11:48 AM ET | Comments (12)

Another Muslim soldier

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

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

Need for a Muslim-Jewish alliance

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

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

Ethical leadership in Jerusalem

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

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

The President's faith council meets

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

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

Many Faiths, One Night in Bethesda

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

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

Journey into America

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

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

Realizing the (Muslim) American Dream

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

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

Interfaith Service, More than a Week

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

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

Interfaith Solidarity During Ramadan

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

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

United We Serve in the Midst of the Storm

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

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

Battle for Muslim Hearts and Minds

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

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

A Dishonest Review About Islam

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

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

Inspired to Serve

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

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

Riots in China, and Everywhere

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

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

Muslim Americans Answer the Call

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

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

When Muslims Saved Jews

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

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

Breaking Down Barriers to Charity

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

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

Obama Draws From King in Cairo

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

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

Obama Speaking to the Whole World

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

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

Synagogues and Bridges in the Bronx

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

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

The Biggest Vote

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

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

Obama a Champion at Notre Dame

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

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

We All Prayed

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

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

Understanding Our Own Faith First

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

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

An Evangelical Open Hand to the Muslim World

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

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

Pakistan's True Enemy (Not India)

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

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

Faiths Act Against Malaria

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

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

There Will Be Generations

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

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

Will Work for Meaning

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

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

New Interfaith Vision for Europe

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

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

Religion & Violence

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

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

The New Christian Interfaith Leaders

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

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

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

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

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

Counter-Terrorist Storytelling

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

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

St. Joseph's Day

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

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

"Choose Your Own" Commemoration

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

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

India's 'Slumdog' Role Model

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

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

Mumbai Revival

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

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

Holding Our Brothers, Fathers, Sons Accountable

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

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

Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream in India

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

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

Then They Came for the Bahá'ís

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

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

Defeating Al-Qaeda

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

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

Lessons From the Land of Lincoln and Obama

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

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

Why I Joined Obama's Faith Council

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

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

Finding Citizen Change-Makers at Boarding School

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

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

Muslims Speaking Up for Islam and Peace

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

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

Obama's Patchwork Heritage and Worldview

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

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

Hum Honge Kamyab/We Shall Overcome

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

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

Obama Reaches Out to the Muslim World

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

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

The Legacy of King's Letter

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

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

Who's Praying for Obama?

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

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

What Is the Difference Between Bravery and Courage?

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

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

Barack Obama: Faith and Community

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

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

A Different Kind of Conversation About the Middle East

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

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

Status Quo vs. Solution for Middle East

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

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

De-Militarizing Young Israelis and Palestinians

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

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

US Jews, Muslims Need New Playbook

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

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

The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: External Violence, Internal Turmoil

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

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

Stealing Eid

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

» Kamran Pasha: Hollywood Goes to Mecca

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

Chaos and Intimacy in Mumbai

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

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

Music and the Possibility of Peace

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

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

Saudi Hypocrisy or Saudi Tolerance?

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

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

Ultimate Truth & Interfaith Work

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

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

The Joy of Alignment

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

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

Faith as heritage, faith as recognition

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

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

Whose Religious Values?

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

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

Philanthropy for Fear

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

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

Religulous, or Just Ridiculous?

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

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

Rick Warren, Interfaith Activist

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

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

On 9/11, Bowing and Clearing Our Heads

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

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

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

Secularism Good for the Soul

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

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

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

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

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

Vodoo Helping to Heal New Orleans

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

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

Ramadan and Fasting in a Parallel Universe

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

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

Interfaith Dialogue on the High Seas

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

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

Kashmir is not Hindu vs. Muslim

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

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

Interfaith Youth At Work in New Orleans

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

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

What We Can Learn from Bahá'í Elections

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

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

Speak for Yourself

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

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

Conflict or Cooperation? A Case for the Interfaith Youth Movement

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

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

The New Interfaith Generation

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

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

Piecemeal Pragmatic Pluralism

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

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

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

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

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

Guest Blogger: My Vegetarian Faith

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

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

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