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

The murderer at Fort Hood

A Muslim did not do this. The man who killed brave American soldiers deserves one name only: murderer.

By Eboo Patel | November 6, 2009; 11:16 AM ET | Comments (220)

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 (9)

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)

Faith in the Post 9/11 World

Even more dangerous than ignoring the role of faith in Post-9/11 world is viewing it simply as an agent of violence.

By Eboo Patel | September 10, 2009; 11:58 PM ET | Comments (40)

Van Jones, Patriot

The administration lost a brilliant mind who worked tirelessly to "get the greenest solutions to the poorest people."

By Eboo Patel | September 7, 2009; 08:30 PM ET | Comments (177)

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)

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)

The Perfect Game

Mark Buehrle's masterpiece reminds us of the importance of teamwork -- in our case interfaith teamwork.

By Eboo Patel | July 24, 2009; 10:59 AM ET | Comments (2)

What's at Stake in Afghanistan

What is America's moral responsibility in Afghanistan? To go after terrorists or help little girls go to school?

By Eboo Patel | July 20, 2009; 10:47 AM ET | Comments (15)

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)

Two Forces Shaping Iran

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

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

United Iranians on the Brink

The unity of Iranians isn't in question. Their collective voice is loud and clear. They seek democracy.

By Eboo Patel | June 19, 2009; 10:23 AM ET | Comments (7)

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 vs. Ahmadinejad

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

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

Obama, Cairo and Interfaith Service

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

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

Obama Draws From King in Cairo

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

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

Obama 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)

Taliban Declare War on Pakistan, Islam, Everyone

Now is the time for the U.S. to declare: "We want to partner with the Pakistani people to defeat extremism."

By Eboo Patel | May 29, 2009; 08:14 AM ET | Comments (44)

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)

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)

Checking your faith and politics at the border

Today's guest blogger is Farhana Khera, Executive Director of Muslim Advocates and the National Association of Muslim Lawyers (NAML). Muslim Advocates' mission is to promote equality, liberty, and justice for all by providing leadership through legal advocacy, policy engagement, and...

By Eboo Patel | April 22, 2009; 07:12 PM ET | Comments (1)

New Interfaith Vision for Europe

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

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

Religion & Violence

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

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

Faith Council Begins Its Work

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

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

The War on "War on Terror"

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

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

Holy Warriors in National Armies

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

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

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)

India, the Aspiring Pluralistic Democracy

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

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

Geert Wilders on Capitol Hill

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

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

Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream in India

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

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

U.S. Reaching Out to the Muslim World

In his inaugural address, Obama promised the Muslim world that America would extend a hand; I hope what we have seen so far is just the beginning.

By Eboo Patel | February 20, 2009; 09:53 AM ET | Comments (27)

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)

World Leaders and Interfaith Cooperation

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

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

Why I Joined Obama's Faith Council

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

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

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)

Waiting for the Second Coming of Sadat

Those of us who see no contradiction between being pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian listened for common ground.

By Eboo Patel | February 4, 2009; 02:33 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)

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)

Rick Warren and Our Either/Or Culture

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

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

The Day After Mumbai: Nothing Changed

Today's guest blogger is Dan Morrison. Dan is the founder of 1Well, an organization that connects socially conscious individuals and groups with communities in need of small but critical infrastructure projects. He is a graduate of the University of Notre...

By Eboo Patel | December 17, 2008; 10:58 AM ET | Comments (12)

The Power of Protest

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

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

In Defense of Sonal Shah

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

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

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)

Terrorism and Patriotism in India

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

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

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)

Is She Muslim Enough?

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

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

Obama and the Old Guard

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

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

Saudi Hypocrisy or Saudi Tolerance?

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

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

Obama's New Weather Forecast

One place where the change in weather will be most welcome is on the U.S. relationship with the Muslim world.

By Eboo Patel | November 10, 2008; 09:52 AM ET | Comments (16)

The Joy of Alignment

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

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

New American Gospel

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

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

Studs Terkel and Barack Obama

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

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

Mean Enough for Politics?

If I was an idealistic college student coming of age in this election and considering a career in public life, my idealism may well be giving away to a searching question: "Am I mean enough for politics?"

By Eboo Patel | October 31, 2008; 09:55 AM ET | Comments (167)

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)

Why Al-Qaeda is Endorsing McCain

If Al-Qaeda really thinks a McCain administration would both boost real recruiting AND help advertise the illusion that all Muslims are the enemy, it's no wonder they are pulling for him.

By Eboo Patel | October 27, 2008; 10:19 AM ET | Comments (64)

The New Veterans Movement

Because today's veterans are often tomorrow's political and civic leaders, the IAVA and Paul Rieckhoff may well be creating a social movement that shapes American life for generations to come.

By Eboo Patel | October 24, 2008; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (9)

Colin Powell and the American Dream

Colin Powell has always played the good soldier, but on Sunday he became the ultimate statesman - insisting on our country's core principles in the midst of a pitched partisan battle.

By Eboo Patel | October 21, 2008; 10:15 AM ET | Comments (113)

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)

Whose Religious Extremists?

There is no such thing as your extremists or my extremists, Jewish extremists or Muslim extremists. There are only extremists.

By Eboo Patel | October 6, 2008; 10:04 AM ET | Comments (109)

Biden, Palin Focus on Issues, not Ideology

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

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

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)

Anti-Obama Smears About Religion or Race?

Eboo Patel | The strategy of linking Obama's fictitious Muslim-ness with his dark skin might backfire, if Americans follow their creed.

By Eboo Patel | September 22, 2008; 10:14 AM ET | Comments (200)

Generation Service

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

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

On 9/11, Bowing and Clearing Our Heads

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

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

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

Jerry Falwell's Ghost, Religious Right Revival?

There's been a lot of talk recently about the death of the religious right and the revival of progressive religion. Jim Wallis, a friend and mentor of mine, often says that the monologue of the religious right is over and...

By Eboo Patel | September 5, 2008; 10:02 AM ET | Comments (62)

"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)

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