Eboo Patel

"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 (46)

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 (65)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

The Carnivals of Mumbai Live On

Terrorism comes with a roar, also - an ugly, viscous snarl. But it is not the final sound we will hear. That privilege belongs to the nineteen million voices who make the carnival music known as Mumbai.

By Eboo Patel | December 1, 2008; 11:17 AM ET | Comments (105)

Music and the Possibility of Peace

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

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

Is She Muslim Enough?

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

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

Obama and the Old Guard

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

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

Saudi Hypocrisy or Saudi Tolerance?

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

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

Ultimate Truth & Interfaith Work

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

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

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)

We Are Iraqi

My parents left Iraq in the 70's, and I've had the privilege of being born and raised in the United States. Yet I've realized that living in the States, so far removed from the situation, I am blind to many of the injustices that take place in Iraq, and I know that others are, as well.

By Eboo Patel | October 22, 2008; 11:23 AM ET | Comments (3)

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)

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)

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)

How Islamophobia Works

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

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

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)

The Qur'an, the Constitution and the Legacy of W.D. Muhammad

Every Muslim in America owes our existence to Warith Deen Muhammad.

By Eboo Patel | September 15, 2008; 01:24 AM ET | Comments (30)

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)

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)

Fearing Ramadan, Embracing Ramadan

Ramadan is the time to re-balance din and dunya, to set my life to the rhythm of the One rather than pretend that my hands are beating the drum.

By Eboo Patel | September 2, 2008; 09:50 AM ET | Comments (106)

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)

Darfur & the Olympics: A Jewish Lament

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

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

The New Christian Woman

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

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

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)

Wall to Wall Obama

In an era where people from different faith backgrounds are in more frequent and intense contact than ever before, we cannot build walls that divide religious communities from each other.

By Eboo Patel | July 27, 2008; 11:04 PM ET | Comments (37)

Karadzic's Nation of Murderers

But there are few on Earth who deserve raw hate more richly than Radovan Karadzic.

By Eboo Patel | July 25, 2008; 07:13 AM ET | Comments (72)

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)

Education for a Better World

Eboo Patel | Teachers want to hear more about the importance of directly engaging religion and religious diversity in the curriculum.

By Eboo Patel | July 21, 2008; 09:51 AM ET | Comments (32)

An Interfaith Wedding

How many interfaith weddings did you attend this summer?

By Eboo Patel | July 18, 2008; 12:19 AM ET | Comments (29)

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)

The Muslim-Jewish Tipping Point

A quiet revolution in Muslim-Jewish relations is taking place off the radar screen.

By Eboo Patel | July 14, 2008; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (75)

Progressives and Religion: Beyond Election Strategies

Progressives need deep thought about faith. This volume provides it.

By Eboo Patel | July 10, 2008; 11:19 PM ET | Comments (4)

Guest Blogger: Dutch Muslims?

Dutch Muslims don’t exist yet. There are the Turks and the Moroccans and there are the Dutch.

By Eboo Patel | July 8, 2008; 05:06 PM ET | Comments (8)

Obama Should be Bolder

Eboo Patel | The candidate's faith-based program should encourage good deeds within AND among different faith communities.

By Eboo Patel | July 6, 2008; 09:37 PM ET | Comments (19)

Guest Blogger: Blaxican and American

Langston Hughes says that America was never America to him. And in many ways, being a Blaxican (of Black and Mexican heritage) woman, I have felt the same.

By Eboo Patel | July 2, 2008; 11:31 AM ET | Comments (14)

The Great American Road Trip

On the road again.

By Eboo Patel | June 29, 2008; 11:08 PM ET | Comments (2)

Will McCain Stand Up to Prejudice?

What if Mr. McCain put on his homepage tomorrow that he doesn’t want the votes of people who proudly proclaim that they are not voting for Mr. Obama because they don’t like his name or the religion of his grandfather?

By Eboo Patel | June 26, 2008; 11:02 PM ET | Comments (326)

Guest Blogger: We Believe but God Knows

Respect for dialogue is captured in the seemingly paradoxical statement that the opinions of Hillel and Shammai were both the “words of the living God.”

By Eboo Patel | June 24, 2008; 05:57 PM ET | Comments (10)

The Emerging Interfaith Youth Movement

The interfaith youth movement takes a step forward.

By Eboo Patel | June 23, 2008; 12:49 PM ET | Comments (9)

A Palestinian Journey, An American Story

A Palestinian-American success story.

By Eboo Patel | June 19, 2008; 12:23 AM ET | Comments (26)

Muslims and the Destiny of America

American Muslims can no longer see themselves as primarily an immigrant group, but as a community indigenous to America.

By Eboo Patel | June 16, 2008; 08:03 AM ET | Comments (105)

A Real To-Do List for the Church

Does the Church do enough for the world?

By Eboo Patel | June 11, 2008; 11:09 PM ET | Comments (66)

God and Man at Dartmouth

What would William F. Buckley have thought of the Multi Faith Baccalaureate Service Ceremony at Dartmouth?

By Eboo Patel | June 9, 2008; 12:03 AM ET | Comments (43)

Putting Extremists Back in their Place

Eboo Patel | Religious pluralists are in the majority, but totalitarians have succeeded in convincing us to be afraid of each other.

By Eboo Patel | June 4, 2008; 10:50 PM ET | Comments (47)

Tony Blair's Bid to be a Faith Leader

Tony Blair has the chance to do for the interfaith movement what Al Gore has done for environmentalism: create a tipping point effect on one of the most important issues of the 21st century.

By Eboo Patel | June 1, 2008; 11:55 PM ET | Comments (38)

Islam and the Nazi Analogy

Eboo Patel | We Muslims want people to know that we hate Muslim fanatics as much as non-Muslims do. They kill us, too.

By Eboo Patel | May 28, 2008; 10:34 PM ET | Comments (206)

Schools that Build Peace

Eboo Patel | Religious extremists have schools that educate for hatred. Here's an example of one that teaches international peace.

By Eboo Patel | May 27, 2008; 03:43 AM ET | Comments (24)

Interfaith Work Fit for a Queen

Queen Rania inspired me when I met her. Now she's inspiring the world.

By Eboo Patel | May 22, 2008; 09:18 AM ET | Comments (65)

Success and Significance

What do you say to a group of young people embarking on their lives?

By Eboo Patel | May 18, 2008; 09:02 PM ET | Comments (6)

Obama and the Muslims

My American Muslim friends support for Obama has nothing to do with the Muslim part of their identity, and everything to do with the American part.

By Eboo Patel | May 14, 2008; 11:13 PM ET | Comments (40)

Israel/Palestine: Which Side Are You On?

Families from both sides suggest an alternative to the endless cycle of gloom and blame in the Middle East.

By Eboo Patel | May 12, 2008; 01:07 AM ET | Comments (64)

Films that Divide, Films that Unite

What would happen if we had a day devoted to films that told the story of a common life together?

By Eboo Patel | May 7, 2008; 10:52 PM ET | Comments (51)

Smearing Muslims

Debbie Almontaser was on her way to being the principal of an innovative new school -- until Daniel Pipes found out she was Muslim.

By Eboo Patel | May 4, 2008; 10:37 PM ET | Comments (110)

Jeremiah Wright, Revisited

Eboo Patel | I say this with great sadness: When I talk about people who embody the transcendent love of the African-American tradition, Jeremiah Wright will not be one of them.