Bridging Division With Religion

Too often, we encounter stories about how faith is being used to divide us, rather than bring us together. But we all have the power to channel our beliefs into promoting dialogue, compromise, and peace.This week on State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast, we’ll be discussing how people of faith can use religion to build bridges across lines of division in their own communities, rather than feeding the debates and arguments that drive us further apart.

Founded in 2002 grounded in the belief that religious diversity enriches our communities and should serve as a bridge of cooperation, Interfaith America has evolved from a small Chicago-based nonprofit to a premier national interfaith organization. Their work involves inspiring, equipping, and connecting individuals – and especially young people – and institutions to unlock the potential of America’s religious diversity. Eboo Patel, president of Interfaith America, joins Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, host of State of Belief, discuss the organization’s 20th anniversary, its important work, Eboo’s latest book, We Need to Build: Field Notes for Diverse Democracy, and his new podcast, Interfaith America with Eboo Patel.

When President Barack Obama turned to religious leaders and experts to staff the White House Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, he called upon Rev. Fred Davie. From the Obama administration to Union Theological Seminary to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, he’s remained an essential voice on how justice and equity are the pillars of building stronger, more inclusive communities. Fred also serves as senior advisor on racial equity at Interfaith America, which is where Paul catches up with him this week to dive into the important role of religion in this year’s midterm elections.

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