This American Pilgrimage Project conversation between Demetrius Brooks and Tanequa Tunstall - queer, Buddhist people of color in the American South - exemplifies the diversity of America that we celebrate this weekend.
Happy Independence Day from the Berkley Center! http://ow.ly/jCz950Fn7nn
Mehrdad Mazloum and Elsie Stevens discuss Baha'i belief and practice, as well as the challenges they have faced living in communities that do not understand their faith, in a conversation from our American Pilgrimage Project collaboration with StoryCorps. http://ow.ly/TMcQ50FhaQu
In a conversation from our American Pilgrimage Project collaboration with StoryCorps, Karen Seay and Emilia Allen discuss how they understand their faith vis-à-vis organized Christianity after both moving away from the institutional church. http://ow.ly/bV4Q50FhaIT
Emma Coley and Matthew Igoe discuss how they approach questions of theology, justice, and reform as the next generation of laypeople in the Catholic Church in a conversation from our American Pilgrimage Project collaboration with StoryCorps. http://ow.ly/QxFI50Fham7
In a conversation from our American Pilgrimage Project collaboration with StoryCorps, Andrew Brown and Rebecca Ngu reflect on how being raised as the children of clergy has shaped how they approach their Christian faith as adults. http://ow.ly/BRpg50Fha3H
June 20 is World Refugee Day.
As part of our American Pilgrimage Project collaboration with StoryCorps, Julius Michael and Nguyet Pham—refugees from Sudan and Vietnam, respectively—discuss how they have kept their faith during their journeys and consider how religion shapes their outlooks on life. http://ow.ly/j4Xp50Fb0RL
The United States celebrates Father's Day this weekend.
In a conversation from our American Pilgrimage Project collaboration with StoryCorps, Jonah Holm and John Holm reflect on how Christian faith has helped to reshape their relationship as daughter and father.
Listen to the whole conversation: http://ow.ly/vbZu50Fb2eq
Calvin Moore and Kent Straith—raised in the Pentecostal Church and the Baptist Church, respectively—feel a disconnect with the morality of institutional Christianity and focus more on their personal faith.
In this conversation, part of our collaboration with StoryCorps, the friends discuss the relationship between race, religion, and the common good in wake of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. http://ow.ly/A1Jb50F7MLC
Danny Givens underwent a spiritual transformation and was eventually ordained as a Christian pastor while serving a 12-year prison sentence.
Listen to Givens talk with friend and colleague Marea Perry about his journey and ministry as a Black pastor working in the Unitarian Universalist Church as part of our collaboration with StoryCorps: http://ow.ly/bvkY50F7MvG
Mike Moroski was fired from a Catholic high school for publishing a blog in support of same-sex marriage.
Listen to Moroski talk with his former student Kevin Stallo about faith and social justice: http://ow.ly/fozP50F1r8W
Check out other stories gathered as part of the American Pilgrimage Project, our collaboration with StoryCorps: http://ow.ly/2rvF50F1r8V
The Visit of Pope Francis to Iraq: Its Significance for Religious Relations
The apostolic visit of Pope Francis to the people of Iraq during March 5-8, 2021—his first international journey since the COVID-19 pandemic began and perhaps his most significant—was a pastoral success for the diverse Christian communities there and a game-changing step in relations with Muslims. Pope Francis drew attention to the martyrdom, displacement, and destruction experienced by Christians, Muslims, and Yazidis—an “ecumenism of blood” to which he often refers—and offered messages and prayers for peace and reconciliation. Ayatollah Sayyid Al-Sistani opened a significant channel of communication inviting Pope Francis to a rare private meeting. Together, they discussed human fraternity, religious views in common, and dialogue and peaceful accompaniment.
Cardinal Michael L. Fitzgerald, M.Afr., a widely recognized expert on Christian-Muslim relations, will offer reflections on the visit after two months, especially for the future of religious relations. Cindy Wooden, Rome bureau chief for Catholic News Service who traveled on the journey, will respond and share her thoughts. Jason Welle, OFM, director of studies for the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies (PISAI), will moderate. Fr. Diego Sarrió Cucarella, M.Afr., president of PISAI, and John J. DeGioia, president of Georgetown University, will offer introductory remarks. John Borelli, special assistant for Catholic identity and dialogue at Georgetown University, will conclude the program.
This is the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies’ fifth Georgetown Lecture on Contemporary Islam. The series is sponsored by the Office of the President at Georgetown University, and this year’s lecture is co-sponsored with Georgetown’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs and Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding.