"If I had no choice about the age in which I was to live, I nevertheless have a choice about the attitude I take and about the way and the extent of my participation in its living ongoing events. To choose the world is…an acceptance of a task and a vocation in the world, in history and in time. In my time, which is the present."
– Thomas Merton, American Trappist monk, writer, theologian, mystic, poet, social activist and scholar of comparative religion
Multifaith Support for Our Turkish Brothers and Sisters in Minnesota
Pictured L to R: Ahmet Turkmen, TASMN member whose family was directly impacted by the earthquake; Rev. Cynthia Bronson Sweigert, Episcopal Church in MN; Imam Abdisalam Adam, Islamic Civic Society of America; Rev. Dr. Tom Duke, MnMN; Sheikh Saifullah Muhammad, Northwest Islamic Cultural Center; Rev. Laura Smidzik, Michael Servetus Unitarian Society; Rev. Chiemi Onikura Bly, Twin Cities Buddhist Association; Rev. Merrill Kindall, retired pastor at the Evangelical Covenant Church; Rev. Bonnie Wilcox, First Lutheran Church of Columbia Heights; Rabbi Shosh Dworsky, Associate Chaplain at Carleton and St. Olaf Colleges; Jessie LeClear Vachta, Luther Seminary; Dr. Jen Kilps, Network Director of MnMN
As of Tuesday morning, the death toll in Turkey and Syria has passed 41,000 and is expected to rise. Here in Minnesota we have neighbors from Turkey who have lost their loved ones and friends in this massive destruction. Their family members have lost not only their homes, but their communities and the infrastructure that holds lives together.
This past Sunday, MnMN’s Partners, the Turkish American Society (TASMN) and Niagara Foundation held two vigils bringing together our interfaith community in Minnesota. The vigils featured stories from peoples whose lives are directly impacted by this tragedy as well as thoughts and prayers from faith leaders offering their sympathy, condolences and solidarity. The afternoon was a powerful display of multifaith collaborative action.
To continue to raise awareness and raise earthquake relief funds, the Turkish American Society of Minnesota and Niagara Foundation are holding a bake sale. Please scroll down to "Partner Content" for details. More information about earthquake relief can be found at TASMN’s website, where donations can be made directly.
Featured Event
Interfaith Spring Symposium Thursday, March 2, 11:00 AM Augsburg Hoversten Chapel, 2211 Riverside Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55454 and online
This event from Interfaith at Augsburg is an invitation to build community, foster collaboration, and create a more caring world through learning about religious/spiritual/worldview diversity, participating in enriching dialogue, and networking with exceptional interfaith leaders.
By providing this opportunity to come together in fellowship and learn about each other’s worldviews and traditions, Augsburg aims to enable communities to dull sources of fear, open threads of conversation and build a relational ethic of care.
Topic: Interfaith Leadership and Healing in Times of Crisis
Keynote: Najeeba Syeed (El-Hibri Chair and Executive Director of the Interfaith Institute)
Bake Sale for a Cause Sunday, February 19, 2:30 to 5:30 PM Turkish American Society of Minnesota, 6565 Oakley Dr NE, Fridley, MN 55432
Come and taste the delicious sweetness of baked goods and help us raise funds for earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria. The Turkish American Society of Minnesota and the Niagara Foundation Minnesota have come together to organize a bake sale for a cause, and we would like to invite you to join us in supporting this noble cause.
All proceeds from the event will provide aid and support to earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria. Your contribution, no matter how small, will make a big difference in the lives of those affected by the earthquakes.
We hope to see you there!
The Light We Give: Sikh Wisdom for Cultivating Empathy and Justice Saturday, May 6, 11:00 AM Iverson Center for Faith, outdoor amphitheater, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul (map)
Growing up in South Texas, Dr. Simran Jeet Singh and his brothers confronted racism daily. As a turbaned, bearded, brown-skinned Sikh, he continued to face prejudice and hate in college and beyond. Simran chose to be defined not by the negativity that often surrounded him but by the Sikh teachings of love and justice that he grew up with. Delving deep into these core tenets of Sikh wisdom, he has sought to embrace an outlook that guides us to see the good in everyone and to forge a path of positivity, connection, and service—a way of life that so many of us are seeking in today’s world.
We all say that we choose love over hate. But when tested, we realize that it’s easier said than done and that our empathy for others is not rooted deeply enough. As a turbaned and bearded Sikh man, Simran has been subjected to racism his whole life. He has been working on the frontlines of hate violence for more than a decade. And yet, he has managed to avoid falling into the toxic trap of hate and anger. In this lecture, drawing on his recent book The Light We Give, he will draw from his personal experiences and from hate incidents he has witnessed firsthand to share the wisdom he has gained on what it really takes to choose love over hate.
Simran Jeet Singh, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of the Religion & Society Program at the Aspen Institute and the author of the national bestseller The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life(Riverhead, Penguin Random House). Simran's thought leadership on bias, empathy, and justice extends across corporate, university, and government settings. He is an Atlantic Fellow for Racial Equity with Columbia University and the Nelson Mandela Foundation, a Soros Equality Fellow with the Open Society Foundations, a Visiting Lecturer at Union Seminary, and a Senior Advisor on Equity and Inclusion for YSC Consulting, part of Accenture.
Introduction to Judaism With Local Jewish Leaders Thursdays, Feb. 23, March 16, April 27, and May 18, 7 to 8 PM In person and online
In Minnesota, almost 66,000 people identify as Jewish. And yet, labelling all these practitioners as "Jewish" just begins to scratch the surface of the complexities of this religious, ethnic, and cultural tradition. Join Wisdom Ways Center for Spirituality as they present an introduction to Judaism, an address of Reconstructionist Judaism, an overview of Orthodox Judaism, and a lecture by Marcia Zimmerman on different elements of Womanhood and Judaism.
Native American Spirituality Community Education Course led by Dr. Kelly Sherman-Conroy
Thursdays (February 23 – April 27 with no meeting on March 30 and April 6) from 6:30 to 7:45 PM on Zoom; one in-person gathering on Thursday, April 13 with Dr. Gwen Westerman
Sponsored by the Lutheran Center for Faith, Values, and Community at St. Olaf College, this course will explore Indigenous perspectives on spirituality, language, voice, history, interpretation, and values through an Indigenous theological lens and cross-disciplinary contextual study.
Through this course, you will obtain knowledge about, comprehension of, and insight into the importance and relevance of spirituality among Native American cultures. You will make connections between spirituality and how you understand yourself, your place in the world, and your relationship with others; between religion, spirituality, and your own beliefs, attitudes, and values; between spiritual beliefs and practices of Native American tribes with their local environments and various expressions such as origin stores, cosmologies, sacred sites, symbolism, and rituals.
Cost (for all classes): $10 for students; $25 for staff/faculty, alumni, and parents; $50 for community members. Registration for the greater community is open and all are invited to participate!
Film Screening – Repairing the World: Stories from the Tree of Life Sunday, February 26, 2:00 - 4:00 PM Barry Family Campus, 4330 Cedar Lake Road, St. Louis Park, MN 55416
Repairing the World: Stories from the Tree of Life(80:00) documents Pittsburgh’s powerful community response to hate and antisemitism in the aftermath of the deadly attack at the Tree of Life synagogue in 2018 that killed eleven people.
For three years the film follows survivors, families of the victims, diverse community members, students and civic leaders as they examine their vulnerabilities and the impact of rising antisemitism, racism, hate speech, and gun violence. Against the backdrop of a tumultuous period in the country, a local community that has faced violence and trauma works to heal and grapple with what it means to be stronger than hate.
The film was produced by Not in Our Town (NIOT), the globally recognized team behind the public television films Waking in Oak Creek and Light in the Darkness.
Opening remarks from NIOT founder Patrice O’Neill.
Life and Legacy of Prophet Muhammed Thursday, March 9, 7 - 9 PM or Saturday, March 18, 10 AM - 12 PM IRG Office lower level, 3055 Old Hwy 8, St. Anthony, MN 55418 (Please park in the parking lot adjacent to the building)
In light of recent events concerning the image of Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him), Islamic Resource Group is honored to offer two opportunities for learning and discussion about the life and the teachings of Prophet Muhammed (p).
Since this session will take place a week before the start of Ramadan, we will briefly discuss the Month of Ramadan and opportunities for our friends to attend a FREE iftar (breaking of the fast) at one of the local mosques.
The sessions will be provided by Dr. Tamim Said, MDiv, IRG Resident Scholar.
Fee: $50/person, free for students, teachers, non-profit workers, staff & volunteers of faith-based organizations
If the fee is a hindrance, IRG will offer discounted or free tickets. Please contact IRG@IRGMN.org
Please also kindly forward this to your friends & colleagues. Space is limited. Please register soon. We look forward to seeing you there.
The Rise of Christian Nationalism in the United States Tuesday, March 28, 7:00 to 8:45 PM Online
The University of St. Thomas Department of Theology and the Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies are co-sponsoring a webinar with a panel discussion about the rise of Christian Nationalism in the United States. Moderated by Dr. Michael Hollerich, professor emeritus of historical theology at the University of St. Thomas, we will hear from each of the following scholars before a Q&A session with our viewers. Andrew Whitehead is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of the Association of Religion Data Archives at the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture at IUPUI (Indiana University and Purdue University). He will lead off our discussion by summarizing his sociological research about the rise of Christian Nationalism in the United States. His work was recently published under the title, Taking America Back for God. David Goldenberg is the Midwest Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League. He will follow Andrew Whitehead’s presentation by providing an overview of the rise of hate crimes in the United States and in the Midwest, in particular. William Cavanaugh is Professor and Director of the Center for World Catholicism and Intercultural Theology at DePaul University. He will follow David Goldenberg’s presentation by providing a theological interpretation about Christian Nationalism as idolatry. Moderated by Michael Hollerich, Professor Emeritus at the University of St. Thomas. For years, he has taught a course on Christianity and Nazism, and another on Theology and Politics at the University of St. Thomas. He will outline some of the key similarities but also key differences of the current situation in the United States and the rise of Nazism during the Weimar Republic.
Religiously unaffiliated people face harassment in a growing number of countries Restrictions on religion don’t just affect those who are religious. People who are religiously unaffiliated also are harassed because of what they believe. In 2020, religiously unaffiliated people experienced harassment in 27 countries, up from 22 in 2019, according to an updated Pew Research Center analysis. Religiously unaffiliated people – a group that includes atheists, agnostics and those who don’t identify with a religion – were harassed by governments in 19 countries in 2020, up from 14 the previous year, according to the analysis, which draws on data from the Center’s recent study of restrictions on religion around the world. And they faced social harassment (defined as being committed by private individuals or groups) in 13 countries, up from 11 countries in 2019.
Wisdom Ways Center for Spirituality is live streaming weekly on YouTube! Marian Diaz and Carly Swenson take about 15-20 minutes each week to share insights on various spiritual themes. View past recordings here. Wisdom Ways also owns and operates Wisdom Studios, which offers a variety of digital studio spaces and equipment for rent. Go to Wisdom Studios to create your podcasts, audiobooks, marketing, video interviews, YouTube content, live stream content and more!
Read a blog post called "Reflecting on a Song Circle" by Sarina Partridge, a songleader and organizer with Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light.
Access Islamic Networks Group's videos and lesson plans designed to bring attention to the experiences and contributions of enslaved African Muslims beginning in the 16th century, and African American Muslims in the early 20th century.
The Buddhist community anchored by an ornate temple complex here in the Minnesota farmland is trying a new way to ensure its faith and ancestral culture stay vibrant for future generations -- an open call for the sacred dance troupe.
Watch the recording of a Multi-Religious Prayer for Peace and Compassion, hosted by Religions for Peace and the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations in celebration of Interfaith Harmony Week.
Meet the leader helping connect St. Paul to its Indigenous roots.
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