Interfaith Conversations

What does the word interfaith even mean? And why does interfaith work matter across the world in the digital age?In this episode, I share key points to understanding the interfaith space:Examples of what happens when religious intolerance occursWhat is interfaithThe Who of interfaith The Outcomes of interfaithThe How to interfaithYou can use this as a tool to help you in your own community get involved in interfaith engagement!Links to interfaith resources:LocalUtah Valley Interfaith Associationhttps://uvinterfaith.org/Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtablehttps://www.interfaithroundtable.org/Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington ( or IFC) https://ifcmw.org/ Montgomery Alabama https://interfaithmontgomery-al.org/home/ National Interfaith Americahttps://www.interfaithalliance.org/ Interfaith Alliancehttps://www.interfaithalliance.org/history-of-impact Pluralism projecthttps://pluralism.org/aboutAssociation for Interreligious / Interfaith Studies (AIIS)https://www.aiistudies.org/GlobalGeneral Parliament of World Religions https://parliamentofreligions.org/ United Religions Initiativehttps://www.uri.org/   Peace oriented The Gülen Movement https://www.gulenmovement.com/ Religions for Peacehttps://www.rfp.org/   Dialogue basedKAICIID: https://www.kaiciid.org/who-we-are Network of Centers for Christian-Muslim Relations (NCCMR)https://nccmr.org/about-nccmr/   Arno Michaelis https://rememberoakcreek.org/story-of-oak-creek/https://www.lifeafterhate.org/ Al Ahmed Storyhttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-25/bondi-hero-ahmed-al-ahmed-awarded-key-to-city-terror-attack/106495970

Can Baptists and Latter-day Saints (#Mormons) have positive conversations and serve together? Absolutely! In this episode, I sit down with Pastor Earnest Thomas from the community leading Saint Mark Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. We talk about what unites us and how Baptist and Latter-day Saint--or really anyone from any background--can learn to build positive relationships with each other. Please join us!Saint Mark Baptist Church websitehttps://smark.org/Black Church History https://www.pbs.org/show/black-church/https://savingplaces.org/stories/the-black-church-is-a-cultural-laboratory-a-conversation-with-dr-henry-louis-gates-jr“The Black Church” Book on Amazonhttps://a.co/d/ae9qet8Copy of W. W. Phelps Essay in 1833 which led to destruction of Church of Jesus Christ property in Independence Missourihttps://bhroberts.org/records/dAzxtc-nRI2yc/phelps_says_we_have_no_special_rule_in_the_church_as_to_people_of_colorAll In Podcast Episode w/ Mauli Bonner and Paul Reevehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiQhzwYb9Zo&t=131sPresident Nelson’s story of inviting Baptist Pastor to a choir concert and vice versa. Speech given at the NAACP's 110th Annual National Convention.- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JpIyW2S-WA

In a world of division, how can we relate across our differences in religion or other beliefs? In this episode, I interview The Reverend Patricia Matthews from The Interfaith Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. We talk about each other’s faiths—her Episcopalian tradition and my Latter-day Saint tradition—and discuss how people can engage in interfaith efforts. You don’t want to miss this one!Link to Rev. Patricia and her colleagues' panel discussion at BYU Religious Freedom Annual Reviewhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFJrn8c71jk&t=2s The Interfaith Centerhttps://www.theinterfaithcenter.org/Link to their newsletterhttps://www.theinterfaithcenter.org/newsletter The Episcopal Church of Utahhttps://episcopal-ut.org/Utah’s St. John's Anglican Church (in ACNA)https://www.acna.org/admin_units/158 Book of Common Prayer History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Common_Prayer Link to Book of Common Prayer in Episcopalian tradition (1979)https://www.bcponline.org/

Have you wondered where people can study in an inter-religious way? Where one can continue in their own faith, but learn from other faiths both in a scholarly and experiential way? In this episode, I highlight Hartford International University, which has a strong track record in teaching religion and peace. I sit down with Dr. David D. Grafton, a professor at the University, to discuss HIU's origins, purpose, and current educational opportunities. I also talk with Dr. Grafton about his career as a top Christian-Muslim relations scholar. Hartford International University websitehttps://www.hartfordinternational.edu/Educational opportunitieshttps://www.hartfordinternational.edu/academic-programs/degrees-and-graduate-certificatesDuncan Black Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relationshttps://www.hartfordinternational.edu/religion-research/macdonald-center

After learning of an attack on the Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah, I contacted the local priest Caru Das. I wanted to show my solidarity for the good this faith community has brought to Utah Valley and the world for over 30 years. Caru Das shares about the temple, how his tradition understands God, and their primary sacred text, the Bhagavad Gita. There’s so much wisdom to learn in this clip!Consider helping them recover from this tragic event by donating at their GoFundMe page.https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-repairs-to-the-krishna-temple-todayCheck out the links below for the Krishna Temple’s website and social media platformshttps://www.utahkrishnas.org/https://www.facebook.com/krishnatemplehttps://www.youtube.com/utahkrishnasKrishna Consciousness Websitehttps://www.iskcon.org/Read the Bhagavad Gita onlinehttps://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/

With all the division and skepticism in the world today, many find it hard to relate with others, let alone other faiths. Dr. Rebecca Glazier shares with us how to community engagement not only improves interfaith relationships, but helps people become more active in their community and more respectful of other worldviews. Check out our conversation!Link to BYU's Religious Freedom Annual Review:https://religiousfreedom.byu.edu/Dr. Glazier recently published a book on her 12-year community study in Little Rock, Arkansas on Faith and Community. You can check it out here: https://www.amazon.com/Faith-Community-Engagement-Strengthens-Democratic/dp/1439925305

Learn about the earliest built Jewish Synagogue in the US, which is still in use today in Newport, Rhode Island! Check out their website at www.tourosynagogue.org.

Check out our full video of this discussion here:https://youtu.be/yMlAQNQEYOE?si=xo10YmCDWrx41NgiTo learn more about The Peace Institute that Bassem directs, check out the institute's website: https://www.unitedwestandforpeace.org/

What does a life in the pursuit of peace look like? What are tangible ways to overcome bias for yourself and your own community? Please join me in learning from Bassem Chaaban, the Director of The Peace Institute in Florida, about bridging divides and creating peace, both in our communities and society.Learn more about The Peace Institute at their website: https://www.unitedwestandforpeace.org/

Every religion or belief produces its own “fruit” from the context in which it developed. In this episode, I share the perspective a Latter-day Saint from the Church of Jesus Christ brings to interfaith conversations.The four “fruits” from my own religious tradition that I share in this episode are:We respect everyone's privilege of following their own conscience (religious freedom) We seek for truth, wherever we find itWe value caring for others beyond our own faithWe strive to become peacemakers and bridge buildersCome learn with us!Resources Recension of mormon extermination orderhttps://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2018/09/01/missouri-executive-order-44-mormon-war/1147461002/https://www.sos.mo.gov › 19760625_RescisOrderThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints population growth 1924 - 2024https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/growth-of-the-church-from-1924-to-2024Early Church History quotations on Religious Freedomhttps://www.josephsmithpapers.org/articles/religious-freedom1978 Church Statement on great religious leaders and thinkers of the worldhttps://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets/06d52821-9342-4f20-9cb3-358e6f8c8bfa/0/0The Church’s 2023 summary for Caring for those in needhttps://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/serve/caring/annual-summary?lang=eng President Nelson Sermons and Peace Prize“Peacemakers Needed”https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/04/47nelson?lang=eng“Let God Prevail“https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/46nelson?lang=engPeace Prize Infohttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/the-prophet-receives-gandhi-king-mandela-peace-prize

What does my personal perspective bring to interfaith conversations? Check out this episode to learn more!This is Part 1 of what perspective I bring to the table. Stay tuned for Part 2!

What do you know about Interfaith? How does one get involved in interfaith work? Join us to learn more about it from Zeynep!  Zeynep Kariparduc has many years of experience in Interfaith work, particularly in the Salt Lake City area. Originally from Turkey, she has lived in multiple countries, deepening her understanding of diverse cultures. Since arriving in the U.S. in 2011, Zeynep has been deeply committed to interfaith and cross-cultural initiatives, dedicating over a decade as Outreach and Programs Director at the Emerald Hills Institute, where she builds meaningful connections between communities. As the immediate past Chair of the Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable, she has been instrumental in fostering religious understanding and collaboration. Check out all the great work done by Emerald Hills Institute: https://emeraldhillsinstitute.org/ To learn more about the Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable check out this link: https://www.interfaithroundtable.org/

Welcome to Interfaith Conversations! Here we connect with each other's faith and beliefs. Today, I sit down with my friend Steve Lease who become Muslim a while back. He shares his conversion (or reversion) to Islam and shares with us about the beliefs and practices of Islam. Please remember, we strive for positivity, learning, and growing, so please remember to be kind and well-meaning in our comments. Abusive language is not condoned or accepted. Utah Islamic Center - Meet the Muslims Eventshttps://utislamiccenter.org/community/meet-the-muslims/ Basic beliefs and practices in Islamhttps://www.uri.org/kids/world-religions/muslim-beliefsMuslims and Latter-day Saints: Beliefs, Values, and Lifestyles Pamphlethttps://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/muslims-and-latter-day-saints?lang=eng

Welcome to Interfaith Conversations! This is a place where we connect with each other's faith and beliefs. Follow us for more upcoming content on interfaith topics and guest interviews!