BROADCASTS.com

The Value of Your Soul

Listed in: Government

In the Name of Human Fraternity

Listed in: Government

Saints, Sultans and Spies: The Extraordinary History of the Humble Coffee Bean

Listed in: Government

Resisting Injustice Peacefully: Jewish and Muslim Perspectives

Listed in: Government

Prayer for National Understanding and Reconciliation

Listed in: Government

Sacred Spaces

Listed in: Government

Interfaith Leadership Forum Inaugural Event

On October 25, the inaugural event of the new Interfaith Leadership Forum explored how to deepen interfaith work in religious communities, professional life, and our culture. Leaders from all segments of society, and those who want to become leaders, joined us for this virtual event.

The ILF aims to promote pluralism by convening leaders of various religious, ethnic, racial, cultural, and gender backgrounds to exchange ideas and generate action-oriented agenda. It provides a venue where a diverse group of community leaders, scholars, clergy, and public officials can engage in in-depth discussions on shared values and explore ways to harness them for social action. ILF is open to all individuals who are interested in advancing their interfaith literacy and serving the community as interfaith mobilizers in their professional or individual capacities.

Objectives:
* To strengthen interfaith relationships, literacy, and leadership by:
• Equipping one another with various models of dialogue with distinct ends.
• Experiencing deeper levels of interfaith encounter and dialogue
• Strengthening literacy about other’s faiths and about one’s own
• Overcoming prejudices and misconceptions about other faiths
• Elicit social action through interfaith engagement

Topics and workshops for the event include:

• Stories of Interfaith Dialogue
• Tackling Prejudices
• Learning from Differences
• Engaging a Racialized America, and
• The Life Cycle of Dialogue

Presenters at the Forum will include:

• Ibrahim A. Anli, Executive Director, The Rumi Forum
• Ann Delorey, Program Director, Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington
• Dr. Beverly Goines, Assistant Pastor, National City Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Washington, D.C.; Associate Director, Disciples Center for Public Witness; Adjunct Professor, Dept. of Theology & Religious Studies, Georgetown University
• Dr. Ori Soltes, Professor, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
• Dr. Pim (Wilhelmus) Valkenberg, Ordinary Professor of Religion and Culture, The Catholic University of America
• Moderator: Dr. Larry Golemon, Executive Director, Washington Theological Consortium

Special thanks to the following for their sponsorship of the event:

• The Rumi Forum
• The Washington Theological Consortium
• The Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington
• Washington, D.C. Mayor’s Office of Religious Affairs

Listed in: Government

30 Days With King David

Listed in: Government

Nonviolence: A strategic and moral compass in extraordinary times

Listed in: Government

Charity In the Age of a Pandemic

Listed in: Government

A Baptist Army Veteran's Journey with Islam

Listed in: Government

Religious Freedom for All: Remembering the Victims of Acts of Violence

On August 22 as we mark the second International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief Sabrina Dent, Richard T. Foltin, Kristen Lavery, and The Rev. William H. Lamar IV shared their insights on religious freedom.

Freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is the protection of the conscience and the free exercise of people’s understanding of the ultimate truth. It is not only a fundamental right but also an individual, institutional, private and public right as well. As enshrined in the First Amendment, the Articles 18,19, and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights also protect the rights to freedom of religion or belief, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to peaceful assembly and association. However, not every region is always a stronghold of allowing people to live by their core values and beliefs. The rate of ill-treatment against religious institutions, people, objects, or events is increasing significantly.

On August 22, 2019, UN General Assembly recognized this by adopting a resolution declaring “International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief”.

Upholding these rights and responding to the alarming increase in persecutions of religious people and communities around the world, we believe within the scope of open, constructive, and respectful exchanges at various platforms across local, national, and international levels will be invaluable assets in confronting these ongoing acts of intolerance. To that end, Rumi Forum has invited distinguished speakers to address various dimensions of the topic.

On August 20th, our moderator Sabrina Dent and speakers Richard T. Foltin, Kirsten Lavery, and Rev. William H. Lamar IV, will share their insights on highlight mechanisms to prevent unfair treatments towards individuals, communities, and minorities.

Moderator:

Sabrina Dent, Senior Faith Adviser, Americans United for Separation of Church and State

Sabrina is a life-long advocate for human rights and social justice. Throughout her career, she has worked with vulnerable populations including women and children impacted by domestic violence and abuse, youth with mental health and behavioral challenges, and racial and religious minorities. However, she developed a passion as a religious freedom advocate in 2015 when she became a Fellow with the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Freedom. Before joining the AU team, Sabrina worked as director of recruitment and admissions at the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum. Prior to her time at the Religious Freedom Center, Sabrina served as program coordinator for the Doctor of Ministry Program at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University (STVU). Sabrina is the past president of the Interfaith Community of Greater Richmond. Sabrina earned her master of divinity degree and doctor of ministry degree from STVU. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech.

Speakers:

Richard T. Foltin, Fellow, Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum

Richard T. Foltin is a fellow at the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum. He served in a number of positions at the American Jewish Committee, most recently as director of national and legislative affairs in the AJC’s Office of Government and International Affairs in Washington, D.C., from 2009 to 2018. Prior to coming to AJC, he was an associate with the litigation department of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, a New York law firm. Mr. Foltin serves on the governing council of the American Bar Association’s Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice and as co-chair of the section’s Religious Freedom Committee; he previously served as chair and co-chair of the section’s First Amendment Rights Committee. Mr. Foltin is a member of the Committee on Religious Liberty, founded by the National Council of Churches and today convened by the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum. Mr. Foltin received his B.A. in Political Science from New York University and his J.D. from Harvard Law School. He is a member of the bars of New York State, Washington DC, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Kirsten Lavery, Supervisory Policy Analyst, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom

Kirsten Lavery is Supervisory Policy Analyst and Team Lead for International Law, Africa, and Latin America for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. Prior to joining USCIRF, Ms. Lavery worked at the Public International Law & Policy Group and provided legal and policy assistance to civil society representatives in conflict and post-conflict states. Her work focused on transitional justice and human rights documentation, as well as legal and policy reforms to advance human rights protections. Ms. Lavery has also worked on a range of international legal issues at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, the UN Office of Legal Affairs, the UN Office of Human Resources Management, and the International Narcotics Control Board. Ms. Lavery previously practiced law in the New York office of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, where she focused on international criminal investigations. Through her pro bono practice and prior clinic work, she has experience representing clients in immigration proceedings, including in asylum cases based on religious persecution. She holds a B.A. in Government and Spanish from Franklin & Marshall College and a J.D. with a specialization in International & Comparative Law from Tulane University Law School.

Rev. William H. Lamar IV, Pastor, Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church

The Rev. William H. Lamar IV is pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. He previously served Turner Memorial AME Church in Maryland and three churches in Florida: Monticello, Orlando and Jacksonville. He is a former managing director at Leadership Education at Duke Divinity. While he continues to advocate for his community of Washington, D.C., you can find Rev. Lamar fueling his faith by proudly supporting the Poor People’s Campaign, the Washington Interfaith Network or every Sunday at pulpit of AME Church. Lamar is a graduate of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and Duke Divinity School. He is the co-host of "Can These Bones," the Faith & Leadership podcast.

Listed in: Government

Trees and Sheep and God, Oh My! A Woman’s Spiritual Journey Among the Sufis of Scotland

On Thursday, August 6, with her mesmerizing storytelling narrative, Sarah Snyder was with us. She presented an illuminating and vivid depiction of her journey, which started at a retreat center in Scotland, followed by a succession of unforgettable memories.

Her presentation of the humorous memoir Plant Trees, Carry Sheep: A Woman’s Spiritual Journey Among the Sufis of Scotland included the following segments.

When Sarah Snyder left her home in Montana to volunteer to plant trees at a private estate in Scotland, she expected a pleasurable six-month break from her humdrum life. When she arrived, however, she learned she would also be caring for a menagerie of poultry, doing rigorous household chores, and shepherding a flock of truant sheep. Her experience turned out to be a soul-forging adventure that changed her entire relationship with life—and with God—forever.

Six months turned into two years and resulted in her memoir Plant Trees, Carry Sheep: A Woman’s Spiritual Journey Among the Sufis of Scotland. With self-deprecating humor, the memoir chronicles her time at the spiritual retreat, where people from all over the world came to study Ibn Arabi and Rumi.

Among the backdrop of relentless cold and rain, unruly livestock and never-ending chores, she navigates peculiar rituals, the challenges of communal living, and spiritual teachings that, at first, appeared at odds with her own Christian upbringing. Here, Sarah’s exposure to Islam helped her better understand the religion and see God, as well as herself, in a different light.

Sarah discussed the retreat, told a few stories, and answered questions.

Listed in: Government

We Refuse to be Enemies: How Muslims and Jews can make Peace, One Friendship at a Time

On Tuesday, July 7, Sabeeha Rehman and Walter Ruby shared the wonderful story of their upcoming book, “We Refuse to be Enemies”, about how the paths of a Muslim woman and a Jewish man crossed and led to a joint endeavor for a meaningful purpose.

Sabeeha Rehman and Walter Ruby, a Muslim-American woman of Pakistani origin and a Jewish-American man who spent his formative years in Israel, will share their story of how they connected and embarked on a mission to bring their respective communities together in their common homeland, America.

Growing up in Pakistan, Sabeeha never met a Jew, her view colored by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In his youth, Walter never met a Muslim, his opinion shaped by Leon Uris's Exodus. What changed their perceptions? How did they fare in nurturing Muslim-Jewish communication and cooperation? Sabeeha and Walter will share their experiences of facing pushback from their communities, overcoming obstacles and bringing together Muslims and Jews to explore unexpected commonalities between their faiths; to work together to help people in need and stand together against bigotry. Finally, they will offer their vision for reconciliation.

Sabeeha and Walter have co-authored a book, We Refuse to be Enemies. How Muslims and Jews can make Peace, One Friendship at a Time, due for publication in Spring 2021. It is their hope that this book will inspire people of all faiths and ethnicities to reach out to each other and heal our nation.

Speakers of the Event

SABEEHA REHMAN is the author of the 2016 memoir, “Threading My Prayer Rug. One Woman’s Journey from Pakistani Muslim to American Muslim,”  Short-Listed for the 2018 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing, the book also received several other nominations and awards. She is also an op-ed contributor to the Wall Street Journal and New York Daily News. In the early 1980s, concerned about raising her sons as Muslims in the absence of a Muslim community, she set to work, and her commitment culminated in the building of a mosque on Staten Island where her family lived.
Sabeeha, who holds a Masters in Healthcare Administration, served as a hospital executive for 25 years.  Thereafter, responding to her grandson’s autism diagnosis, she co-founded the NY Chapter of the National Autism Association and served as its President from 2008-11. As a public speaker, she has spent several decades engaging in interfaith dialogue and now serves as a board member of the Muslim-Jewish Solidarity Committee as well as the NY Chapter of the National Autism Association. She blogs on topics related to American Muslim experience at www.sabeeharehman.com/blog.
She lives in New York City with her husband Khalid, a retired Hematologist/Oncologist.

WALTER RUBY is a veteran activist in Muslim-Jewish relations. From 2008-2017, in the position of Muslim-Jewish Relations Director at the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, he organized hundreds of twinning events; bringing together thousands of Jews and Muslims in over 30 countries on five continents, including members of mosques and synagogues and Muslim and Jewish organizations. Ruby presently serves as executive director of Jews, Muslims and Allies Acting Together (JAMAAT), a grassroots community of Muslim, Jewish and Interfaith activists in Greater Washington; and as Coordinator of the Washington Area Chapter of Project Rozana, which works to strengthen ties between Israelis and Palestinians through health care.

Ruby is currently co-authoring a book with Muslim-American author Sabeeha Rehman entitled We Refuse To Be Enemies: How Muslims and Jews Can Make Peace, One Friendship at a Time. Ruby has worked as a reporter and commentator for more than 40 years, mainly for American Jewish and Israeli publications. His articles and op-eds have appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, USA Today and other media.
Walter lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife Tatayna.

Listed in: Government

Interfaith Encounters: A model of building bridges in Israel and Palestine

On Tuesday, May 12, Rumi Forum hosted Dr. Yehuda Stolov, the executive director of the Interfaith Encounter Association (IEA), for a discussion about IEA’s outstanding story of building interfaith bridges in Israel and Palestine. He highlighted an inter-communal model where ongoing groups of interfaith encounters prevail the opportunity to meet the ‘other’.

Based in Jerusalem, IEA plants seeds of the desired long-lasting friendships coupled with respect for the unique identity of each. The IEA invites people from different traditional and cultural backgrounds and faiths to join its groups. Within the groups, participants have meaningful encounters which bring them closer to each other. Prejudice, hostility, and suspicion are transformed into a direct acquaintance, mutual respect and friendship. IEA groups are both a model for inter-communal relations of appreciation and care, and vehicles to promote them.

About the Speaker

Yehuda Stolov is the executive director of the Interfaith Encounter Association (www.interfaith-encounter.org), an organization that works since 2001 to build peaceful inter-communal relations in the Holy Land by fostering mutual respect and trust between people and communities through active interfaith dialogue.

Dr. Stolov has lectured on the role of religious dialogue in peace-building throughout the world, including Jordan, India, Indonesia, Turkey, South Korea, North America and Europe. He also published many papers on related issues.

In 2006, he was awarded the Immortal Chaplains Foundation Prize for Humanity, which honors those who "risked all to protect others of a different faith or ethnic origin"; and in 2015 he was awarded the IIE Victor J. Goldberg Prize for Peace in the Middle East.

Among other activities, Dr. Stolov was a member of the International Council of the International Association for Religious Freedom and a member of the steering committee for the United Nations Decade of Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace.

He holds a B.Sc. and a M.Sc. in Physics and a Ph.D. from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is married and father of three children, living in Jerusalem.

Listed in: Government

National Day of Prayer

Listed in: Government

Healing with Rumi

On Sunday, May 3, Rumi Forum participated in the Day of Unity coordinated by Inter with its special event, “Healing with Rumi”. Three leading scholars walked us through the legacy of Rumi with a particular focus on healing during difficult times.

Rumi; the great jurist, mystic, poet, and scholar was a pioneer of reconciliation and healing during the time he lived, and continues to inspire hearts and minds to this day. Rumi Forum is proud to announce its special Day of Unity event “Healing with Rumi” where we will reflect on and celebrate this legacy. Please join us for a stimulating journey into Rumi’s universe with three renowned speakers. This webinar is a great opportunity for those interested in religion, mysticism, and poetry to rediscover the healing potential of Rumi’s great example in challenging times. 

The Day of Unity (DOU) is an annual, coordinated day of interfaith local, grassroots action and community building around the DC metro area. This year’s Day of Unity will be held virtually due to the COVID-19 emergency.  

Speakers of the Event

Sara Towe Horsfall, Retired Professor of Sociology, Texas Wesleyan University Before joining the academia, she has worked as a foreign correspondent and international journalist in India, Greece and England for the New York City Tribune and the Middle East Times. This gave her unique insight into social problems and their solutions around the world. She taught Sociology at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas for 15 years, before retiring in 2013. She is co-editor of Chaos, Complexity, and Sociology and Music Sociology books and author of A Neighborhood Portrait and Social Problems books. She worked as a music teacher while completing her Ph.D. in Texas, and is currently a member of the Baltimore Classical Guitar Orchestra. She also teaches part-time at Frederick Community College in Frederick, MD and is the organizer of monthly Rumi Poetry Reading and Sharing group around Baltimore region. 

Zeki Saritoprak, Ph.D, is Professor and the Bediüzzaman Nursi Chair in Islamic Studies at John Carroll University. He holds a Ph.D. in Islamic Theology from the University of Marmara in Turkey. Professor Saritoprak is the author of Islam’s Jesus (University Press of Florida, 2014) and over thirty academic articles and encyclopedia entries on topics in Islam. He has served as guest editor for issues of the journals Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations and the Muslim World. He is editor and co-translator of Fundamentals of Rumi’s Thought: A Mevlevi Sufi Perspective (in English; New Jersey: The Light, 2004) and the editor of a critical edition of al-Sarakhsi’s Sifat Ashrat al-Sa’a (in Arabic; Cairo, 1993). His He is currently preparing a book on Islamic spirituality tentatively titled Islamic Spirituality: Theology and Practice for the Modern World.

Ori Z. Soltes teaches at Georgetown University across a range of disciplines, from art history and theology to philosophy and political history. He is the former Director of the B’nai B’rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum, and has curated more than 85 exhibitions there and in other venues across the country and overseas. He has authored or edited 21 books and scores of articles and essays. Some of his recent books include Our Sacred Signs: How Jewish, Christian and Muslim Art Draw from the Same Source; Searching for Oneness: Mysticism in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; Untangling the Web: Why the Middle East is a Mess and Always Has Been; and Embracing the World: Fetullah Gulen's Thought and Its Relationship to Jelaluddin Rumi and Others.

Listed in: Government

Virtual Coffee Night Series: United in COVID-19: Rediscovering Pluralism in the Face of a Shared Threat

On Thursday, April 23, Rumi Forum in collaboration with Atlantic Institue hosted Dr. John L. Esposito from Georgetown University, who gave a great talk about pluralism in the US, recent trends in the social landscape, and the particular impact of COVID19. This marked the sixth Virtual Coffee Night Series.

Needless to say, coffee has had a significant place in our lives for ages. We often say “Let’s have a cup of coffee” to imply “Let’s have a conversation”. That being said, we believe that nothing beats a nice relaxed conversation and invite you both to relieve ourselves over a cup of coffee and to stimulate our minds with various light-hearted talks. Prominent speakers from a variety of backgrounds have been and will be part of this series and all together we will have enriched conversations.

About the Speaker

Dr. John L. Esposito is University Professor, Professor of Religion and International Affairs and Founding Director of the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding and The Bridge Initiative: Protecting Pluralism – Ending Islamophobia at Georgetown University.

In 2019, he was S. Rajaratnam Professor of Strategic Studies, Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore. Past President of the American Academy of Religion and Middle East Studies Association, his more than 55 books include: Islam and Democracy after the Arab Spring, What Everyone Needs to Know about Islam, Shariah, What Everyone Needs to Know, The Future of Islam, Who Speaks for Islam?: What a Billion Muslims Really Think, Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam, The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality?, Islamophobia and the Challenge of Pluralism in the 21st Century. Esposito’s writings are translated into more than 45 languages.

Esposito has served as a consultant to the U.S. Department of State and other agencies, European and Asian governments, corporations, universities, and media worldwide and has been a member of the World Economic Forum’s Council of 100 Leaders and the E. C. European Network of Experts on De-Radicalisation

Listed in: Government

Multi-faith Supplication

Listed in: Government

Virtual Coffee Night Series: Muslim Women Speak for Themselves

On Monday, April 20, Rumi Forum hosted Petra Alsoofy, Outreach & Partnerships Manager at Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU) for the fifth Virtual Coffee Night speaker series. Petra Alsoofy gave an illuminating data-based presentation about Muslim women the US in a variety of dimensions; including family, education, wellness, and institutional capacity.

Needless to say, coffee has had a significant place in our lives for ages. We often say “Let’s have a cup of coffee” to imply “Let’s have a conversation”. That being said, we believe that nothing beats a nice relaxed conversation and invite you both to relieve ourselves over a cup of coffee and to stimulate our minds with various light-hearted talks. Prominent speakers from a variety of backgrounds have been and will be part of this series and all together we will have enriched conversations.

About the Speaker:

Petra Alsoofy is the Outreach & Partnerships Manager at ISPU, where she strengthens our valued partnerships and forges new ones with organizations who share our goal of empowering American Muslims. She joins ISPU after serving more than four years as an educator at the Arab American National Museum, where she worked with educators, students, and professionals. In her role at the museum, Petra educated visitors about the history and the contributions of Arab Americans as well as stereotypes and challenges they face. She also serves as a board member on the Michigan Council for History Education. Petra is a graduate of Grand Valley State University where she earned a BA in political science.

Listed in: Government

The Humanity of Muhammad: A Christian View

On Friday, April 17, Dr. Craig Considine from Rice University was with us to talk about the humanity of Muhammad from a Christian view with an emphasis on the Identification with All Humanity (IWAH) as a moral concept. It was the fourth Virtual Coffee Night speaker series.

Needless to say, coffee has had a significant place in our lives for ages. We often say “Let’s have a cup of coffee” to imply “Let’s have a conversation”. That being said, we believe that nothing beats a nice relaxed conversation and invite you both to relieve ourselves over a cup of coffee and to stimulate our minds with various light-hearted talks. Prominent speakers from a variety of backgrounds have been and will be part of this series and all together we will have enriched conversations.

About the Speaker

Dr. Craig Considine is a scholar, professor, global speaker, media contributor, & public intellectual based at the Department of Sociology at Rice University. He is the author of many books & articles. Dr. Considine's opinions have been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, BBC, CBS News, Fox News, MSNBC, Newsweek, & Al Jazeera. He has been invited to speak at some of the leading international organizations & universities in the world. Dr. Considine is visible on social media. He holds a PhD from Trinity College (University of Dublin), MSc from Royal Holloway (University of London), & BA from American University in Washington, DC. Dr. Considine is a U.S. Catholic of Irish and Italian descent.

Listed in: Government

Faith in American Public Life: Confronting Controversies, Cultivating Common Ground

On Wednesday, Aril 15, for the third Virtual Coffee Night speaker series, Melissa Rogers, a leading expert and scholar on religion in American public life, gave a fascinating talk on how the First Amendment encompasses common ground, and for sharing insights on controversies about religion in public life.

Needless to say, coffee has had a significant place in our lives for ages. We often say “Let’s have a cup of coffee” to imply “Let’s have a conversation”. That being said, we believe that nothing beats a nice relaxed conversation and invite you both to relieve ourselves over a cup of coffee and to stimulate our minds with various light-hearted talks. Prominent speakers from a variety of backgrounds have been and will be part of this series and all together we will have enriched conversations.

About the Speaker:

Melissa Rogers is a nationally known expert on religion in American public life. Her areas of expertise include the United States Constitution’s religious liberty guarantees and the interplay of religion, law, policy, and politics. Rogers currently serves as Visiting Professor at Wake Forest University School of Divinity and as a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution.

Rogers previously served as Special Assistant to President Barack Obama and Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships (2013-2017), Chair of President Obama’s inaugural Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships (2009-2010), Director of the Center for Religion and Public Affairs at the Wake Forest University School of Divinity (2003 – 2013), Executive Director of the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life (2000 – 2003), and Associate Counsel/General Counsel of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty (1994 – 2000).

Rogers is author of Faith in American Public Life (2019) and co-author of Religious Freedom and the Supreme Court (2008). She has received an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from both Wake Forest University and the John Leland Center for Theological Studies. Rogers holds a J.D. from University of Pennsylvania Law School and a B.A. from Baylor University. In 2017, President Barack Obama appointed Rogers to serve as a member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. Baylor University awarded her its Pro Texana Medal of Service and the First Freedom Center gave Rogers its Virginia First Freedom Award. National Journal has recognized Rogers as one of the church-state experts “politicians will call on when they get serious about addressing an important public policy issue.”

Listed in: Government

Americans immersed in COVID 19

On Monday, April 13, Rumi Forum featured Baxter Oliphant from Pew Research Center to talk about up to date Pew Research findings of how American public opinion responds to COVID-19 news in the media for the second Virtual Coffee Night speaker series.

Needless to say, coffee has had a significant place in our lives for ages. We often say “Let’s have a cup of coffee” to imply “Let’s have a conversation”. That being said, we believe that nothing beats a nice relaxed conversation and invite you both to relieve ourselves over a cup of coffee and to stimulate our minds with various light-hearted talks. Prominent speakers from a variety of backgrounds have been and will be part of this series and all together we will have enriched conversations.

About the Speaker:

Baxter Oliphant is a senior researcher at Pew Research Center, where he focuses on U.S. politics and policy research including partisan polarization, trust in government, gun policy and U.S. foreign policy. He received doctoral and master’s degrees in politics from Princeton University and holds a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University. His dissertation explored the impact of moments on U.S. presidential elections. Before graduate school, he worked in political polling for campaigns and industry groups. Oliphant is a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research and the American Political Science Association.

Listed in: Government

Facing the COVID-19 Challenge with Empathy and Compassion

On Friday, Aril 10, Rumi Forum launched the first Virtual Coffee Night speaker series. Dr. Peter Cohen talked about ways to project empathy and compassion during these testing times.

Needless to say, coffee has had a significant place in our lives for ages. We often say “Let’s have a cup of coffee” to imply “Let’s have a conversation”. That being said, we believe that nothing beats a nice relaxed conversation and invite you both to relieve ourselves over a cup of coffee and to stimulate our minds with various light-hearted talks. Prominent speakers from a variety of backgrounds have been and will be part of this series and all together we will have enriched conversations.

SPEAKER:

Dr. Peter Cohen received his Ph.D. from Florida State University in Humanities and Religion, his M.A. from Florida State University in Biblical Studies and his B.A. in Religion and Philosophy from Springfield College. His dissertation was entitled "A Motif Index of the Angel of Death in Early Rabbinic Literature." Dr. Cohen came to Clemson in 1995 after teaching at Appalachian State University, Florida State University, Florida A&M University and Tallahassee Community College. His teaching interests revolve around looking at the common traits shared by the religious traditions of the world, rather than looking for their differences. Dr. Cohen can often be found teaching adult education in area churches on Sunday mornings or as an instructor in the University's Osher Life Long Learning Institute for retired people from the community. Presently, he is teaching the general education courses in Religion for the department.

Listed in: Government

Living Harmoniously in an Interfaith World: A Muslim Contribution

Listed in: Government

Comparative Reading on Two Masters of Spirituality: Rumi & Swedenborg

Listed in: Government

Free to Believe: The Battle Over Religious Liberty in America

Listed in: Government

Fethullah Gulen: A Life of Hizmet

Listed in: Government

Culturally Muslim?

Speaker:
Besheer Mohamed is a Senior Researcher at Pew Research Center. He is an expert on the views, demographic profile and size of U.S. Muslim communities. He also has extensive experience with computational science, as well as developing best practices for quantitative data collection on small populations. Mohamed has appeared in numerous media outlets and regularly briefs policymakers, academics and other important stakeholders. He has also published in traditional academic publications through Oxford University Press and NYU Press, along with the American Sociological Association’s magazine, Contexts. He received his doctorate in sociology and master’s degree in Middle East Studies from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from Cornell University.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DufX3VKOtS0&t=4s

Listed in: Government

For the Sake of Allah

Speaker/Author:

Anwar Alam, PhD, is Senior Fellow with Policy Perspectives Foundation, New Delhi. Earlier he served as Professor of International Relations at Zirve University, Gaziantep, Turkey, and Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi; Director of Centre for West Asian Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, and Associate Professor at School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He is a recipient of the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship, Germany, and specializes in West Asian and South Asian Studies.

Listed in: Government

Food and Faith at Sakina Halal Grill

Panelists:

Rev. Canon Leonard L. Hamlin, Sr. began his tenure at the Washington National Cathedral in April 2018. In his role as Canon Missioner, Dr. Hamlin oversees the Cathedral’s outreach and social justice initiatives. Prior to his arrival at the Cathedral, Dr. Hamlin served as the Pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church in Arlington, VA for 22 years. Dr. Hamlin received his Bachelor of Business Administration Degree (1983) from the Howard University School of Business, Master of Divinity Degree (1994), and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from the Howard University School of Divinity (1996). He has served and been appointed to numerous community, faith-based and governmental boards, commissions, agencies.

Dr. Zulfiqar A. Kazmi is the founder and Executive Director of The Commongrounds USA. This organizational network is dedicated to the promotion of peace through educational programs, workshops, conferences, and research. Dr. Kazmi participated and lectured in more than 200 World Peace Conferences including UN cosponsored seminars, symposiums and convocations. He launched Scandinavian Peace initiatives and convened a series of seminars at The Washington Times. Dr. Kazmi made history offering special prayers and Salaat ul Maghrib during the last Christmas Dinner hosted by President Obama and First Lady at The White House. He is the recipient of the Fairfax County Proclamation 1998. In 2007 he achieved a nomination for America's highest Civil Award “Benjamin Franklin Award”.

Jodi Balis RD has worked for 15 years in community and public health in the non-profit sector as a culinary educator, dietitian and Nutrition Director, where she implemented cooking and wellness programs for underserved communities in the DC region, and worked to ensure access to healthy food. Jodi recently pivoted in her career, and is now a personal chef, culinary educator, body worker and ritual facilitator. Jodi co-creates Food Rituals with groups and individuals, which is a visual meditation and embodiment practice that marks milestone moments in life through the collaborative and artful arrangement of vibrant colorful food, herbs, spices and stones. Jodi is also creator and host of the podcast Purple Honey, a gathering of female voices, where Jewish wisdom and feminine spirituality are explored through the lense of health and wellness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvjh4-aFo68&feature=youtu.be

Listed in: Government

Getting Closer to God: Jewish and Muslim Perspectives on Mysticism

Panelists:

Gabriel Abasi is a lifelong Sufi who has graced the DC-area interfaith community over the years with a devotion to selfless service and a commitment to mysticism.This devotion to service recently inspired him to work on an exciting concept called “The Culture of Compassion,” which includes creative use of blogs, social media and other forms of technology to heal the planet.

Herb Levy is an experienced teacher of Kabbalah classes at multiple D.C.-area venues and a lay leader of Kol Ami, a N. VA. Reconstructionist Jewish Community. For the last 18 years, Herb has been active in Kol Ami, the Northern Virginia Reconstructionist Jewish Community. During that period, he has led over 100 services and has taught Kabbalah classes both at Kol Ami and at a metaphysical bookstore in Old Town, Alexandria called the Sacred Circle. He currently serves as Treasurer of the JIDS Board of Directors.

Andra Baylus is one of DC’s leading interfaith organizers and a disciple of Meher Baba, a Sufi-inspired spiritual leader. Andra has served as President of the Greater-Washington Muslim Jewish Forum and has been active in various other interfaith and bridge-building organizations. Her service is inspired by a deep love for mysticism, generally, and for the teachings of Sufi spiritual master Meher Baba in particular. A former elementary school teacher, Andra has combined her passion for service, spirituality, and teaching to become a truly powerful force for peace in our community.

Listed in: Government

God and the Goalposts: A Brief History of Religion, Sports, Politics, War, and Art

The interpenetration of sports and religion is as old as history and as wide as geography. The angles of interpenetration have been diverse—from the Bible to the Iliad and the Aeneid, from gladiatorial contests to the Crusades to chess, from the Mayan game of pok-a-pok to Lacrosse to contemporary NBA championship games. Moreover, the sports/religion matrix has always been interwoven with politics (from which religion has rarely strayed) and war (for which sports has always offered a surrogate)—and art (which captures so much of this in words and images—from Greek vase paintings to contemporary films. Give this subject an hour and you will never watch a game the same way again.

Speaker/Author:

Ori Z. Soltes teaches art history, theology, philosophy and political history at Georgetown University. He is the author of over 280 books, articles, exhibition catalogs, and essays on a variety of topics. Recent books include Our Sacred Signs: How Jewish, Christian and Muslim Art Draw from the Same Source; Searching for Oneness: Mysticism in Judaism, Christianity and Islam; Untangling the Web of the Middle East; and most recently, God and the Goalposts: A Brief History of Sports, Religion, Politics, War and Art. Soltes is an enthusiastic sports fan, and an avid basketball player a few days a week—although God has rarely intervened to guide his jump shot.

Listed in: Government

Jesus in Islam

Speaker/Author:

Zeki Saritoprak, Ph.D, is Professor and the Bediüzzaman Nursi Chair in Islamic Studies at John Carroll University. He holds a Ph.D. in Islamic Theology from the University of Marmara in Turkey. Professor Saritoprak is the author of Islam’s Jesus (University Press of Florida, 2014) and over thirty academic articles and encyclopedia entries on topics in Islam. He has served as guest editor for issues of the journals Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations and the Muslim World. He is editor and co-translator of Fundamentals of Rumi’s Thought: A Mevlevi Sufi Perspective (in English; New Jersey: The Light, 2004) and the editor of a critical edition of al-Sarakhsi’s Sifat Ashrat al-Sa’a (in Arabic; Cairo, 1993). His He is currently preparing a book on Islamic spirituality tentatively titled Islamic Spirituality: Theology and Practice for the Modern World.

Listed in: Government

Latest Trends in Global Rise in Religious Restrictions

Speaker:

Katayoun Mirfendereski Kishi is a research associate at Pew Research Center. She oversees the Center’s annual study on global restrictions on religion. Her previous work has included research on topics such as identity politics and religion, international conflict, survey research, and food security. Before joining Pew Research Center, Kishi held positions at the United States Institute of Peace and the office of the Anwar Sadat Chair for Peace and Development at the University of Maryland. She earned a doctorate in government and politics, with a concentration in comparative politics and quantitative methodology, from the University of Maryland.

Moderator:

Kristen Looney is director of the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum Institute. Kristen works closely with the President of the Freedom Forum Institute to full the mission of the center and to oversee the day-to-day operations of the following four program areas: Educating Leaders, Promoting Civil Dialogue, Engaging the Public, and Transforming Schools. From 2012 to 2016, Kristen was the head of programs and partnerships for the Tony Blair Faith Foundation in the United States. Previously, Kristen served as chaplain and department chair of religious studies at St. Paul’s School for Girls in Baltimore, Maryland and St. Timothy’s School in Stevenson, Maryland. Prior, Kristen served as clergy in parishes in Florida, California, and New York. Kristen is an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Maryland. She is an awarded graduate of Yale Divinity School (M.Div.).

Listed in: Government

Challenges to Christianity in America: Lessons for Other Faith Communities

Listed in: Government

Jews—A Success Story: Lessons for other Minorities

Listed in: Government

Challenges of Survival: Religious Minority Communities in a Secular Melting Pot Nation

Listed in: Government

Findings from Pew Research Center’s 2017 Survey of U.S. Muslims

Listed in: Government

American Muslims in 2017

Listed in: Government

Peaceful Communities: Faiths for Social Justice

Listed in: Government

Realizing the Civil Rights Dream: Diagnosing and Treating American Racism

Listed in: Government

A Discussion of God’s Compassion and Forgiveness

Listed in: Government

The Syrian Refugee Crisis: The Need for a Strategy

Listed in: Government

Communities Together for Civil Rights and Liberties

Listed in: Government

Women of Faith’s Contribution to Society: Role Models from History

Listed in: Government

Interfaith Musical Event for Peace and Harmony

Listed in: Government

“Refugee and Immigration Policy” with Alex Nowrasteh

Listed in: Government

Spirituality: Key to Future Inter-religious Relations with Professor Leo Lefebure

Listed in: Government

Welcoming the Stranger: Refugees and Immigrants in Our Midst

Listed in: Government

Abrahamic Discussion Series-Religious Freedoms and Minority Rights

Listed in: Government

Abrahamic Discussion: Women’s Leadership in Peacebuilding and Social Harmony

Listed in: Government

Religion and Democracy in Abrahamic Faiths

Listed in: Government

NOVA Region Responds to Syrian Refugee Crises

Listed in: Government

Immigration Data on Demand (iDod) with Justin Lowry

Listed in: Government

Islamophobia in America: Causes, Challenges, and Solutions with Nathan Lean

Listed in: Government

The Changing Religious Demographic Landscape in America Trends Public Opinion

Listed in: Government

What Works in Girls' Education with Rebecca Winthrop

Listed in: Government

At the intersections migration, religion and extremism: pluralism in today’s EU

Listed in: Government

Ethno-Religious Dynamics in Iraq: Historical Roots and Social Harmony with Ambassador Lukman Faily

Listed in: Government

Restrictions on individual, enterprise and media rights in today`s Turkey” with Kerim Balci

Listed in: Government

Sacrifice and Selflessness in Abrahamic Traditions

Listed in: Government

Eid al Adha Celebration Dinner 2015

Listed in: Government

Renewing Islam by Service by Pim Valkenberg

Listed in: Government

Jesus in Islam with Dr Zeki Saritoprak at Georgetown University

Listed in: Government

Latest Trends in Global Religious Restrictions with Peter Henne and Paul Marshall

Listed in: Government

Cross- Cultural Dialogue on Virtue The Contribution of Fethullah Gulen, Professor Trudy Conway

Listed in: Government

Socio Economic Development and the Post Election Situation in Bangladesh_ Ambassador Akramul Qader

Listed in: Government

The Other in Fethullah Gulen's Thought with Hakan Yesilova, Fountain Magazine

Listed in: Government

Rumi’s Influence on South Asian Sufism with Dr. Hasan Aziz and Ambassador Husain Haqqani

Listed in: Government

“Experiences in Interfaith Dialogue” with Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald

Listed in: Government

Religious Peacebuilding: The Approach of the U.S. Institute of Peace

Listed in: Government

Hizmet in Africa The Activities and Significance of the Gülen Movement with Ambassador David Shinn

Listed in: Government

Community & Faith Leaders’ Role in Countering Radicalization

Listed in: Government

Turkey's Challenges in Domestic and Foreign Policy with Ihsan Yilmaz & Richard Outzen

Listed in: Government

Where is Turkey headed? with Rainer Hermann, Editor, FAZ

Listed in: Government

Wrestling with Free Speech, Religious Freedom, and Democracy in Turkey: The Political Trials and Times of Fethullah Gulen

Listed in: Government

The Natural Gas Boom: International Market and Geopolitical Consequences with Dr. Charles K. Ebinger

Listed in: Government

Turkey 2014: Challenges and Prospects Ahead

Listed in: Government

Europe Whole and Free: Lithuanian Contribution with
Ambassador Zygimantas Pavilionis

Listed in: Government

Central Asia's Golden Age: What Was It and What is Its Meaning Today? with S. Frederick Starr

Listed in: Government

Principled Pluralism: Report of the Inclusive America Project" with Meryl Chertoff

Listed in: Government

"Preventing Violence and Achieving World Peace: The Contributions of the Gulen Movement"

Listed in: Government

“Seeking Wisdom Beyond Our Comfort Zone: How assumptions about “the other” limit growth” Eileen Gale Kugler

Listed in: Government

Conceptualizing A New US Pakistan Relationship" Ambassador Touqir Hussain

Listed in: Government