What Is Interfaith?

 

 

About Interfaith

Interfaith is a simple concept; regardless of one’s spiritual belief (or no spiritual belief), we can all get along. Every faith is unique in it’s own way, and yet each is built around similar principles that guide us towards a happy, peaceful and fulfilling life. It establishes a moral common ground by focusing on the similarities between faiths, understanding of values, and commitment to peaceful co-existence.

Interfaith is often associated with the “Golden Rule”. While each faith and individual is unique in its own way, the Golden Rule sets a standard moral code, which promotes goodwill for all of mankind. The Golden Rule can be found in the scriptures of most faiths, and always calls for people to treat others as they wish to be treated. This simple mentality that all human beings are of equal importance is crucial is dissolving differences among people and promoting peace among the faiths.

Interfaith Dialogue

Interfaith dialogue occurs when two or more people of different faiths engage in conversation. This term is commonly used in the media to describe discussions between countries of different faiths, and is often used to help bridge the gap of understanding and unity between the faiths.

The history of interfaith dialogue is as old as many of the faiths themselves and has always played a crucial part in keeping peace between nations and delaying wars. Today, a wide range of people practice interfaith dialogue in communities, schools, government bodies, and places of worship.

Why Interfaith?

We enter this territory because we must. We are compelled by visions of interfaith harmony no less mesmerizing than the ones that captivated the imaginations of our explorer ancestors; visions of a new world, of unlimited potential of great opportunity and spiritual wealth.

As voyagers, guided by our heavenly stars and constellations, we believe that just beyond the horizon is a fertile and welcoming world where people of many faiths can live in mutual respect and compassion, a land of unity within diversity, and diversity within unity. It is a world so rich in potential for inner and outer peace, that we are willing to risk all. We are willing to abandon the comfort of our familiar individual religious communities and well-worn scriptures to enter the unknown territory of ‘the other’.

– Faculty member,  Ruth Broyde Sharone from her book,
Minefields & Miracles: Why God and Allah Need to Talk

Walking Our Talk

Nearly every member of our staff and faculty actively participates in interfaith work and with a majority of our faculty being residents of Los Angeles we are able to benefit from having its thriving multi-cultural environment in which to practice ministry.

 

We proudly support the following local organizations