[I'm here in Chicago at the American Academy of Religion's Annual Meeting - this year I'm the trailing spouse - a second-class conference member who doesn't even receive a free tote, and had to lie to get a schedule for the weekend. Oh well. It just means I don't feel guilty about sitting in Caribou Coffee while sessions are going on...which works for me.]
I first heard Eboo Patel on NPR’s Speaking of Faith a year ago. Patel is the Founder and Executive Director of the Interfaith Youth Core in Chicago and writes and speaks across the country on the topic of religious pluralism and youth. It was good to hear his thoughts on such an important issue – especially in today’s world. I often find it interesting when I hear the question, “So, what do you think about pluralism…?” In some ways – it’s really like asking the question, “So, what do you think of air?” What do we think about pluralism? Well – like the air we breathe – it just is; we live in a pluralist and multicultural world. This is the position that Diana Eck takes, and is where the Interfaith Youth Core finds itself.
Yet, Patel wants to define religious pluralism a little differently than Eck in the end. Patel gave us his definition of pluralism: Pluralism is about building societies where people from different backgrounds live in equal dignity and mutual loyalty. As they work toward building these societies, there are three main questions that they focus on:
- Is there respect for identity in that society? Can you wear a head scarf or cross if that’s important to you? Can you build a synagogue as easily as you can build a church?
- Are there positive relationships between different communities in a pluralist society? Having religious freedom does not equate to having positive relationships between people from different religious traditions.
- Is there a broader society – a ‘community of communities’ – is there a common good? Just having a diverse group of people living and working with one another isn’t enough – there needs to be some “common good” that people hold together. He gave the example that folks in a mosque shouldn’t be just thinking about their own particular good – but that in order to ensure their own well being, they have to ensure the health of the whole.
The Interfaith Youth Core works to help young people reflect on these issues and questions related to religious pluralism; they are concerned that there are groups of people who are trying to reach youth using religion – and many of these groups are religious extremists. The Interfaith Youth Core, however, is attempting to create Interfaith Leaders. Patel made an interesting case trying to create a new identity category in culture – the identity of being an interfaith leader. They want to create a core group of emerging adults who are comfortable living with the religious pluralism that exists in our world today – and can help create, develop and sustain relationships with people from other religious and faith traditions.
If you’ve read my blog much, you know that I’m very sympathetic to this view of pluralism, and it is one in which I think the youth of today are much more comfortable with than previous generations. That is probably for a variety of reasons, but clearly the fact that we live in such a diverse world, and the fact that through the Internet we are more easily connected to so many different people from different cultures and faiths, play into why this generation of emerging adults is much more comfortable with living with this difference.
I wonder, sometimes, about how I can be doing more with the youth ministry at Asbury to help youth think about these issues and reflect on their place in the diverse world we find ourselves in. I have some ideas, and will share those in the future if they materialize.
Related posts:
- Pluralism Sunday: Celebrating the Many Paths to God
- Eboo Patel on Plurality 2.0
- A Theology of Play in Youth Ministry: What About Youth Group Games?
- A Program-Less Youth Ministry ‘Program’
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Hey Adam – I’m now working in Chicago. I have plans to meet up on Monday for dinner with Scott Bader-Saye, my good friend from the community called Peacemeal in Scranton we just moved away from. He’s a theology prof at the University of Scranton and in town for the AAR.
I’m swamped Sunday a.m. with a Baptism liturgy and Sunday afternoon with grocery shopping (exciting, I know); I’d love to find some time while you’re in town to meet up if you are up for it.
Also, did you know there’s a Theology Pub happening this weekend on Sunday night in the city? Nadia Bolz-Weber (House for All Sinners and Saints, Denver, Co. Author of Salvation on the Small Screen? 24 Hours of Christian Television) is playing hostess to Becky Garrison (Religious satirist and author, Rising From the Ashes: Re-thinking Church), Doug Gay (University of Glasgow, Author, Alternative Worship: Resources from and for the Emerging Church), Nannette Sawyer (Wicker Park Grace, Author Hospitality: The Sacred Art), and Ryan Bolger (Fuller Seminary, Author Emerging Churches: Creating Christian Community in Postmodern Cultures). Address here.
If that’s of interest, let me know. I’ve been going back and forth on trying to make it after a long work week(end).
My entry point into positive pluralism was the story of Isaac and Ishmael, and realizing that Islam, Christianity and Judaism all siblings in faith, which explains so much of the fighting. I’ve always dreamed of an Interfaith Soccer League (mandatory members of different faiths on the same team), since it was play that first separated Isaac and Ishmael.
Or, maybe, set up a revolving visitation, every faith group hosts a different faith group for a worship service, prefaced by an open explanation forum of the what, when, where and how.
I also have heard of groups doing social justice projects together and letting differences naturally surface, and then people calling some kind of timeout to explain things they don’t understand.
“So, what do you think about pluralism…?”
Maybe the question should be: So, what do you think about a plurality of people going to hell? Americans live in a pluralistic society where adherents of differing religions proselytize without imprisoning, torturing, and killing each other, though, to be fair, off-air and offline, when was the last time anyone approached you about Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, or anything else religious?
Interesting conversation that I feel I am always processing. I heard Eboo at Fermi Project’s Q Conference in NYC this past April. Crazy day, because Chuck Colson spoke before him and sat down to listen. Afterwards Chuck said to Eboo that he agreed with 90% of what he just said. Well if Chuck Colson can say that … I think those of us who consider ourselves as Christ-followers can at least listen and meditate on how we participate. Here’s what Eboo wrote in the Washington Post the day after. First line begins with his Colson experience.
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/eboo_patel/2008/04/among_the_evangelicals.html”>A Muslim Among the Evangelicals”
Btw, loving the blog lately.
Adam, i have not visited in a REALLY long time and i LOVE the direction you have taken your blog!
i love the 3 questions of plurality. i think the religious right is trying to form a theocracy here in the USA where plurality would be at risk of extinction. Not that i believe this will happen. i can apply the questions to my oft-hated LGBTQ community.
1. Is there respect for identity in that society? Can you wear a head scarf or cross if that’s important to you? Can you build a synagogue as easily as you can build a church?
We in the LGBTQ community have a small amount of respect for our identity. YET, we do not have protections against hate crimes, job discrimination, and legal issues and money/taxes. http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/534469
2. Are there positive relationships between different communities in a pluralist society? Having religious freedom does not equate to having positive relationships between people from different religious traditions.
With those not part of the religious right and other bigoted people. i do have more normal Christian friends who are accepting or open to dialogue. With some, we agree to disagree.
3. Is there a broader society – a ‘community of communities’ – is there a common good? Just having a diverse group of people living and working with one another isn’t enough – there needs to be some “common good” that people hold together. He gave the example that folks in a mosque shouldn’t be just thinking about their own particular good – but that in order to ensure their own well being, they have to ensure the health of the whole.
This a great point. i think we in the LGBTQ community tend to isolate and stay with our ‘own’ as we seem to identify more with each other and feel safe and accepted. i guess a sort of naval gazing can occur. i think we have tried to reach out some, but feel we get battered down with homophobia and hate.
i guess for living in a pluralistic society, i don’t always feel welcomed and accepted for who i am – ALL of me. My sexuality doe not defime me in my entirety. Yet, often it is the only thing people see. i guess it’s like someone seeing a Muslim woman wearing a headscarf and people being afraid of her.
Great things to ponder her. Thank you, Adam.
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