Growing up in Lahore there were three mosques within 2 miles’ radius of my house. This meant that five times a day, I would hear the call to prayer inviting the devotees to come to …
Interfaith Fellows’ Blog Posts
Religious Diversity: Understanding it Early – Michelle Thomas
My journey in the arena of inter-faith dialogue and co-operation began during my early years of life. Coming from an Indian family, which is usually not very diverse with religion, considering the norm to marry …
Interfaith Conversations Clear Misconceptions – Ufaira Shaik
“Are you religious?” I’m asked with a pointed look towards my headscarf. There’s a pregnant pause following that loaded question. The question is meant innocently, but suddenly I’m on guard. I must phrase my response …
Religious Reflections from Red Shirt, SD – Erik Franze
My path toward an interest in interfaith communication and togetherness began as many others do: through a program at my own childhood faith community. The small Presbyterian church that I grew up attending regularly embarks …
Finding Common Ground: My Experience in Interfaith Dialogue – Noa Rose
My most powerful and memorable experiences with interreligious dialogue took place with the Jewish Community Relations Council’s Jewish and Muslim Teen Dialogue Group (JAM) and with the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA). My involvement in …
Growth Through Discomfort: New and Unfamiliar Experiences on Campus – Emma Cox
In February of 2017, I attended an event at the Pres House, a Presbyterian Church located at the intersection of State Street and East Campus Mall. The event, titled Race and Faith, ran its second …
Finding Peace In Knowledge: My Journey to Secularism – Gwen Salm
I grew up in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and attended a private Catholic school through eighth grade. This meant that I attended mass twice per week: once with my class and once with my family. …
Living in Different Nations: An Interfaith Experience – Sooraj Dash
I have been very fortunate to be able to live in different parts of the world and experience different cultures and religious traditions. Personally, faith has been an integral part of my life, and this …
Bridging the Gap: Easter, Ramadan, and Everything in Between – Emma Lai
The most obvious time I experience interfaith is every year at my best friend Monay’s Iftar. At least once a year during Ramadan, my best friend and her family always invites me over to break …
Opting out of Religion: The Suburban Spiritual Experience – Alyssa Hamrick
I’ve lived in the same northern Illinois town for my entire life before coming to UW. It’s not an extremely small town. I went to a regular sized high school, lived in a regular sized …