cassiemeyer's blog

During our workshop at the IBNA conference, we had a lively discussion about the importance of interfaith cooperation and focusing on shared values when teaching world religions. We had the opportunity to hear the stories of three young people - a Jew, a Christian, and a Muslim - and how they understand hospitality in their own traditions. We then shared our own stories of hospitality in our families, congregations, faith or moral traditions. This experience was very moving as we each reflected on our own and one another's experiences, discovering both our commonalities as well as our differences.

The Interfaith Youth Core builds mutual respect and pluralism among young people from different religious traditions by empowering them to work together to serve others.

There are millions of religious young people in the world interacting with greater frequency. That interaction tends either toward conflict or cooperation. Where so many of these interactions tend towards conflict, the Interfaith Youth Core aims to introduce a new relationship, one that is about mutual respect and religious pluralism. Instead of focusing a dialogue on political or theological differences, we build relationships on the values that we share, such as hospitality and caring for the Earth, and how we can live out those values together to contribute to the betterment of our community.