I believe in religious freedom for all. I believe that no one should be fearful because of the way they pray. I believe that God’s Shalom is for all, and I believe that Jesus showed us the way to live an abundant life that brings blessing to us and those around us. As we intentionally build relationships with others, not only are we following the teachings and example of Jesus, we are making our world a safer place.

When building interfaith relationships and community, Jessie finds it extremely important to come together to name and practice the common core values that are shared among faith groups - values like caring for creation and the earth, civic responsibility, community, and concern for the common good.

“We are all human beings, and if we don't realize that, then there is something missing. If we care for others, they will care for us. If you respect someone else, they will respect you.” Having grown up around people of various faiths in India, Imam Ali Siddiqui has continued that practice in the U.S. and has now been facilitating spaces for people of different faiths to come together and build friendships for more than 20 years.

What do you have to do to get a bunch of teenagers out of bed at the crack of dawn during their summer vacation? Would you guess the answer is giving them a way to serve their community? Last Saturday we gathered together to help Habitat for Humanity for a day of interfaith community service. We started bright and early, and right on time as the doors opened we had 21 high school and college students ready to get to work. All together we had 36 Muslim, Jewish, and Christian friends, and one Hindu.

Muslims eating Halal food in the church fellowship hall. People making friends across cultural and religious lines. Christians and Muslims openly discussing our common ground and differences about Jesus. This is a snapshot of our most recent Love Your Neighbor Dinner at the Valley Vineyard in Reseda, California.

What if people of all faiths, colors, genders, and political affiliations could unite and stand together for the cause of peace and justice? On Sunday, we did just that. The Interfaith March for Peace and Justice was a coast-to-coast coordinated event that took place in 12 cities across the U.S. to affirm freedom of religion and to stand against racial and religious discrimination. Peace Catalyst was part of three of these marches, in Columbus, Ohio; Boise, Idaho; and Oxnard, California. 

Leaders from the three Abrahamic faiths partnering together for the common good could be a game-changer. Together we can be a powerful force undermining violent extremism, reducing religious persecution, and making peace in our broken, bleeding and beautiful world.

"To tell you the truth, I've done the normal, 'nice' interfaith stuff, and now I want something different," my Muslim friend said as he looked down at his coffee. "I want to start a group that takes seriously working for peace, compassion, and justice - we need to stand up for each other and really work for the good of our neighbor. I think you would agree - are you interested?"

Why would I link the illustrious (principal) author of the U.S. Declaration of Independence and its third president with 38-year-old Indian Muslim immigrant Eboo Patel, founder of the Interfaith Youth Core? The answer is that Jefferson consciously paved the way for Muslims to be citizens of the country he helped to found.