Interfaith Matters

Interfaith Matters

By Interfaith Center of New YorkReligion & Spirituality
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Interfaith Matters episodes

  • From Foster Care to Activism: Onleilove Alston on Improving Life in “The Most Spiritual City in America”
    Host Maggi Van Dorn (left) with Onleilove Alston
    Our Guest: 
    This time on “Interfaith Matters,” host Maggi Van Dorn talks with Onleilove Alston, executive director of Faith in New York, an affiliate of the PICO National Network, committed to the work of justice and faith-rooted community organizing.  Onleilove knows the vital importance of this work more intimately than most: as a child, Onleilove experienced homelessness, shelters and foster care before she was ten years old.  Today, she is a contributing writer and board member of Sojourners magazine, and founder of “Prophetic Whirlwind,” an organization – and forthcoming book – about the Black presence in the Bible. Onleilove will be one of the experts working with faith leaders at ICNY’s upcoming “Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy.”
    Podcast Highlights:
    On her conversion experience and the call to work on behalf of social justice causes: “Encountering a God of the orphan and the widow was empowering because I was an orphan.  Reading about a God who preached good news to the poor was good news to me because I was poor.  And I began to think I could do something to change my community and to help other young people like myself.”
    On faith-based advocacy: “[It is] harnessing the power of faith communities to make a difference in public life – to bring a moral imperative to public life. It’s a moral travesty that families are going to sleep homeless every night.”
    On spirituality in NYC: “The Bible Belt may be the most Christian-active part of the country, but as far as spiritual activity of any faith, New York City is actually the most spiritual place in America. If just 10% of those people who are spiritual were infused in public life to support progressive policies, we could change this city.”
    Three things faith leaders stand to gain from attending the Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy: “One, to build relationships with like-minded faith leaders. Two, to build relationships with organizations doing [social justice] work. And three, to gain strategic tools they can use to change conditions in our city.” 
    On how faith leaders can avoid burnout while responding to the political crises that come up seemingly every day: “Discern the one, two or three issues you’re going to work on, so that when things happen, that guides you, and share the burden, with people in your congregation, with other partners, so you are not overwhelmed.”
     
    ___________________________________________________
     
    This episode of Interfaith Matters is underwritten by One Spirit Learning Alliance – an interfaith learning institute that trains spiritual leaders and offers workshops for the public to spark personal transformation. More information is at Onespiritinterfaith.org/Matters, where our listeners can find a free download of one of their teachings, “The Life We Are Called to Live.”
    ___________________________________________________
    Beginning in November 2017, ICNY will sponsor 20 faith community leaders to participate in evening training workshops on a bi-monthly basis in civic engagement, legal literacy, and community organizing. These workshops will be led by expert partners including: The Center for Court Innovation, Faith in New York, The Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, CUNY CLEAR as well as the NYPD.
    Individual participants will each receive a $1,000 stipend + seed funding for community projects.
    The application deadline is October 2, 2017
    Program details and application info is available at http://interfaithcenter.org/icla
    For more info, email Iman Boukadoum or call 212.870.3515.
    ___________________________________________________
    Podcast Questions? Comments?
    Have a question for our guests, or a comment on our podcast series?  Please feel free to leave comments on your podcast player, or send us an email at [email protected].  And please be sure to rate us!
    35 min
  • Between Church and State: NYC Mayoral Appointee Jonathan Soto on the Bilateral Value of Faith and Civic Engagement
    Our Guest: 
     
    This time on "Interfaith Matters," host Maggi Van Dorn talks with Jonathan Soto, executive director of Mayor Bill de Blasio's newly-formed Center for Faith and Community Partnerships.   The center is designed to transform the way faith and other community organizations access city services.  We discuss why collaboration between faith communities and local government is not a violation of the First Amendment, but is essential to protect freedom, and help citizens in need. Jonathan will be one of the experts working with faith leaders in ICNY's upcoming "Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy."
     
    Podcast Highlights:
     
    On the importance of connecting faith communities with local government: “A house of worship could be the first institution a person interacts with when they come to this city or this country for the first time. It’s an important step, especially as it relates to services, to ensure that houses of worship are really well-resourced, and well connected to city services.”  
     
    On why faith community outreach helps protect city services: “There can be a policy argument that services should be cut because people aren’t using them, while in reality what’s happening is that government isn’t doing a very good job of letting people know these services are available.”  
     
    On what faith leaders will gain from the upcoming Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy: “Government is like a labyrinth, and it’s hard to navigate it if you don’t know the language. My hope is that [the Academy will] make the language accessible, and we can be open about ways to engage intentionally and collaboratively in order to maximize the benefit government can provide to people.”
     
    On protecting religious liberty for others: “There is no religious liberty if we elevate one perspective over the other. If my Muslim sister or brother doesn't have religious freedom, then I don't have religious freedom. We give up a lot of our power when we work in silos.  But we maximize our power when we engage in collaborative action and work together." 
     
    FAITH COMMUNITY LEADER RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PROGRAM:
     
    Faith community leaders interested in joining the Weekend of Action, or who would like to connect with the Center for Faith and Community Partnerships, please contact Jonathan Soto directly at [email protected].
    The “Access HRA” app is a new online portal from New York City’s Human Resources Administration.  People in your community can use the app to apply online for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Cash Assistance, Medicaid renewal, manage benefits, read agency notices. It’s available on iPhone and Google Play Stores or click here. 
    The "Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy" (ICLA):
     
    Beginning in November 2017, ICNY will sponsor 20 faith community leaders to participate in evening training workshops on a bi-monthly basis in civic engagement, legal literacy, and community organizing. These workshops will be led by expert partners including: The Center for Court Innovation, Faith in New York, The Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, CUNY CLEAR as well as the NYPD.
    Individual participants will each receive a $1,000 stipend + seed funding for community projects.
    The application deadline is October 2, 2017
    Program details and application info is available at http://interfaithcenter.org/icla
    For more info, email Iman Boukadoum or call 212.870.3515.
     
    ___________________________________________________
     
    Podcast Questions? Comments?
     
    Have a question for our guests, or a comment on our podcast series?  Please feel free to leave comments on your podcast player, or send us an email at [email protected].  And please be sure to rate us!
    35 min
  • An Agnostic Filmmaker's Film About Religion: Thomas Lennon (Best Documentary Oscar-winner) on his new PBS film "Sacred"
    Pictured Above: Thomas Lennon in a Beijing Film Studio. Lennon's earlier
    work in China earned him an Oscar and two Academy nominations.
     
    Our Guest: 
    This time on "Interfaith Matters," host Maggi Van Dorn talks with Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Thomas Lennon about "Sacred," his recent million-dollar global documentary for PBS.  Two years in the making, and utilizing more than 40 film crews in more than 20 countries, "Sacred" explores ritual practice around the world through stages of life the film terms "Initiation," "Practice" and "Passage."  As the film journeys through the milestones of private life and the faith practices of individual human beings, a singular story begins to unfold, of universal humanity. 
     
    "Sacred" is premiering around the country this year, and, as a WNET-TV production, will be on public TV in 2018.  Jump to the link below to watch the trailer. Click here to check for upcoming film screenings in the United States and around the world.
     
    Podcast Highlights:
     
    On what motivated him as an agnostic filmmaker to produce a film about religion: "Jonathan Sacks said, 'Religion is fire: it can warm, or it can burn.'  The media have done a very good job of looking at the ways in which it can burn. And I thought why don't I go off by myself and take a few looks at how it can warm." 
     
    On faith as a primary human experience: "The wisdom of [religious rituals], psychologically, does not require you to be a person of faith for you to recognize and be grateful for that transmission of advice from generations before you."
     
    On his experimental approach to global film-making: "If there is a scene you want covered in Myanmar or in Madagascar... the chances are very good that there's a filmmaker there who's going to have an intimacy of relationship with that scene, with that language, with that culture, with that faith, that you do not have - and so it behooves you to invite them into a collaboration."
     
    On the spiritual creativity of prisoners:  "It's an extraordinary act of existential choice to say, 'I'm not going to think about the fact that ... I'm not going to leave these prison walls except in a body bag...I'm going to think about this other reality that I'm going to insist is the dominant reality.'"
     
    VIEW THE "SACRED" TRAILER HERE:
     
     
    ___________________________________________________
     
     
    This episode of Interfaith Matters is underwritten by One Spirit Learning Alliance – an interfaith learning institute that trains spiritual leaders and offers workshops for the public to spark personal transformation. More information is at Onespiritinterfaith.org/Matters, where our listeners can find a free download of one of their teachings, “The Life We Are Called to Live."
     
    ___________________________________________________
     
    Questions? Comments?
     
    Have a question for our guests, or a comment on our podcast series?  Please feel free to leave comments on your podcast player, or send us an email at [email protected].  And please be sure to rate us!
    38 min
  • An Agnostic Filmmaker’s Film About Religion: Thomas Lennon (Best Documentary Oscar-winner) on his new PBS film “Sacred”

     



     


    Pictured Above: Thomas Lennon in a Beijing Film Studio. Lennon's earlier


    work in China earned him an Oscar and two Academy nominations.


     


    Our Guest: 


    This time on "Interfaith Matters," host Maggi Van Dorn talks with Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Thomas Lennon about "Sacred," his recent million-dollar global documentary for PBS.  Two years in the making, and utilizing more than 40 film crews in more than 20 countries, "Sacred" explores ritual practice around the world through stages of life the film terms "Initiation," "Practice" and "Passage."  As the film journeys through the milestones of private life and the faith practices of individual human beings, a singular story begins to unfold, of universal humanity. 


     


    "Sacred" is premiering around the country this year, and, as a WNET-TV production, will be on public TV in 2018.  Jump to the link below to watch the trailer. Click here to check for upcoming film screenings in the United States and around the world.


     


    Podcast Highlights:


     


    On what motivated him as an agnostic filmmaker to produce a film about religion: "Jonathan Sacks said, 'Religion is fire: it can warm, or it can burn.'  The media have done a very good job of looking at the ways in which it can burn. And I thought why don't I go off by myself and take a few looks at how it can warm." 


     


    On faith as a primary human experience: "The wisdom of [religious rituals], psychologically, does not require you to be a person of faith for you to recognize and be grateful for that transmission of advice from generations before you."


     


    On his experimental approach to global film-making: "If there is a scene you want covered in Myanmar or in Madagascar... the chances are very good that there's a filmmaker there who's going to have an intimacy of relationship with that scene, with that language, with that culture, with that faith, that you do not have - and so it behooves you to invite them into a collaboration."


     


    On the spiritual crea

    38 min
  • “To Serve Means to Become a Friend” – Talking with Paola Piscitelli, President of the Sant’Egidio Community in the U.S.*
    Paola Piscitelli (left) and host Maggi Van Dorn
     
    Our Guest: 
    This time on “Interfaith Matters,” Maggi talks with Paola Piscitelli, president of the Sant’Egidio Community in the United States, an international lay community in the Roman Catholic Church, with over 60 million members worldwide.
     
    Highlights:
    On the beginnings of community: It was started by students who were 18 and younger, who gathered to read the scripture and try to put them into practice.  Immediately, they saw that they could not say they were Christian if there were not a component of service to the poor.
    On what it means to “serve”: It means to become friends with somebody.  Friendship is a commitment, it’s a ministry, it has the qualities of faithfulness, of generosity, of listening, of being present.
    On the hidden poverty among the elderly:  We started visiting the elderly in nursing homes – an aspect of poverty that is hidden but growing. And, as friends of the elderly, when someone requested to go home, we didn’t ignore it, to think it was irrelevant. We started to become surrogate families and facilitate the process of going back home.
    How can ordinary people practice peacebuilding: One of the most important things is to be open and curious about others, and not having a defensive attitude. In order to build peace, there is the need to meet “the other,” to have friends who are different from you, to know their tradition.  When you come to know people, to appreciate them, hatred is more difficult.
    Learn more about the Sant’Egidio Community at their website http://www.santegidiousa.org/.
    Paola Piscitelli can be reached at 646-765-3899 or [email protected].
    ___________________________________________________
    *A Special Invitation
    The Community of Sant’Egidio will be the recipient of the James Parks Morton Interfaith Award at the Interfaith Center of New York’s 20th Anniversary Gala on June 12.  The Community is being recognized for their leadership and humanitarianism by helping hundreds of Syrian refuges escape conflict and settle safely in Italy. Here in New York, the Community works to galvanize faith and civic leaders to advocate for human rights and immigration reform. For tickets to the Interfaith Center Gala, go to www.interfaithcenter.org, and click on 20th Anniversary. If you are unable to make the event, please consider making a donation as an anniversary gift. Donations from ICNY supporters help to make this podcast possible. 
    ___________________________________________________
    This episode of Interfaith Matters is underwritten by One Spirit Learning Alliance – an interfaith learning institute that trains spiritual leaders and offers workshops for the public to spark personal transformation. More information is at Onespiritinterfaith.org/Matters, where our listeners can find a free download of one their teachings, “The Life We Are Called to Live.”
    ___________________________________________________
    Questions? Comments?
    Have a question for our guests, or a comment on our podcast series?  Please feel free to leave comments on your podcast player, or send us an email at [email protected].  And please be sure to rate us!
    29 min
  • The Waffle Church - Part 1 of “A Common Language that is Always Present" with Rev. Sarah McCaslin
    “A Common Language that is Always Present"
     
    Rev. Sarah McCaslin on her Spiritual Calling to a Life of Ministry, Psychotherapy, and Waffles
     
     
     
    Host Maggi Van Dorn (left) With Rev. Sarah McCaslin
     
     
    Our Guest: 
     
    Rev. Sarah McCaslin, MDiv, LMSW, Waffle Church Minister at St. Lydia’s in Brooklyn, and resident therapist at the Psychotherapy and Spirituality Institute. In a 2-part episode, Sarah talks with us about how her desire to serve and help others leads her on a simultaneous journey of ministry and psychotherapy.  And yes, there will be waffles along the way!
     
    Highlights from Part 1:
     
    On "Dinner Church": It links really well to the scriptural stories that we understand about the beginning of Communion, and Jesus and his disciples gathered for a meal. Before there were churches, [early Christians] were kneeling in each other's homes, breaking bread, telling stories, sharing their concerns and helping one another.
     
    On Worship with Children: I want to do a worship that is not dumbed down, because children can receive a lot of nuanced complicated information, they just process it differently than we do, and they have things they need to tell us, and we have things we need to learn from them."
     
    ___________________________________________________
     
    A Special Invitation
     
    Reverend McCaslin is going to be a featured speaker at ICNY’s upcoming Social Work and Religious Diversity conference on May 10, which will explore the intimate ties between “Religion, Spirituality and Family Life.”  The conference offers 7 continuing education credits for New York State LMSWs and LCSWs.  Registration is open now at The Interfaith Center of New York’s website. 
     
    ___________________________________________________
      
    Support For Our Work
     
    The Interfaith Matters Podcast is made possible by donations to The Interfaith Center of New York, working to overcome prejudice, violence and misunderstanding by activating the power of the city’s religious leaders and communities.
     
     
     
    This episode of Interfaith Matters is underwritten by One Spirit Learning Alliance – an interfaith learning institute that trains spiritual leaders and offers workshops for the public to spark personal transformation. More information is at Onespiritinterfaith.org/Matters, where our listeners can find a free download of one their teachings, “The Life We Are Called to Live."
     
    ___________________________________________________
     
    Questions? Comments?
     
    Have a question for our guests, or a comment on our podcast series?  Please feel free to leave comments on your podcast player, or send us an email at [email protected].  And please be sure to rate us!
    26 min
  • Psychotherapy and Spirituality - Part 2 of "A Common Language that is Always Present" with Rev. Sarah McCaslin
    “A Common Language that is Always Present"
     
    Rev. Sarah McCaslin on her Spiritual Calling to a Life of Ministry, Psychotherapy, and Waffles
     
     
     
    Host Maggi Van Dorn (left) With Rev. Sarah McCaslin
     
     
    Our Guest: 
     
    Rev. Sarah McCaslin, MDiv, LMSW, Waffle Church Minister at St. Lydia’s in Brooklyn, and resident therapist at the Psychotherapy and Spirituality Institute. In a 2-part episode, Sarah talks with us about how her desire to serve and help others leads her on a simultaneous journey of ministry and psychotherapy.  And yes, there will be waffles along the way!
     
    Highlights from Part 2:
     
    The Call to Ministry vs. the Call to Therapy: "It's very similar, [the yearning to be] available to listen and to receive, to provide a non-judgmental and a non-anxious presence." 
     
    On Providing Counseling to People of Different Faiths, or no Faith:  "We have common language and vocabulary, and that's the shared humanity [of] our emotional lives - grief, pain, suffering, estrangement, frustration, despair, hope - that's the language that is always present and accessible." 
     
    ___________________________________________________
     
    A Special Invitation
     
    Reverend McCaslin is going to be a featured speaker at ICNY’s upcoming Social Work and Religious Diversity conference on May 10, which will explore the intimate ties between “Religion, Spirituality and Family Life.”  The conference offers 7 continuing education credits for New York State LMSWs and LCSWs.  Registration is open now at The Interfaith Center of New York’s website. 
     
    ___________________________________________________
     
     
    Support For Our Work
     
    The Interfaith Matters Podcast is made possible by donations to The Interfaith Center of New York, working to overcome prejudice, violence and misunderstanding by activating the power of the city’s religious leaders and communities.
     
     
     
    This episode of Interfaith Matters is underwritten by One Spirit Learning Alliance – an interfaith learning institute that trains spiritual leaders and offers workshops for the public to spark personal transformation. More information is at Onespiritinterfaith.org/Matters, where our listeners can find a free download of one their teachings, “The Life We Are Called to Live."
     
    ___________________________________________________
     
    Questions? Comments?
     
    Have a question for our guests, or a comment on our podcast series?  Please feel free to leave comments on your podcast player, or send us an email at [email protected].  And please be sure to rate us!
    14 min
  • The Waffle Church - Part 1 of “A Common Language that is Always Present” with Rev. Sarah McCaslin

    “A Common Language that is Always Present"


     


    Rev. Sarah McCaslin on her Spiritual Calling to a Life of Ministry, Psychotherapy, and Waffles


     


     



     


    Host Maggi Van Dorn (left) With Rev. Sarah McCaslin


     


     


    Our Guest: 


     


    Rev. Sarah McCaslin, MDiv, LMSW, Waffle Church Minister at St. Lydia’s in Brooklyn, and resident therapist at the Psychotherapy and Spirituality Institute. In a 2-part episode, Sarah talks with us about how her desire to serve and help others leads her on a simultaneous journey of ministry and psychotherapy.  And yes, there will be waffles along the way!


     


    26 min
  • Psychotherapy and Spirituality - Part 2 of “A Common Language that is Always Present” with Rev. Sarah McCaslin

     


    “A Common Language that is Always Present"


     


    Rev. Sarah McCaslin on her Spiritual Calling to a Life of Ministry, Psychotherapy, and Waffles


     


     



     


    Host Maggi Van Dorn (left) With Rev. Sarah McCaslin


     


     


    Our Guest: 


     


    Rev. Sarah McCaslin, MDiv, LMSW, Waffle Church Minister at St. Lydia’s in Brooklyn, and resident therapist at the Psychotherapy and Spirituality Institute. In a 2-part episode, Sarah talks with us about how her desire to serve and help others leads her on a simultaneous journey of ministry and psychotherapy.  And yes, there will be waffles along the way!


    14 min
  • “When We Love and Serve, Our Differences Become Minor" - Robert and Vivian DeRosa on their Lives as Latter-day Saints
    Vivian and Robert DeRosa with host Maggi Van Dorn (right)
     
    In this latest episode of “Interfaith Matters," Maggi Van Dorn talks with Robert and Vivian DeRosa, leaders in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes known as Mormons. Robert is president of the Lynbrook New York Stake (a geographic area similar to a diocese or parish) that includes Eastern Queens and Western Nassau, Long Island. Vivian is the leader of the young women's programs. 
     
    Some Highlights:
     
    On the origins of the word "Mormon": "It's a nickname people have given to us over time. It simply refers to the Book of Mormon and the person Mormon, who was the compiler and editor of 1,000 years' worth of history [that comprise the Book of Mormon]."
     
    On what attracted the DeRosas to the Mormon faith: "It answered so many questions that I had, and I realized this just feels like home. Families can be together forever... these relationships that we treasure so much in life continue."  
    On diversity within the Mormon faith: "[In Queens alone], we have people whose place of birth is from 94 different countries ... there's a great diversity in the church. We have a core set of beliefs, yet there are cultural and ethnic differences that are wonderful, and that enrich our community."
     
    On shared Humanity: "We believe that our Heavenly Father is the father of our spirits, that you and I are brother and sister. We don't look at it as an analogy, or a simple way to explain a difficult idea - we literally believe we are children of our Heavenly Father."  "When we love and serve one another, that commonality is much stronger than whatever other differences that we've got."
     
    And a Special Invitation:
     
    On March 18, Mandarin-speaking New Yorkers are invited to research their family histories at a Family History Discovery Day, held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 145-15 33rd Ave FLUSHING, New York from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm.  There is no charge for participating in the event.
     
    Have a question for our guests, or a comment on our podcast series?  Please feel free to leave comments on your podcast player, or send us an email at [email protected].  And please be sure to rate us!
    35 min

About Interfaith Matters

From the publisher's feed

Interfaith Matters is an original podcast series from The Interfaith Center of New York that explores how interfaith engagement matters to making positive social change