The death penalty is under scrutiny again. Catholic bishops, Muslim imams, and atheist civil rights lawyers are calling for an end to capital punishment. Their reasons vary â from religious teachings on forgiveness and sanctity of life, to secular arguments about systemic racism and wrongful convictions. But their message is unified: the death penalty isContinue reading “Interfaith Friday #20: Justice on Death Row”
Category Archives: Interfaith Fridays
Interfaith Friday #19: Healing the Divide: Faith and Mental Health
From Buddhist mindfulness retreats to atheist mental health coalitions, communities are taking new approaches to mental wellness. Faith-based approaches are increasingly trauma-informed and science-backed, while secular models emphasize peer support and destigmatization. They all agree: emotional healing is essential, and stigma must end. Sources:
Interfaith Friday #18: Sanctuary for All: Refugee Justice
Faith-based refugee resettlement groups and secular immigration activists are demanding an end to family separations and mass deportations. Churches are serving as literal sanctuaries, while agnostic legal aid organizations file lawsuits against unjust policies. Their shared commitment: compassion and protection for the displaced. Sources:
Interfaith Friday #17: Labor Day, Sacred Work
Ahead of Labor Day, religious leaders are blessing picket lines while agnostic and atheist union members fight for wage equity. The concept of fair labor is embedded in many belief systems â from Islamic teachings about worker rights to the Hebrew Bibleâs instructions on fair wages. Secular ethics echo this with calls for economic justice.Continue reading “Interfaith Friday #17: Labor Day, Sacred Work”
Interfaith Friday #16: Education Without Indoctrination
A push for better public education is uniting groups across the religious spectrum â and those outside of it. Pagan parents, Catholic educators, and atheist advocacy groups are speaking out against censorship and curriculum bans in public schools. They argue that true education involves exposure to multiple worldviews, critical thinking, and respect for diversity âContinue reading “Interfaith Friday #16: Education Without Indoctrination”
Interfaith Friday #15: Climate Crisis, Moral Crisis
Christian environmentalists are preaching eco-theology, Indigenous leaders are calling on the wisdom of traditional land stewardship, and atheist scientists are advocating for systemic change. From mosques to meditation centers, spiritual and secular voices alike are treating the climate crisis not just as a political problem but as a moral emergency. Their messages may differ inContinue reading “Interfaith Friday #15: Climate Crisis, Moral Crisis”
Interfaith Friday #14: Housing Is a Human Right
Faith leaders and non-religious advocates are joining forces to fight homelessness and housing insecurity. In New York, a coalition of Buddhist temples and Jewish congregations teamed up with secular housing justice organizations to convert unused religious properties into transitional housing. Meanwhile, humanist organizations are lobbying for rent control laws and tenant protections. This united effortContinue reading “Interfaith Friday #14: Housing Is a Human Right”
Interfaith Friday #13: Faith, Freedom, and Firearms
Gun violence continues to be a central issue in the U.S., and faith communities are weighing in. A coalition of Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and Sikh leaders recently held a national interfaith vigil for victims of gun violence. Meanwhile, atheists and secular humanists have joined grassroots groups pushing for stricter gun legislation. Despite theological differences, thereContinue reading “Interfaith Friday #13: Faith, Freedom, and Firearms”
Interfaith Friday #12: The Faith to Strike: Labor Movements and Religious Support for Worker Rights
As labor unions across the U.S. ramp up strikes in response to unsafe conditions and stagnant wages, religious groups from diverse backgrounds are stepping up in support. Catholic nuns marching with hotel workers. Muslim community centers providing meals for striking delivery drivers. Jewish rabbis calling for Shabbat sermons on justice for the working poor. EvenContinue reading “Interfaith Friday #12: The Faith to Strike: Labor Movements and Religious Support for Worker Rights”
Interfaith Friday #11: Faith in Doubt: Atheist and Agnostic Voices on Church-State Separation
As states push faith-based legislation into public education and healthcare, many atheist and agnostic Americans are raising concerns about the erosion of secular governance. For these communities, church-state separation isnât about hostility to religionâitâs about protecting pluralism. “We will continue to fight back to ensure that no religion dominates our political system, and that allContinue reading “Interfaith Friday #11: Faith in Doubt: Atheist and Agnostic Voices on Church-State Separation”