Featured Idea: Support Interfaith Cooperation

by Nathaniel Whittemore

Published November 28, 2008 @ 09:07AM PT

This idea is actually posted in the "Civic Engagement" section of the Ideas in America competition, but it was posted by the Interafaith Youth Core, an innovative peace and pluralism-building organization who's founder, Eboo Patel, has been recognized as an Ashoka Fellow for Social Entrepreneurship. IFYC uses interfaith service as a means to help young people connect with their own faith traditions and begin to see common commitments across religions. With the violence in Mumbai as a backdrop, their attempt to create a generation committed to pluralism over extremism seems even more important. Read their full Idea for Change in America here.

What's the idea?

President elect Barack Obama has an opportunity to translate America's religious diversity into a pluralism that strengthens American civil society, transforms American diplomacy and contributes to global stability. The next administration can bridge America's religious communities through increased support for interfaith service initiatives and international youth exchanges.

Where does the idea come from?

The world is witnessing three significant trends; a youth bulge in the most religiously volatile nations in the world, the loss of economic opportunity and traditional social roles in these nations, and a global religious revival. As the most diverse nation in human history and devout nation in the West, America is poised to leverage its religious diversity, vibrant faith-based public good organizations, and commitment to youth development to turn challenge into opportunity.

What role could the Obama Administration have in the project?

• Engaging diverse religious communities in common action for the common good is the key to strengthening the fabric of American civil society. Religious communities hold a wealth of powerful social capital in the ethic of volunteerism which must be bridged to provide a needed force in society.
  • Recommendations:
    • Increase national capacity for Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). CNCS has the potential to be a key player in these partnerships, as evidenced by the Inspired to Serve Initiative, a pilot project of Search Institute and Interfaith Youth Core, supported by Learn and Serve America. The initiative is aimed to enhance the capacity of America's 350,000 churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, and other faith-based organizations to engage young people in effective service-learning that increases interfaith cooperation, contributes to healthy development, and enriches community life.
    • Interfaith youth cooperation should be included in two key pieces of legislation currently being crafted: the Serve America Act and the expansion of the Faith Based and Community Initiatives Office.

• American diplomacy should highlight positive, pluralistic relationships to transform the image of America held by the international community. In the United States, religious pluralism means respect for religious identity, developing mutually inspiring relationships between people of diverse faith traditions, and creating common action for the common good.
• Recommendations:
  • Increase international youth exchange programs to facilitate relationship building and respectful understanding between young people from different backgrounds.
  • Counter the prominent clash of civilizations narrative in the media with the positive story of religious pluralism. Partly this entails training young people to be fluent in the media in order to effectively forward their narratives of interfaith cooperation and leadership.

• A culture of religious pluralism breeds a culture of peace. Strong interfaith partnerships will lead to a reduction in conflict and an increase in global stability.
• Recommendations:
  • In addition to supporting excellent work within the Institute for Global Engagement, the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy, and in kind initiatives, empower young people to be the ambassadors of religious pluralism in their communities through supporting organizations that teach, train, and network them to take action.

Why should this be a priority?

Religious conflict is the greatest global challenge of the 21st century. In an Obama/Biden White House, with revitalized participation and renewed trust among America's diverse communities, as well as a groundswell of international enthusiasm, America has an opportunity to be a global leader in navigating this threat to international stability and security.

To learn more about the Interfaith Youth Core, visit their website or watch the video below: