Program

CFP is all about Building a Cohesive America

Our Mission is to build a cohesive America, where no American has to live in anxiety, discomfort or fear of another American.  If we can learn to respect the otherness of others and accept the God given uniqueness of each one of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge.

The simple reason for conflicts between individuals, family members, community, religions, races, ethnicities and the nations is because we don’t know the full truth about others.  Whatever we have learned or hold against the other is based on myths and what others have said. Finding the truth is our own responsibility and it sets us free from anxieties. However, It takes time to know the other and remove the ill-will and it is worth it.

Our programs are designed to mitigate conflicts and nurture good will in every interaction with youth, women, adults and seniors from different faiths, races and cultures.

How often have we catch ourselves in our own bias towards others, be it conscious or unconscious?  Instead of dismantling it which is our inherent desire,  we keep piling on more of it creating a deeper chasm between us and the others and more frustration.

Center for pluralism serves as a catalysts in promoting the ideal of “knowing each other.” Knowledge leads to understanding, and understanding to acceptance of another point of view.

Our programs are designed to bring Americans Together; the more often we see each other in social, cultural, civic, religious, political and other settings, the lesser the conflicts would be resulting in fewer misunderstandings and misperceptions between us.

We need to reassure each other, including the disconnected ones among the White Americans, that together as Americans, we are committed to safeguarding the American way of life.  No American needs to worry about losing his or her way of life.  As Americans we uphold, protect, defend and celebrate the values enshrined in our Constitution.

As a process of ‘knowing each other,’ to mitigate conflicts and nurture goodwill, we have added many programs to our list of established programs that serve to facilitate removal of myths about others.

We will continue to bring non-stop actions in practicing pluralism in religion, politics, society and culture in order to be a catalyst for a safe and a secure America for each one of us.

PROGRAMS 

The Center for Pluralism is committed to promoting  understanding between
peoples of different religious, political, and social affiliations.  Our programs are designed to bring Americans together, so we can move towards perfecting our union, with liberty and justice for every American.

CULTURAL PLURALISM 

Annual Thanksgiving Celebrations coming up in November (19th year)

A time of gratitude and celebration of cultural pluralism and appreciating men and women amidst  us who have learned to accept each other as they are and how they express their joys through their unique cultural uniqueness. http://thanksgivingcelebrations.org/

Unity Day USA  – 13th year
Bringing Americans Together to rededicate our pledge to one nation with liberty and justice for all.  http://www.UnityDayUSA.com

POLITICAL PLURALISM

 July 4th year – 2nd year

Thank God for America, where we cherish and value the freedom endowed to us by the creator.  Democrats and Republicans will come together and cherish the Political Pluralism https://centerforpluralism.com/happy-4th-from-usa-today/

Conservative/Progressive talk

Based on our experience at c-pac’s annual convention, it is necessary to have the two opposites see each other’s point of view and take the demonizing of the other out of their rhetoric. This is a real possibility that we can achieve and should strive for.

RELIGIOUS PLURALISM

 Annual Holocaust and Genocides (12th year)

A purposeful event to reflect on human failings, acts of violence, massacres, ethnic cleansing, genocides and Holocaust with the intention of learning to prevent such happenings as individuals, and reaffirm, “Never again” http://www.HolocaustandGenocides.com

Understanding the essence of religions, all religions (3rd year)

I would rather hear about your faith from you than someone else. Learn about the 13 different faith traditions first hand from their authentic practitioners. This program may be repeated and run multiple times in a year.  https://centerforpluralism.com/workshops/

Annual Festival of Faiths, all faiths – 2nd year

Annual event celebrating all faiths at the Jefferson Memorial
What a joy it is when Americans come together. https://centerforpluralism.com/festival-of-faiths/

Year round Wisdom of Spiritual Masters – First year – New program started this year.

CIVIC PLURALISM

Annual Memorial Day – 2nd year

The freedom that we cherish today did not come to us on a platter, and was not a “given” either. It was earned for us through the sacrifices of our men and women whom we owe our gratitude to and to our veterans. It is an Interfaith memorial day.

Annual Veterans Day – 2nd year

Honoring our Veterans and civic pluralism duty

National Night out
Every year more than 38.5 million people join forces on National night out on August 1, each year.

SYMPOSIUMS ON BURNING TOPICS

  1. Native Americans’ Rights
  2. Racism
  3. Stereotyping
  4. Anti-Semitism
  5. Islamophobia
  6. Hinduphobia
  7. Liberal/Conservative fears
  8. Misogyny
  9. Homophobia
  10. Xenophobia
  11. Sharia  (May 2017)
  12. Quran ( June 2017)
  13. Intra-faith talk series among different faith groups within each faith
  14. If you wish to hold on a topic that is dear to you, give us a call.

There is a possibility that we may do some of the programs as a television show, and some on the Capitol Hill and hope to hook up with C-Span and other TV networks.

PUBLICATIONS

  • A book to teach Pluralism course will be produced by the end of 2017
  • Regular articles in News papers and periodicals will continue to be published  – over a 1000 articles have been published.
  • Our own publication www.PluralismNews.com will become a news paper eventually.
  • Booklets and Brochures

RADIO PROGRAM

Most of the talk shows cater to conservatives, and a few to progressives. What we don’t have are the talk shows for the Moderate Americans. It is time to connect with the Moderate Majority and bring common sense and pluralism to politics. Our Radio show would  offer pluralistic solutions on issues of the day, as does our blog Pluralism News.

David Gold was a conservative talk show host in Dallas in the early 90’s and happened to be my tenant but refused to take me on the air.  He was blunt, “Mike, my income is based on ratings, if I take you on the air, you will dilute my ratings by bringing reason into the conversation, and we cannot produce a show without tensions.” I understood that, and went ahead and got my own Radio show for 7 years until it was feasible.

In our show, we gave everyone a shot to express his or her opinion; we did not censor free speech.  If we need sustainable solutions, all of us have to place our cards on the table. We are considering bringing the show to Washington, DC through your support and public funding.

Our program in Dallas was about religious pluralism, and we did 104 hours on Christianity, Hinduism and Islam respectively, and 52 hours each on Atheism, Bahá’í, Buddhism, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism and a combined 53 hours on Native American and pagan traditions. We will bring that back as well. It shall be a feast to the moderate majority of Americans.

PLURALISM CALENDAR

January

01/29/17 Sunday, 2-5 PM – 12th Annual reflections on Holocaust and Genocides
01/31/17 Tuesday, 1-3:30 PM – Understanding the essence of Christianity (1 of 13 religions)

01/15/18 Monday, 11-1 PM – Wisdom of Masters – Martin Luther King Jr’s contribution to world
01/22/18 Monday, 11-1 PM –  Wisdom of Masters – Moses’ contribution to the world
01/22/18 Monday, 11-1 PM –  Wisdom of Masters – Lincoln’s contribution to the world
01/28/18 Sunday, 2-5 PM – 13th Annual reflections on Holocaust and Genocides

February

02/00/18 Tuesday, 1-3:30 PM – Understanding the essence of Atheism (1 of 13 religions)
02/13/18 Tuesday, 11-1 PM –  Wisdom of Masters – Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s contribution

March

03/07/17 Tuesday, 1-3:30 PM – Understanding the essence of Hinduism (1 of 13 religions)
03/11/17 Saturday, 11-5 PM – Speakers Training workshop – Muslim Speakers
03/28/17 Tuesday, 1-3:30 PM – Understanding the essence of Humanism (1 of 13 religions)

03/15/18 Thursday, 11-1 PM –  Wisdom of Masters – Ron Hubbard’s contribution to the world

April

04/05/17 Saturday, 11-1 PM – Wisdom of Masters – Lord Ram’s contribution to the world
04/08/17 Saturday, 11-1 PM –  Wisdom of Masters – Mahavir’s contribution to the world
04/08/17 Saturday, 11-1 PM –  Wisdom of Masters – Buddha’s contribution to the world
04/09/17 Saturday, 11-1 PM –  Wisdom of Masters – Hazrat Ali’s contribution to the world

04/18/17 Tuesday, 1-3:30 PM – Understanding the essence of Islam (1 of 13 religions)

May

05/00/17 Tuesday, 1-3:30 PM – Understanding the essence of Jainism (1 of 13 religions)
05/29/17 Monday, 2-5 PM – 2nd Annual Memorial Day – Arlington Cemetery

June

06/00/17 Tuesday, 1-3:30 PM – Understanding the essence of Judaism (1 of 13 religions)

July

07/04/17 Tuesday, 2-5 PM – 2nd Annual Interfaith July 4th Celebrations at Farragut Park, 07/00/17 Tuesday1-3:30 PM – Understanding the essence of Native Faiths (1 of 13 religions)
07/23/17 Sunday, 11-1 PM –  Wisdom of Masters – Zarathustra’s contribution to the world

August
08/01/17 Tuesday, 7-9 PM – National Night out
08/04/17 Friday, 11-1 PM –  Wisdom of Masters – Barack Obama’s contribution to the worlds
08/14/17 Monday, 11-1 PM –  Wisdom of Masters – Lord Krishna’s contribution to the world
08/20/17 Sunday, 5-8 PM – Progressive Conservative Dialogue
08/00/17 Tuesday, 1-3:30 PM – Understanding the essence of Scientology (1 of 13 religions)

September

09/10/17 Sunday, 5-8 PM – 14th Annual Unity Day USA
09/00/17 Tuesday, 1-3:30 PM – Understanding the essence of Sikhism (1 of 13 religions)
09/29/17 Monday, 11-1 PM –  Wisdom of Masters – Imam Hussain’s contribution to the world

October

10/02/17 Monday, 11-1 PM –  Wisdom of Masters – Mahatma Gandhi’s contribution to the world
10/00/17 Tuesday,1-3:30 PM – Understanding the essence of Wicca (1 of 13 religions)
10/21/17 Saturday, 11-1 PM –  Wisdom of Masters – Bahaullah’s contribution to the world

November

11/04/17 Saturday, 11-1 PM – Wisdom of Masters – Guru Nanak’s contribution to the world
11/11/17 Saturday, 2-5PM – 2nd Annual Veterans Day
11/00/17 Tuesday, 1-3:30 PM – Understanding the essence of Zoroastrianism (1 of 13 religions)
11/19/17 Sunday, 5-8 PM – 19th Annual Thanksgiving Celebrations & Awards Night
11/19/17 Sunday, 5-8 PM- Wisdom of Masters – Prophet Muhammad’s & Amin Award

December

12/13/17 Wednesday, 11-1 PM- Wisdom of Masters – HH Aga Khan’s contribution to the world
12/18/17 Thursday, 5-8 PM- Wisdom of Masters – Joseph Smith’s contribution to the world
12/18/17 Sunday, 2-5 PM – Festival of Faiths – Jefferson Memorial
12/18/17 Thursday, 5-8 PM- Wisdom of Masters – Jesus’s contribution to the world

**** Understanding the Essence of Religion – held at Church of Scientology National Affairs Office, 1701 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

**** Wisdom of Masters – Lunch Series in restaurants over extended lunch –  A few dates have been moved to combine with other dates in December and April in particular. We can also hold it any facility if you are interested in sponsoring the event.

Our annual Events will be held in the designated places

[email protected] | (214) 325-1916

Thank you.

Mike Ghouse, President
(214) 325-1916 | Washington, DC
Center for Pluralism aka America Together Foundation
Pluralism studies in religion, politics, society and culture
www.CenterforPluralism.com | [email protected]