Pluralism News is the expression of our work, and we are pleased to share the same with you. Our land is inhabited by people from Atheists to Zoroastrians, Republican, Democrats and others, different races, ethnicities, cultures, and cuisines. Pluralism is an attitude of respecting the otherness of others and accepting the God given the uniqueness of each one of us, and as we learn to do that, conflicts fade and solutions emerge. You can always access this info from www.PluralismNews.com
Ambassador for Religious Freedom
Five minutes into the opening remarks at the Department of State, Ambassador Brownback said something very powerful and timely, “I am a conservative Christian, but when it comes to religious freedom, I am for the religious freedom of all people.” Once again, I debated about clapping as it may not be kosher, but then I could not resist applauding, and I am glad, others followed and appreciated it. Full report https://centerforpluralism.com/religious-freedom-ambassador-brownback/
A Blue Print for American Muslims
This will be out in April. The Blueprint will address the issues that have kept Muslims in silos, ghettos, clusters and in tiny ponds and offers guidance to come out of the shells and connect with fellow Americans. As a community, American Muslims have not developed any concrete plans to extricate themselves out of the chaotic situations, hostility and incessant Islamophobic rhetoric they face. Each time a terrorist acts out, they start praying and wishing that the terrorist were not a Muslim. Then condemnations and denial will follow; that the terrorist is fringe, he is not one of them or he is an extremist. Then they will start combating the conservative media defending the faith. This book is a primer to a Blueprint for Muslims to consider. A Muslim is someone who should be a conflict mitigator and goodwill nurturer, a formula for peaceful societies practiced by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and guided by Quran.
Pluralism in Cuisine
The Hindu lady screamed at the Jewish man, “Jacob (dramatization to make a point), I thought you knew I am a Hindu and Cow is sacred to me, how can you be so insensitive? How can you eat that beef, don’t you care how I feel?” She was hurt and threw a fit! Jacob, on the other hand, was yelling at the Christian lady, “Jonie, I did not think you would eat that pork in front of me knowing that I don’t eat Pork, you have just pissed me off.” All the four had nasty things to say, and their enthusiasm dwindled down, and quietly, they ate in tension and went back to the office without talking with each other. Full story https://centerforpluralism.com/food-pluralism/
Pluralism Is Necessary For The World’s Collective Survival
Pluralism in societies or one may say a religious society doesn’t mean to eradicate the differences or smooth things up under one canopy. Pluralism specifically means to reinvent the ways of living, arguing, connecting and disagreeing in a society of differences and inequality. It’s always dangerous to keep discussing and complicating the “religious identities “and “religious violence” which often derail our understandings about the concept of pluralistic societies. Religion is everywhere. The much-needed pluralism is necessary to bridge the gaps between different cultures and religious worlds. https://centerforpluralism.com/pluralism-is-necessary-for-the-worlds-collective-survival/
Does Confident Pluralism mean protecting racist views by Dr. Eboo Patel
John quotes the philosopher Rousseau’s pessimistic view — “it is impossible to live at peace with those we regard as damned” — and then goes on to offer his more optimistic formulation: “Confident pluralism allows genuine difference to coexist without suppressing or minimizing our firmly held convictions. We can embrace pluralism precisely because we are confident in our own beliefs, and in the groups and institutions that sustain them.” https://centerforpluralism.com/does-confident-pluralism-mean-protecting-racist-views/
Hindu Man Adopts a destitute Muslim Girl
Stories like this should roll a tear of joy, it did to me. Happiness is when there is no conflict and I am so happy to read this story. I pray the negative trends in India against interfaith marriages come to an end and let people marry whomever they want without harassment of any kind. https://centerforpluralism.com/good-story-from-kerala-hindu-family-adopts-raises-and-marries-of-a-muslim-girl-as-a-muslim/
The Pakistani American Doctor’s Organization – An exemplary Organization
Dr. Vasdev Lohano, the outgoing president of the association and I had a brief conversation during a break, and I am pleased to share the gist of it. Talking about the cohesiveness of his organization, his pride came through in these words, “Culture trumps religion and binds us together with language, customs, heritage, arts etc. We should focus our energies to promote culture to create harmony among each other. I have seen so many times people forget who you are if you start talking with them in their language.” https://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/the-pakistani-american-do_b_5323434.html#es_share_ended
Texas Faith – After religious right, will the religious left reassert itself?
The right has gone too far and has pushed the society to a greater degree of imbalance, and their opposition to equal pay for women, affordable care, and same-sex marriage has created ample energy in the left to bulldoze the right in the 2014 mid-term elections, as a self-balancing self-preserving act. The progressives have to be as aggressive as the conservatives to restore that balance in the society. (This is one of the 250 articles Mike wrote at Dallas Morning News) http://foundationforpluralism.blogspot.com/2014/05/texas-faith-after-religious-right-will.html
What do we do at the Center for Pluralism?
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If you want America to function cohesively, where you feel secure about yourselves, your faith, your face, race, ethnicity, culture and even your politics, we have a space for you. If you wish to be part of the Center for Pluralism as a volunteer, donor, scholar, or a writer, please write to Mike@Centerforpluralism.com – Most of our articles can also be accessed by clicking www.PluralismNews.com
Interfaith Marriages
Marriage is indeed an expression of a commitment to s relationship between two individuals. The men and women who take the bold step to become one regardless of their
www.InterfaithMarriages.org
origins, faiths, races, and ethnicities must be applauded. They are setting an example of how to live in harmony despite their differences. Interfaith marriages are becoming the new norm of the society. In a few years, one out of two marriages would be of interfaith. Yes, this is across the board, whether you are a Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Baha’i, Atheist or the other. According to the Pew survey, 40% of people of faiths will be marrying a person of another faith, it is higher among Jews, it is 50%. Details at – www.InterfaithMarriages.org
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COMING UP: FOUR BOOKS THIS YEAR
- Blueprint for American Muslims – April 2018
- Standing up for others – July 2018
- Americans Pluralism – November 2018
- Mistakes Muslims Make – September 2018
Dr. Mike Ghouse is blessed to have stood up for the rights of people of every faith from Atheists to Zoroastrians including Native Americans, Pagans, immigrants, Wicca and LGBTQ communities across the globe. He has a solid record of work for each one of these communities and a book is being written chronicling this work as an encouragement to people to enjoy the joys of “standing up for others”.
Mike is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. As we learn to respect the “otherness” of others and accept the God-given uniqueness of each one of us, then conflicts will fade and solutions emerge. He has dedicated his life for this purpose and offers programs to bring about the positive change—to create cohesive societies.
Thank you
Mike Ghouse
Center for Pluralism
Mike@Centerforpluralism.com