The IFC will convene the 3rd Annual World Interfaith Harmony Month in the DMV. In support of the U.N. resolution aimed at spreading “the message of interfaith harmony and goodwill . . . based on Love of God/of the Good and Love of Neighbor”, the IFC and its collaborating partners will present a month of programming to coincide with the annual worldwide observance during the month of February 2022. For more about World Interfaith Harmony, click here.
Here’s what you can look forward to in February 2022:
Figel Event for Ecumenism: The Hope of Pan African Peoples and the Contradiction of Visible Unity Deferred: “Ubuntu” as a Vision for Christian Unity
Sponsored by Washington Theological Consortium
Ecumenical Prayer Service (6:00) lead by the Consortium Student Board, followed by a stirring presentation (6:30) by Dr. Angelique Walker-Smith Senior Associate for Pan African and Orthodox Faith Engagement at Bread for the World, discussion (7:25), and an outdoor reception (weather permitting). In-person event with virtual option.
Thursday, February 3rd
6:00-8:00 PM
Register here
How Do We Deal With Covid, Social Injustice & Polarization?
Sponsored by Prince George’s County Office of Human Rights, Rumi Forum and the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System
How do we build and use interfaith harmony to develop restoration, reconciliation, and resiliency as applicable to the world that we live in now? We are plagued: by the Covid-19 pandemic, by social injustice, by economic inequities, limited and inequitable access to resources, environmental injustice, and the polarization of our times. Three faith leaders will consider these difficult questions and provide hope and practical solutions to taking steps towards restoration, reconciliation, and resiliency today. Join the Prince George’s County Office of Human Rights, Rumi Forum, and the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System on February 3rd at 7 pm for a conversation for our time, in recognition of World Interfaith Harmony Week.
Thurday, February 3rd
7:00 PM
Register here
“Modern Muslim and Jewish Thinkers Who Have Influenced Us”
Co-sponsored by Rumi Forum and JIDS
While anti-Semites and Islamophobes often speak as if our faiths have been frozen in ice (and primitive thinking) for many centuries, the fact is that Jews and Muslims belong to living, breathing, stimulating faiths. JIDS and the Rumi Forum will jointly present a dialogue that presents some of the exciting ideas and personalities that have emerged within the past century to enrich our faiths. We will hear presentations about two modern Jewish thinkers: Rami Shapiro, who has brought a passion for various eastern faiths into his study of Judaism, and Menachem Mendel Schneerson (aka the Lubavitcher Rebbe), whose ideas sparked the rapidly growing Chabad Movement within Judaism. We will also hear presentations about two modern Muslim thinkers: Said Nursi, whose commentary of the Qur’an inspired a renewed way of engaging with the modern age; and Muhammad Iqbal, who had a remarkable impact on the intellectual and cultural reconstruction of Islam in British India and beyond.
These presentations will be given, respectively, by four scholars: Herb Levy, Rabbi Lee Weissman, Dr. Zeki Saritoprak, and Dr. Marcia Hermansen.
Wednesday, February 9th
7:00 PM via Zoom
Register here
“Guided by Faith: Diverse Perspectives on Professional Life”
Sponsored by IFC
Join in for a conversation about how faith guides peoples’ professional choices at different stages of life. Featured speakers include Manish Bapna (Jain), President & CEO, Natural Resources Defense Council; Aden Fischer-Brown (Jewish), Program Manager, Jewish Theological Seminary of America; and Diane Randall (Quaker), Former Executive Secretary, Friends Committee on National Legislation
Wednesday, February 16th
6:30-7:30 PM ET
Register here
Scriptural Reasoning
Sponsored by Rumi Forum
A scriptural study on Qur’an, Gospel and Hebrew Bible
Thursday, February 17th
7:30 PM ET
Register here
Songs of Harmony, Songs in Harmony
Sponsored by Mosaic Harmony
Mosaic Harmony presents: Songs of Harmony, Songs in Harmony an online concert, their 7th Annual Celebration of UN World Interfaith Harmony Week. MoHa videos with introductory statements to offer to the world as MoHa’s salute to IFC Interfaith Harmony Month DMV. https://mosaicharmony.org/
Sunday, February 20, 2022 – 4:00 p.m. (via livestream)
This is a free, public online event. Registration is required!
Virtual Pub Theology
Sponsored by Interfaith Connections
Mahashivaratri
Sponsored by Chinmaya Mission Washington Regional Center