I was first taught how to make chai from a friend’s mother growing up; originally from New Delhi, India, their family had immigrated the year prior and lived two doors down from my childhood home. …
Interfaith Fellows’ Blog Posts
Blog posts written by fellows of the Interfaith Fellows Program.
What’s in a Name?–Tegbir Chawla
“Order for Teeg?” “Tigbar, right?” “ohh beer…like the drink?” These are just a few of the common mispronunciations or misconceptions that I have heard about my name when placing an order or introducing myself to …
Faith in Silence–Jaden Schultz
In September of 2016 my biggest fear came true, and my life changed forever. After a lifelong battle with cancer, my dad passed away, leaving my entire family devastated. The loss was unimaginable. I cannot …
Love and Grace, a Christian Perspective on Abortion–Marie Meyer
I grew up looking at a framed image of Dorothy Day which said, “We cannot love God unless we love each other, and to love we must know each other. We know Him in the …
Reflections on Interfaith Dialogue–Shahid Ahmad
As I reflect on this semester with the Interfaith Fellows Program, I realize how much it has shaped my understanding of religion and my relationship with my faith within a community and world context. Entering …
At Least I Have My Hijab: My Journey to Fearlessness and Faith–Awa Phatty
I started wearing the hijab in third grade, long before I fully understood its meaning. It was simply a norm in my community, and I liked how it felt when I put it on. It …
My Journey of Faith from Nepal to the United States–Shashank Pokhrel-Joshi
Growing up in the far western region of Nepal, I was raised in a household where my parents did not engage in everyday religious practices; instead, we celebrated only major festivals. Despite this, religion was …
Growing Up Seventh-Day Adventist–Faith Nyabuto
Every Friday evening, as the sun set below the horizon, my family would come together to embrace the Sabbath. This wasn’t just a change in time; it was a shift in perspective—a pause from the …
Walking With Pride–Baljinder Singh
Walking with pride means something unique for every single individual. I walk with pride while wearing a Sikh turban commonly referred to as a Pagri, a piece of cloth dating back centuries, representing sacrifice and …
Performative Grace–Axell Boomer
I first remember learning the story of Jonah and the Whale in Sunday school. Jonah’s actions were taught as a lesson in why we ought to follow God’s command. Past that point, I put it …