Why Interfaith Relations Are Needed

Whether in the mountains or a temple, in a circle of dancers or in a silent meditation, humans look to experiences which connect them with others, with themselves, with the world, and with the transcendent. The feeling of awe while looking at a starry night sky is the same today as it was for our ancestors hundreds of thousands of years ago, long before any of the religions and wisdom traditions we recognize today were even close to emerging. Yet even though many of the religions we name and know today are fairly young in the long arc of human history, the effect of their presence in our lives and culture is enormous.  ​

One of the ways we often feel the presence of religion and spirituality in our lives and culture is through identity. "I'm a Muslim", or, "I'm an Atheist", or, "I'm a Humanist", and the list goes on. While belonging and identity offer many benefits and strengths, we are also in a time when labels often precede relationship, and the results of such a sequence carries a high risk.

Interfaith relations is the commitment to prioritizing relationships before labels. The interfaith programming at Interfaith Works seeks to build understanding and cooperation between and among the diverse religious and spiritual communities of Thurston County as we work together for social justice and peace. We do this work through acts of service, development of programs that seek social change, and fostering moments of interfaith learning and sharing. As we continue on know that YOU are invited to join us in this work! Please be in touch and feel free to contact us with any inquiries, comments, or suggestions.