- [Charlie] The soul by who, what, and (light string music) Religion or divine in putting beliefs into practice that pursue beauty in the that is found in (soothing string music) In a healthy and religion should challenge us to temper power and privilege (light string music) Well, welcome to the back porch.

It's nice to have you here.

- [Jill] Charlie, you're and it's just so fun And it makes sense that in a neighborhood like this How did you get involved?

- You know, I've always had for difference, I guess.

So just always I mentioned to you, my and he was kind of the Arab So I always had a fascination Wasn't until I started at Brebeuf Jesuit High School got invited to and then heard some stories than the stories I heard about the Middle East.

We start with the and that was sorta the People know Abraham had the made the covenant with God.

So Abraham started and from that came the and from that the So we call those three And those are well known Some of the ones that folks say the A lot of them The term they're using now it's living your religion.

And the Dharmics, the Hindu you know, some of going back to Vedic scripture, if you've heard the And the Buddhists' tradition and the Sikh tradition, which but the men wear turbans So if you've seen that's the Sikh tradition.

Amritsar, India is where or the foundation But they're well-represented and they do a lot But we call those for Then we have a Baha'i We have Pagan and Pagan does not It's just a very diverse Some of them from Nordic Some of them from more goddess - And I wondered, if they seek or it just kind of - Yeah, it's a little of both.

We joked in the beginning that we were not We had a quota.

We wanted to make sure that all the different - The thing I also really is you guys are proactive.

So you don't just sit You actually do things and at large to come in And obviously with the pandemic, we're having to and everything that people that brought people together, And like the Festival of that I think people associate with your organization - Yeah, it's fun.

This will be our 8th year of We moved online this and it created some challenges, but also some opportunities.

We had people from, I think, who saw a Festival which would never have happened.

But typically we take which is right downtown corner of Meridian It's a beautiful plaza.

It's got a beautiful with a fountain.

It's just an ideal place to All the different faith engaging activities that people and learn about their tradition.

It's probably one of in the state, We move it.

One challenge with is you gotta look at all not just one particular (upbeat drumming music) (upbeat dance music) ♪ Take my hand, lift me up ♪ ♪ Take my hand, raise me up ♪ (man singing in a (upbeat music in a - That celebration of faith 'cause basically and we all have our own But when we share them that also helps break and that's important.

- I agree so much.

I mean, I understand There's a concern about and that's gonna but I would almost it has only enhanced to try to understand how And I know it's been like I'm understanding another person's faith.

It helps me understand and My work and inner faith gives that we can overcome (soothing, uplifting music) - Faith is at the core of And I think finding is doing something in other people's lives.

What I would speak about my with God, that within keeps me centered, gives You know, I think faith so if faith is what I live - Faith is not but knowing that God will.

And the hope is that He will.

He will see us through this.

After coming to the U.S., I met people from a lot of and I've come to all religions are designed to allow human beings to live a life that makes a Do to others what you (soothing music and chanting) - This mix of the but also the ways in which when the people of and promises, in fact, folks get together.

So I think that definitely (upbeat gospel music) ♪ Swallow your pride ♪ ♪ If I have things ♪ ♪ You need to borrow ♪ ♪ So no one can give ♪ ♪ All that you need ♪ - Jainism is, the principles and being kind to one another.

We emphasize on being kind So that includes not bullying.

We just strongly believe that and in peace and just - Talmud principles is as if you saved the world.

It draws me back to (speaking that everyone is created And those principles are - In Indiana, there are called Gurudwaras, the place of the teacher.

We believe in one His sacred word, is the Sikh Holy Scripture.

(upbeat music in a - Whatever we give but that's a basic It's helping us learn that that what we do has meaning, and if you want to create a you learn how to put that do that which is also - Hindus believe that of divinity within and that connects And that all things in - Our faith tradition in Islam, there are two attributes Al-Rahman, merciful, Al-Raheem and the So the concept of are in the central - One of the very first is the lesson called So the Three Jewels in Buddhism are Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.

Buddha not only refers but also the fact really It's just that some to that fact yet.

And so you do do Dharma is kinda the and Sangha is the - My faith informs my because it calls me to look So there is an African and there is an image that comes out of the And in this image, you Its feet are planted but its head is turned back, and the purpose of turning and insight from the past and carry that forward - And the same with traditions.

I mean, traditions are very in our daily lives, but by sharing our it's another way of If you've been to marriages, in different traditions, or Bar Mitzvahs, or Christenings from different faith traditions, even naming ceremonies, I mean, they're so intimate and comfort for across religious traditions and how important a healthy religious community, even within a huge So it is an intimate space, and it just feels like to get to know and participate in the rituals of other people that some dating back some dating back literally (soothing music) - In the Baha'i faith, there's a calendar.

And our calendar is each of which has 19 days.

And you see 19 and nine, so nine is the most complete And so Baha'i houses of to indicate many ways to God.

And these houses to people of all faiths.

- The Hindu tradition So for us, the day starts with Mother Earth actually.

Before we get up from the bed, we pray actually that Mother because we are about - In our church, we is a basic unit of the church, and we believe as a that the home is a sacred place.

(uplifting piano music) ♪ Our Savior's love ♪ ♪ Shines like the sun ♪ As from above ♪ ♪ It breaks through ♪ Lighting our way ♪ ♪ It leads us back ♪ Where we may stay ♪ ♪ To share eternal life ♪ (uplifting piano music) - When I sit with somebody the idea is to, you know, as it's happening and just kind of being okay and letting those thoughts, kinda dissipate.

The idea of acceptance as part of the tradition.

- When I think about the they are multifaceted So I grew up in New Jersey in where we attended It was a predominantly And then we would go and who were in Tennessee And they attended a way out in the country.

And then my paternal and were members of that was also a And so those three informed my understandings and living in the - We gather to sing Hu together, which is a holy name for God and actually use that as a for each person every day, too.

- We have two major The first holiday is the month of Ramadan.

And then the second holiday And it is called the which is commemoration of - The Hindu calendar is loaded with different days Diwali happens usually in the So it's coming up and it is the celebration knowledge over ignorance, - Judaism is the which is repairing the world.

And it's a broad belief, and everyone kind of and what that really means.

For me, it really means to try and leave and make (upbeat band music) - But you guys take a more You go for the human that the traditions, the So you start there to we really are and create to come into, and something everybody wants to try or maybe they don't, but they're - There's just a proliferation food culture going And I guess to use that analogy to even to go back to and they came from, they have built into them.

So it just adds again, and that opportunity for your neighbor and as a community that But so many great pieces of have some religious And so, when we I think it adds so much when we understand that that art and and America's just where there is this convergence of all these You know, when we grew up, they And I know now we of a bouquet of flowers, right?

Because they're so different and different smells And that's what makes Not that we're all melting or a common thing that we and it adds beauty (soothing music) - Community is one of of each religion and how thrive within their culture or from the culture from because religion and You can't have one - Our culture, and our belief is exhibited For example, I would have What does Namaste means?

I bow down to divinity in you, and there is no distinction We are one in the same at the deepest - Yeah, I think about everything brings to the community We all have our talents that So when we all come together, it's just this amazing - I really like going to because we get to that represent my culture.

- Celebration is very important.

Of course, as in most are a big part of celebrating, and music becomes a of most Hindu celebrations.

So it's a very vibrant, for people to come (soothing music in - It's important that and we're aware of our history, but it doesn't need We can move beyond that history.

And I think we're at that in society where some people But I feel like it's critical if we're gonna move beyond it, and I feel like we have to.

And religion is just of some of the challenges that (soothing music) - Baha'i community is who really want to and manifest that through - And that really the core is by building a healthy, And so that means we're very, very invested First on inclusion, I will So that obviously adds to really looking and finding And also really understanding that not everything as we would like it to be.

I mean, just quite and this is important - I'm an immigrant and I with other immigrants Many of the immigrants that And I use the word because a lot of people call call them illegals and Their immigration but they are undocumented.

- This is my 56th I have not seen such a - Religion is fickle and Religion, on the one to invoke convictions that demean and but it also has a capacity that are courageous and and religious in both ways throughout history.

It's a daily choice to live into those better Those things that the things that and to stand against and speak against those things - What does the Book of but to do justice, love mercy, and to walk humbly with God.

And doing justice on particularly those who are and in this instance, is an essential part of (light drumming music) - White people will never Just what are black Black tears are the result Some shared with other and people of various There are tears of extreme joy when our children we advance on the job, or close on a new house.

There are tears of sadness when we witness a or console a dear friend And then there are tears tears shed by blacks in America, tears which stem from a tears steeped in memories as recollections of to remind us of a sorted past.

Black tears represent of men, women, and children who Black tears result in substandard housing.

Black tears appear when we're Black tears come from seeing seeing our children and being disrespected Black tears burn, they sting.

They appear to come Black tears rolled and pierce the soul.

Black tears come as blacks stand before a criminal justice system waiting on an unjust verdict.

Blacks have a but why are you so offensive?

Rendering blacks defensive, institutional racism, Black tears are at of helplessness At times, black It seems as if ancestors crying out Neighbors crying out from Children crying where they are not as it grows naturally Black tears fall when we can't drive, can't walk, can't have a Black Lives Black tears fall when Black tears cloud our vision, just as the lead our babies drink and peels White people hear me, but you'll never (soothing music) - This idea that we are automatically We are valued by God.

And so anyone who does and is offended if we your offense is actually So yeah, I'm done sort of asking I say black lives matter.

When I say that, it's a It's not simply political in that I'm demanding my but that's an extension that there is a movement "Do better, and It is about how people as God has established it.

- There is a commonality when you're seeking in this life towards the next, there are common that run throughout - The universal to everyone is a child of God.

And so we do everything where our other brothers We teach our members to and aware to be or community or that can be of help to give and their finances and to try to be involved and try - The interfaith work is a way that we can together but also afford everyone not that it's ours to grant, but we can also treat - And so I feel like that needs to be done by to help change that perception and see Christianity and an embracing religion that wants to create that believes inclusion And that's how we will solve Again, we said the these are collective, the that we're facing.

These are challenges that or one political group is It is gonna require cooperation.

(upbeat pop music) - Welcome, I'm your I am joined by teens from the greater Indianapolis and talk about faith We are coming together of the Center for Festival of Faiths.

The theme for the 8th annual is celebrating our traditions, our The teens today represent that make up our I would like to note that from their point of view the entirety of their faith.

I'm going to start with our first question.

Name one tradition that has been particularly helpful to you.

- Lent, as I mentioned that's 40 days, and it's And I really like that because it's a time and reexamine your And you typically or something where you decide that there's like something And so, the past couple of and it made me think and now I'm actually - So like I mentioned, the last eight days So yesterday on the last day, we do this like The one we do is an hour, There's three hour ones too.

And during the time and then afterwards, we would be doing it in person.

So you kinda go up to everyone and you say this phrase called (speaking in a foreign language) which is just asking for everything you've or just in general - Okay, that's pretty similar to what I'm about which is about Yom Kippur, 'cause it's one But basically it's So you're kind of and your relationships and kind of like how you and how you interact And so you're kind So you're at synagogue all day.

But one thing that is you're seeking for how you may - All right.

How does your religion So there's a saying in Hinduism, it's (speaking in a and that translates So we believe that like and should be treated as such and community's super 'cause like whenever we like do Puja at the temple, there's like hundreds Whenever we like it's like with your family, your neighbors, - Yeah, we also are His children of God and And there's a scripture when you are in the service you're owning the which means that when you're and just doing the right is something's really But also it's just something - What is it like to be engaged in the youth faith-based - I think, you know, as a teenager is hard as is.

And so finding your community with either your wherever you're from, I think that's so important of struggles that I faced in America and having especially teenagers through the same things is nice because it's not to with everyone, even I'd like to share my But I also think like are so good just to And it really does open to a lot of things that like I would not done I'm learning right now.

- I think it's amazing how has in some ways but at the same time, in so many different ways how important it is in different aspects and So what is one thing that you from watching today's program?

- I just wanted to say that, you know, I haven't in person before, but that we can all get about our different religions the similarities that even there's some still - Yeah, I think one although we're super different, the shared principles, And I think we should all more often and maybe try - I think we've all from listening to So I hope other people listening how although our religions some like basic are all pretty similar things.

And so, although each religion we kind of believe And I think that's really cool how we're all like (upbeat pop music) - We need to work more so that we can effectively Although with the young people, we get interns from Butler and just the dynamic it's just very encouraging.

They do get it and they do from different and for good effect.

(soothing music) - I'm very strongly Center for Interfaith There's a lot of desperate that goes on around religion but what ends up it strengthens bonds by What ends up happening that we get to know each other.

We get to know each and we recognize that - That's why I'm so that it has just so and it brings people together.

A lot of people say and I'm a firm believer that 'cause there's so much We all grew up in our silos and And my passion is to get talk to each other.

- Goal of CAC is to educate and what better way to know than to know the and what is important to them.

(soothing music) - But you guys take a more You go for the human that the tradition traditions, So you start there how similar we really are and create a safe space And something like everybody wants to try or maybe they don't, but at least it.

Yeah, it's good, and again, but those warm and fuzzy moments that we all have in our lives, and we think back they have to do with that those milestones, like we said, weddings and funerals and And so, and it doesn't it's just that same kind wanting their child to be some structure, some respect And like I said, we We can see that in one another.

We can see that in the even our politics, right, but it is the proverbial Our primary goal is a better understanding who has a different or worships different than you.

Where that leads is, you know, again will vary But I think once you've of meeting someone from then it changes how you perceive the world, and the decisions that you I mean, this is our So we've been through several, our board members sign up and then they can do So we've been rotating new Our board of directors is by far the best So we're getting new membership.

We're seeking not only diverse, but also younger board members.

Every year we have a banquet, And we recognize a someone who has a real of bringing people So I think that's how we lift up people and that are doing good work that religious diversity, So I think that's and continue to - It does, it just to that getting to getting to know and not just on a surface level, but on a deeper, I've enjoyed our conversation.

Thanks for inviting - You're welcome, Jill.

It's always delightful.

- It's good to be your neighbor.

(both laugh) (calming new age music) ♪ Love is my religion ♪ ♪ Love is who I am ♪ ♪ Love is my religion ♪ ♪ Love is who I am ♪ ♪ Oh oh ♪ ♪ Life that fire in your heart ♪ ♪ Feel the heat ♪ Burn burn ♪ ♪ Listen to the heart ♪ ♪ And let it show ♪ Hear it beat beat beat ♪ ♪ Ooh wee wee ♪ ♪ Hear it beat ♪ ♪ Love is my religion ♪ ♪ Love is who I am ♪ ♪ Love is my religion ♪ ♪ Love is who I am ♪ ♪ I see love feel love ♪ ♪ Breathe love ♪ ♪ Come with me ♪ ♪ And let yourself free ♪ ♪ Ooh ooh wee ♪ ♪ Oh whoa oh ♪ ♪ Close your eyes ♪ ♪ I'm here with you ♪ ♪ Feel the love ♪ Shine shine ♪ ♪ Raise your voice ♪ ♪ Speak your truth ♪ ♪ Spread the love ♪ Flow flow ♪ ♪ Through the universe ♪ ♪ Ooh ooh wee ♪ ♪ Let it flow ♪ ♪ Love is my religion ♪ ♪ Love is who I am ♪ ♪ Love is my religion ♪ ♪ Love is who I am ♪ (upbeat pop music)