Harness the Power of Local Media to Rebuild Trust

Last updated on: January 7, 2025 at 6:28 pm By Lisa Gable

A Feeling of Exclusion Do you feel society has shifted from coexistence to confrontation as personal or cultural values became laws and regulations? You may have felt attacked or excluded as ideological factions used the legal system or pressure campaigns to force compliance with policies that conflicted with your religious beliefs. Or you watch television programs and movies and don’t see your values represented. Our History of Co-Existence For much of our nation’s history, our communities coexisted with mutual respect... Read more

Can Americans Aspire to the Normalcy of Faith?

Last updated on: January 11, 2025 at 11:28 am By Lisa Gable

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Faith was once part of everyday life. People didn’t analyze it as much as they lived it. Belief in God—whether you were Muslim, Jewish, Latter-day Saints, Evangelical, or Catholic—was expected. Regular attendance at religious services was part of the weekly routine. In our not-too-recent past, mentioning faith activities when recounting your weekend was considered normal, or turning to faith as a source of strength in life’s challenges. A Helping Hand Today, we often underestimate the power of faith in our... Read more

Sacred to Sold: The Commercialization Of Religious Holidays

Last updated on: January 14, 2025 at 9:59 am By Debbie Almontaser

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What began with Christmas decorations, Black Friday sales, and massive retail promotions has now expanded to other religious holidays, such as Hanukkah and Ramadan, leading to the increasing commercialization of these sacred observances in recent years. The media has played a pivotal role in this phenomenon, turning spiritual occasions into large-scale commercial events. From Religious Tradition to Retail Extravaganza: The Evolution of Christmas For decades, Christmas was primarily a religious celebration for Christians, centered around family gatherings, church services, and... Read more

12 Interfaith Stories That Inspired Hope in 2024

Last updated on: January 16, 2025 at 12:36 pm By Guest Contributor

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By Allie Vroegop Every year, readers can always find stories in the news that speak of the division, of people not getting along, and of communities’ disagreements across the U.S. And 2024 was no different. But Interfaith America Magazine seeks to craft inspiring interfaith stories from our religiously diverse democracy and showcase how cooperation across difference is happening every day. This year, the top stories each month in the Magazine show how people on campuses, in corporations, and in civic... Read more

Embracing Joy, Unity, and Tradition This Holiday Season

Last updated on: December 23, 2024 at 11:09 am By Lisa Gable

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The American Melting Pot Holiday Advantage: Celebrations Across the Year Americans have many introspective moments annually that form in concerned chatter about inclusivity during the Christmas season. Debates rage online and at elite universities over whether we should elevate all holidays simultaneously and equally, accompanied by warnings not to say “Merry Christmas” for fear of offending. Yet “Merry Christmas if you practice” does not have the right ring, nor does it make anyone feel acknowledged or imply an upbeat celebration.... Read more

S.W.A.T. Breaks Barriers with Authentic Sikh Representation

Last updated on: January 16, 2025 at 12:36 pm By Simran Jeet Singh

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How Paramount CBS got the representation of faith right in a newly released episode of S.W.A.T. Yesterday Paramount CBS released an episode of its award-winning show, S.W.A.T., that featured a young actor from the Sikh religion. The faith he practices isn’t one we typically see on primetime television, despite the fact that it’s the fifth largest religion in the world. And typically, when we do see Sikhs in Western media, they’re flattened stereotypes: taxi drivers with thick accents, or sympathetic... Read more

Global Faith and Media Study: Religion writers react

Last updated on: December 2, 2024 at 11:03 am By Travis Henry

The largest-ever Global Faith and Media Study shook up the way people look at media’s relationship with faith coverage. The study, commissioned by the Faith and Media Initiative (FAMI) and conducted by global market research company HarrisX, shows that demand for media coverage of faith topics is high, while journalists admit that coverage of those topics is low and often not encouraged. An overwhelming amount of the 9,000 global citizens interviewed also believe that media coverage can perpetuate faith-related stereotypes rather than... Read more