Interfaith leader visits Utah State

Mikayla Kapp photo.

By: Sadie Herrera

Senior Writer

Eboo Patel spoke at Kent Concert Hall on Thursday to discuss “Building Bridges of Interfaith Cooperation” to overcome religious barriers and make changes in the world.

“This isn’t the time for anger,” Patel said. “This isn’t the time for revenge. This is the time for redemption. This is the time for reconciliation. This is the time to build.”

Patel’s speech started with a depiction of the inspiration behind Martin Luther King Jr. and his endeavors for civil rights. He described the connection between people of various beliefs, one inspiration being Abraham Joshua Heschel, an American rabbi in New York City.

Patel described three key steps to building these bridges.

The first was, when finding similarities between one’s traditions and others’ traditions, let the appreciation for the other tradition build. When finding another tradition or exemplary figure that embodies certain beliefs, respect that tradition.

Secondly, let others deepen the faith of tradition. Allow the values that are seen in other traditions deepen the appreciation for the known tradition.

“Deepen your roots in your tradition,” Patel said.

Third he said look into other traditions to see what everyone can do together and work on to improve the world; let others help to deepen your beliefs or traditions.

“What can people who orient around religion differently do with each other?” Patel said. “Let us make common cause.”

Patel also addressed how religious boundaries should break in order to find similarities between religions to work together rather than dividing.

“We contribute with one another,” he said. “We are better together. I say this because it’s been true in my own life.”

Patel went on to describe his relationships with those of religions opposite of his own, including when he had a girlfriend who was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which he found to have positively influenced his life.

“We contribute with one another,” he said. “We are better together. I say this because it’s been true in my own life.”

Patel founded the Interfaith Youth Corp, which encourages students of all religious backgrounds to act together for the common good and address religious intolerance. He was named one of America’s Best Leaders of 2009 by “US News & World Report”. He has served on President Obama’s inaugural advisory council, as well as contributes to several news organizations including USA Today, Huffington Post, NPR and CNN.

sadiejherrera@aggiemail.usu.edu