The logo of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

from Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Evangelical Lutheran Church…

Ms. Kadriye Avci Erdemli, Istanbul’s deputy mufti (the second most powerful official in charge of Islamic affairs). Photo from Religion News Service.

by Omid Safi

from…

I am a very happy camper right now...  Today I get to share the resorvoir of peace, stillness and power that I daily encounter with you in book form. While the music and song is a magnificent way of carrying to you the nature of encounter that is all our birthright, my book can now empower you to live a life discovering His awesome substance within, as the essence of who you are.  There is a memory built into you that is greater than time and totally relevant in time. 



Finding God…

We are nearly halfway through the month of Elul, the final month of the Jewish year. With Elul’s arrival, we usher in a period of personal introspection, repentance and spiritual renewal, which takes us through the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, Judaism’s holiest day.

There is an oft-repeated notion during Elul that G-d is in the field, and that we are urged to go out and meet G-d. Although G-d is always there, always…

This article was solicited by the Amherst College Economics Department to highlight the work of some of its alumni. An edited portion of it was printed in its recently released Handbook.

I, for one, think that it’s completely rational to work for non-profit pay with a degree that prepared me for investment banking. While I love economics, and was initially…

Edward Anderson is a native of Atlanta, GA and a recent cum laude graduate of  Morehouse College with a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science. Currently, he is a Master of Interreligious Studies student at Claremont Lincoln University in southern California. As a community organizer, grant writer, and public speaker, he seeks to be an agent for social justice and a…

Protestors assembled outside the King Edward Hotel where Enbridge held its annual general meeting in May. A number of environmental groups as well as native communities are opposed to the Northern Gateway pipeline. Photo from Rick Madonik/Toronto Star file photo.

by…

Image of Eboo Patel’s new book, Sacred Ground: Pluralism, Prejudice, and the Promise of America. Photo from Kirkus Reviews website.

by Eboo Patel

from…

What were we born for? What was God's plan? This Sunday we'll start a study on the book of Ephesians as we dive into the history, context and the richness of Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus and how it connects with us…

The%20Our%20Father.doc

I’ve heard both of these exist in India – yet I’ve never experienced them in the same place. After downing some Masala Chai, I wander up a craggled street, hoping to catch sight of a mountain peak. A young man approaches, forward posture, with glazed,…

No one individual science can completely explain anything, especially religion.  The interconnected nature of the universe is such that, in order to understand any single phenomenon, one must utilize all of the sciences.  When the totality of the sciences (natural and social) has been utilized in an explanation of religion, the question remains: Is “religion” anything more than what the sciences inform us about it?

In this paper I will argue that nothing more is…

In the Jewish calendar, we have entered the month of Elul—a month of preparation that leads into the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah (the New Year) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). Elul is a time to reflect on our lives, actions and choices over the last year. It is a time of increased prayer, careful review, and gentle sifting.

In Jewish prayer and liturgy, God is often referred to as “the King”—language and an image that, for me, can seem aloof and distant. But during…

A Priest and Imam in Rwanda. Muslims and Christians in Rwanda are subjects in Alrick Brown’s documentary, Kinyarwanda.

by…

A Priest and Imam in Rwanda. Muslims and Christians in Rwanda are subjects in Alrick Brown’s documentary, Kinyarwanda.

by Alrick Brown

I am neither a Muslim nor a Christian; in fact I do not practice any organized faith. However, I have spent…

from Groundswell

Within hours of news of the Sikh gurdwara (house of worship) massacre, Groundswell supporters across the U.S. and around the world voiced our support and prayers for the community in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

On Sunday, August 12th, Groundswell Director Valarie Kaur hand-delivered 4,000 solidarity letters sent in by Groundswell supporters to the families and…

Adina Allen has written a lovely little article here at State of Formation.  As a new contributor to State of Formation, I've been unsure of how to get started introducing myself to the community of regular readers and contributors here, but Adina's article is a lovely little entry point into what I do and what I love.  One of the article's most compelling parts is…