Episode 90.

Are you a museum goer? Are you interested in the history of religion in America? Is religious freedom in America important to you? If you answered yes to any of those questions, today’s episode will speak to you. Chris Stevenson has been developing the National Museum of American Religion for 15 years. Currently a digital-first project, Chris and his team began the Religion in the American Experience podcast as a stepping-stone to exhibits. They are also talking about a traveling exhibit. The key questions underlying all of these endeavors are: What has America done to religion and what has religion done to America?

Highlights:

· Religious freedom in America

· Inspiration for the National Museum of American Religion project

· The Museum’s Digital First Approach

· Religion in the American Experience podcast

· Smithsonian vs. private structure

· Mobile museum: religion's pandemic journey

· Exploring positive lived religion

Bio:

Chris Stevenson has worked as a teacher, systems engineer, and consultant. He has a B.S. in applied physics and Masters degrees in education and agricultural engineering. His overriding interest is buttressing civil society, and in 2000 he founded the non-profit Community Levee Association. Shortly thereafter Mr. Stevenson founded America’s Quilt of Faith. Out of the initial America’s Quilt of Faith project, Faith2SelfGovern, grew the start-up National Museum of American Religion project. Mr. Stevenson is the author of Letters from an American Husband and Father: Championing Virtue as the Most Durable Empire, a compilation of his letters to the editor and essays written between 1998 and 2012.

References:

Harvard University Pluralism Project, founded by Prof. Diana Eck

Article 6 of the US Constitution

1st Amendment of the US Constitution

Social Media links for guest:

Facebook

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LinkedIn

Transcript on Buzzsprout

More Episodes with Mormons:

Social Media links for Méli:

Website – the Talking with God Project

Meli’s email

LinkedIn – Meli Solomon

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The Living Our Beliefs podcast offers a place to learn about other religions and faith practices.

The Living Our Beliefs podcast is part of the Talking with God Project – https://www.talkingwithgodproject.org/

Episode 89.

Every culture has its food, and in America, each immigrant group has contributed to the bounty of culinary options––from Italian pizza to Jewish delis and much more. Muslims are no different. What this group has brought, however, is a wide array of foods, since Muslims hail from many countries. My guest today, Shahed Amanullah, a renowned entrepreneur, created a short list of restaurants that offered halal food in 1998. What began as a simple list for himself and his Muslim friends, has grown into a juggernaut. Now an app called Zabihah, it is the world’s first global halal restaurant discovery and delivery platform, including 14,000 locations in the U.S. and 50,000 worldwide. In this conversation, Shahed and I cover many aspects of the halal food scene, and the parallels with Jewish kosher laws among other things.

Highlights:

· Halal food as a symbol of Muslim presence in America.

· Defining Halal and Zabiha.

· Variations in halal observance among Muslims.

· Halal as both a spiritual and communal expression.

· Evolving Halal standards debate.

· Shared principles and practice between halal and kosher traditions.

· Eco-Kosher and organic principles in halal practices.

· Spirituality of Food in Islam.

Bio:
Shahed Amanullah is an accomplished entrepreneur, product developer, and investor/mentor for early-stage startups. He is the founder of Zabihah, the world’s first global halal restaurant discovery and delivery platform, and serves as Managing Director of Elian Capital, a private equity fund manager and investment advisor based in San Antonio. Shahed holds a BS in Engineering from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Georgetown University.

Social Media links for Shahed:

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Transcript on Buzzsprout

More Episodes with Muslims:
Bonus. Understanding the American Muslim Experience (Dr. Amir Hussain)

Religious Pluralism vs. White Supremacy in America Today – Wajahat Ali

How to be Visibly Muslim in the US Government – Fatima Pashaei

Social Media links for Méli:

Website – the Talking with God Project

Meli’s email

LinkedIn – Meli Solomon

Facebook – Meli Solomon

Follow the podcast!
The Living Our Beliefs podcast offers a place to learn about other religions and faith practices. Understanding how other people live opens your mind and heart to new people you meet.

The Living Our Beliefs podcast is part of the Talking with God Project – https://www.talkingwithgodproject.org/

Episode 88.

This episode is in memory of the passengers and crew of the DC and Philadelphia plane crashes and my friend Karen Hirschfeld. May their memories be for a blessing.

This is the first of a new Reflection series. They will be short monthly episodes, opportunities to share my thoughts about recent episodes, things I’ve written or read and whatever else seems relevant.

Highlights:

· Explanation of the new reflection series format.

· Criticism of Project 2025 and current administration’s dismantling of the federal government.

· Comments on White Christian Nationalism and White Supremacy concerns.

· Focus on spheres of influence and readiness to act.

· Four practical suggestions for increasing understanding of others.

Bio

I am a public scholar and interreligious leader with a keen interest in understanding the nature of similarities and differences––especially religious and cultural. The Talking with God Project is currently my main focus, and I am actively expanding its reach through workshops, articles, panels, talks and a podcast.

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Raised in the Boston area, I have lived in Seattle, WA and Berlin, Germany, before returning to Boston in 2017. Carving out a varied educational and professional path, I hold a B.A. in Fine Art from Oberlin College (1984), an M.B.A. from Northeastern University (1997), a Certificate in Coaching from the International Coach Academy (2015), and a Master of Jewish Liberal Studies (MJLS) from Hebrew College with a focus on Global Interreligious Studies (2019). Professionally, I have worked as a business manager, an art dealer and founder of Solomon Fine Art gallery, language trainer, text editor, business coach and now public scholar and podcaster.

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Though raised in an interfaith non-observant home. my Conservative Jewish practice and wide range of personal and professional experiences inform my research and life.

Transcript on Buzzsprout

Social Media links for Méli:
Website – Talking with God Project

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Méli's Email – info@talkingwithgodproject.org

LinkedIn – Meli Solomon

Facebook – Meli Solomon

Follow the podcast!
The Living Our Beliefs podcast offers a place to learn about other religions and faith practices. When you hear about how observant Christians, Jews and Muslims live their faith, new ideas and questions arise: Is your way similar or different? Is there an idea or practice that you want to explore? Understanding how other people live opens your mind and heart to new people you meet.

The Living Our Beliefs podcast is part of the Talking with God Project – https://www.talkingwithgodproject.org/