Rev. Mark E. Fowler from the @tanenbaumcenter joins us this week and discusses his journey from a Presbyterian upbringing to becoming an interfaith minister. Rev. Fowler guides Tanenbaum to the fulfillment of its mission to promote justice and build respect for religious difference by transforming individuals and institutions to reduce prejudice, hatred, and violence. He is a graduate of the One Spirit Interfaith Seminary, is an ordained Interfaith/Interspiritual minister, and is a Dean of second-year students at One Spirit Interfaith Seminary. In this episode, he explores the concepts of interfaith and interspirituality, emphasizing the importance of community and understanding among different faiths. Rev. Fowler shares insights from his work at the Tannenbaum Center, which focuses on combating religious prejudice and promoting justice. He reflects on personal experiences with spirituality, the impact of wounds from religious traditions on peoples’ spiritual journeys, and the intersection of faith and activism.
Takeaways
Reverend Mark Fowler emphasizes the importance of community in interfaith work.
Interfaith work involves knowing one another as neighbors and supporting each other.
Interspirituality transcends traditional interfaith concepts, focusing on shared humanity.
Tannenbaum Center aims to combat religious prejudice and promote justice.
Personal experiences with religion can shape one's spiritual journey significantly.
Wounds from past religious experiences can influence current spiritual exploration.
Christian privilege can be an invisible barrier to understanding religious diversity.
Engagement in interfaith work can lead to healing and community building.
Joy can be found in spending time with family and friends.
The importance of investigating the relationship between culture and religion.
Chapters
(04:23) Understanding Interfaith and Interspirituality
(09:13) Personal Journey and Spiritual Background
(18:21) The Role of Tannenbaum Center in Interfaith Work
(27:31) Navigating Privilege and Spiritual Identity
(33:12) Finding Joy and Community
Resources:
Tanenbaum Center: https://tanenbaum.org/
Mark E. Fowler on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-fowler-9468b36
Follow Tanenbaum Center on IG: @tanenbaumcenter
Join our online community at Sanctuary Collective Community
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