Interfaiths

This podcast explores the historical significance of the Hijra, the foundational migration in Islam, by highlighting how a Christian monarch provided sanctuary to persecuted Muslims. It draws a direct parallel between these 7th-century events and contemporary struggles regarding immigration, religious nationalism, and the treatment of refugees. The author redefines modern idolatry as the pursuit o...

This episode explores the symbolism of light as a unifying metaphor for the Divine within Christian and Islamic scriptures. By examining the New Testament and the Qur’an, the author illustrates how both faiths view God as the ultimate source of truth, guidance, and moral purity. While Christianity identifies Jesus as the embodiment of light and Islam portrays God as the luminescent guide of the un...

This dissertation by Abir Bashir Bazaz explores the negative theology and mystical poetry of the 14th-century Kashmiri saint Nund Rishi, also known as Sheikh al-‘Ālam. The text examines how his verse, known as shruks, employs a "language of unsaying" to navigate complex themes of death, nothingness, and apocalyptic imminence. By situating Nund Rishi within the broader context of Sufism and the Bha...

This podcast explores the profound historical alliance and spiritual solidarity between Black and Indigenous communities, particularly the Black Seminoles of Florida. By examining events like the battles along the Loxahatchee River, the author illustrates how these groups fused diverse traditions—including African libations, Native American ceremonies, and Islamic prayers—to survive systemic viole...

Prof. Nathan Katz focuses on the formal interfaith dialogue between the Hindu and Jewish communities, highlighting their shared values and theological intersections. He documents specific meetings where religious leaders and scholars discussed mutual respect, the rejection of proselytisation, and the preservation of sacred traditions in a modern world. He addresses the historical lack of conflict...

In "How to Read the Qur'an," Carl W. Ernst provides a scholarly framework for understanding the text through a literary and historical lens, rather than a purely theological one. He addresses the significant cultural barriers and modern anxieties that often prevent non-Muslim readers from engaging with the book in a fair-minded way. By advocating for a chronological reading, Ernst allows the audie...

Mikael Nilsson’s research challenges the common assumption that Nazi antisemitism was purely secular by highlighting how Adolf Hitler’s worldview was rooted in a distorted Christian theology. It explains that Hitler reimagined Jesus as an Aryan warrior rather than a Jewish figure, weaponising religious symbols to transform genocide into a perceived moral and divine mission. This historical analysi...

Inter-religious dialogue is the effort by individuals and organisations of different religious affiliations to exchange views on their commonalities and differences, reduce misunderstandings, and cooperate on shared goals such as peace or ecology. The relevance of the academic study of religion (Religionswissenschaft) to this dialogue is multifaceted, acting as both a historical initiator, a criti...

This episode examines how Judaism, Christianity, and Islam utilise repeated sacred phrases, often referred to as mantras, to foster a deeper connection with the divine. These monotheistic traditions employ specific names of God or holy verses to align a practitioner’s life with spiritual reality and transform their inner consciousness. The source details how these invocations can be performed as s...

In this episode, we undertake a rigorous examination of the October 7, 2023, Hamas assault on Israel through the lens of classical Islamic jurisprudence ( fiqh ). While Hamas invokes religious doctrines such as jihād to justify its military operations, many scholars argue that its tactics represent a political manipulation of religion rather than authentic practice. Drawing on the research of lead...

In this episode of the Interfaiths podcast, Professor Iqbal Akhtar is joined by Dr. Juan Cole, the Richard P. Mitchell Collegiate Professor of History at the University of Michigan. Dr. Cole shares the story of his extensive intellectual journey, ranging from his childhood in multi-religious Eritrea to his groundbreaking research on North Indian Shi’ism. The conversation covers Dr. Cole’s experien...

In this episode, I sit down with Matt Anderson, Executive Director of Mosaic Miami (formerly MCCJ), to discuss the evolving landscape of faith and community cohesion in South Florida. From his roots in the Haitian and Bahamian diasporas to leading one of Miami’s oldest human relations organizations, Matt shares his journey from finance to the nonprofit sector. We dive deep into why the "old playbo...

Welcome back to the channel. In this episode, I am honored to sit down with Tara Orezoli, Director of Development for Strategic Initiatives at the FIU Foundation, to discuss a groundbreaking project for our community: The Trish and Dan Bell Multifaith Chapel at Florida International University. We explore the vision behind this remarkable 18,000-square-foot facility—the first of its kind at a publ...

In this episode, I sit down with Joe Jacoby, a preeminent leader in the Miami Jewish community and former president of Temple Beth Am, for a profound discussion on history, identity, and the future of interfaith relations. As a rare Miami native, Joe shares his family’s deep roots in the South (dating back to Pensacola and Mobile) and offers a firsthand perspective on how Miami has evolved from a...

In this episode of the Interfaith Miami podcast, host Balakar sits down with Pamela Lear, a prominent figure in the South Florida interfaith movement, to discuss her fascinating journey of identity, resilience, and faith. Pamela’s story is not that of a typical upbringing. From growing up as an "Air Force brat" living in Japan and Ireland to navigating the complexities of the segregated South in 1...

In this episode of the Interfaiths Miami Podcast at Florida International University (FIU), Dr. Iqbal Akhtar sits down with Dr. Yasemin Saib—an FIU professor of religion, Muslim theologian, and key member of the Muslim-Jewish Dialogue. Born in Saudi Arabia and educated in strict Wahhabi madrasas for 12 years, Dr. Saib shares her remarkable transformation from a theology rooted in fear to one ancho...

In this episode of the Interfaith Miami podcast, we are honored to sit down with Rabbi Jaime Aklepi of Temple Beth Am, one of South Florida’s most respected faith leaders and a key partner in our Jewish-Muslim dialogue initiatives. Rabbi Aklepi shares her personal journey from a "somewhat observant" upbringing to becoming the only rabbi in her family—a path shaped by Jewish summer camp, her time a...

In this episode of the Interfaiths podcast, we are honored to sit down with Professor Jeanette Smith, a dedicated social justice advocate and moral exemplar in the South Florida community. Jeanette takes us through her fascinating journey—from growing up in a small town in Northern Maryland and her adult confirmation in the Catholic Church, to her realization that her values naturally aligned with...

In this episode of the Interfaiths project, Dr. Iqbal Akhtar welcomes Joanne and Susan, esteemed leaders from Temple Beth Am’s "Unbiased" (Understanding and Educating about Bias) initiative. Together, they explore the personal and communal dimensions of interfaith work in Miami amidst rising tensions. Joanne and Susan share their deep personal histories—from growing up in a multicultural Miami to...

In this episode of the Interfaiths program, host Iqbal Akhtar sits down with Stuart and Diane, a power couple deeply embedded in the Jewish community and the Muslim-Jewish Dialogue group. They share their unique personal histories—Stuart as a pioneer in nuclear medicine born before the founding of Israel, and Diane as a nurse midwife and "Jew by choice" active with Hadassah. Together, they discuss...

In this episode of Interfaiths , we sit down with Joan Godoy , the CEO of Radical Partners , a social impact accelerator based in Miami. Joan shares her fascinating journey from growing up in Guatemala—influenced by her environmentalist father and feminist grandmother—to becoming a leader in the nonprofit sector. Joan reflects on her early work with indigenous Mayan communities, where she learned...

In this episode of the Interfaiths podcast, Dr. Iqbal Akhtar sits down with Reverend Candace "Candy" Thomas and Bianca from Christ Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC) in Miami. They discuss what it means to be a "small church doing big things" in today's political climate. The conversation explores: Personal Journeys: Pastor Candy’s path from social work to ordination at age 50, and Bianc...

Join host Prof. Iqbal Akhtar for a conversation with Jenny Pearson about her transition from leading community engagement at the Arsht Center to navigating complex interfaith dynamics at the Jewish Federation. Jenny opens up about her upbringing in New York and Florida, her drive to push the boundaries of Jewish culture beyond "Fiddler on the Roof," and her instinct to return to Jewish community w...

In this episode, Professor Iqbal Akhtar interviews Philip Louisa, a graduate student in Politics, International Relations, and Religious Studies at FIU. Born in Tanzania and raised between the UK and the US, Philip shares his personal transition from a cultural Catholic upbringing to a deep Protestant faith. The conversation moves from personal spirituality to academic research, focusing on the ge...

In this episode of Interfaiths , Dr. Iqbal Akhtar sits down with Jon Warech , the Executive Director of Hillel at Florida International University. Jon shares his unique personal journey from a career in entertainment journalism and Hollywood back to his roots in North Miami Beach to serve the Jewish community. Together, they explore the evolving landscape of Jewish student life at a public univer...