InterfaithNews.Net

The question "where are the youth?" is one I have often heard at
interfaith gatherings. As one who is still considered amongst the youth
(though well into my career), I often feel this myself. At
recent gatherings I have taken to looking around the room, wondering who
amongst the participants will still be around in 10, 20 years. The interfaith
movement only has as much potential as it has human resources. On the other
hand, how many of my distinguished older colleagues were involved in
interfaith work in their youth? They are there now, and I have faith that
left to their own devices, an equal number of today's young people will
turn to interfaith work once they get past the prime of their
career-building, courtship, and parenting years. Still, interfaith groups
need to be developing their young leadership today. In a recent edition of
his Sightings project, Martin E. Marty from the University of
Chicago Divinity School continues on this theme.

A student at the American University in Washington, DC, Fait Mahdini, calls on interfaith activists to do more to attract youth in their quest to counter messages of religious intolerance and violence. In so doing, he outlines a vision of using the arts to inspire and uplift the pluralistic message of interfaith activism, going beyond academic conferences and statements of unity.

In October, Faith & Values Media, The National Conference for
Community and Justice, and the Interfaith Youth Core launched CampusQuest, in
which participants are invited to join a national youth movement for
interfaith awareness by creating a CampusQuest in their own
communities.

Beginning June 27, 2004, teens from several conflict-ridden areas gathered for a program
called Face to Face/Faith to Faith. The program, which runs through July 12 in
New York City, seeks to establish the a groundwork for positive inter-faith interaction
and resolution of religiously-motivated conflict. Face to Face is sponsored by
the Auburn Theological Seminary of New York and Seeking Common Ground from Denver.

City of Angels URI-LA held an interfaith peace dialogue with forty youth from about nine different faith communities on 12/15, and I wanted to share the story with you.