• Skip to Content
  • Skip to Main Navigation
  • Skip to Search

Indiana University Indianapolis Indiana University Indianapolis IU Indianapolis

Open Search
  • About
    • Mission, Vision, & Values
      • Strategic Plan
    • History
    • Board of Visitors
    • Employment
    • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Anti-racism Statement
  • Admissions
    • How to Apply
      • B.A. in Philanthropic Leadership
      • M.A. in Philanthropic Studies
      • Graduate Certificates
      • Ph.D. in Philanthropic Studies
      • PhilD, Professional Doctorate in Philanthropic Leadership
    • Financial Aid & Scholarships
      • Pitch Your Passion Competition
      • B.A. Scholarships
      • M.A. Scholarships
      • Doctoral Fellowships & Grants
      • AmeriCorps
      • Professional Doctorate Funding
    • Explore Career Options
    • Visit Us
  • Academics
    • Degrees & Programs
      • B.A. in Philanthropic Leadership
        • Bachelor of Arts Alumni
        • Capstone ePortfolio Showcase
          • 2023 ePortfolios
          • 2022 ePortfolios
        • Honors Program
      • M.A. in Philanthropic Studies
      • Accelerated B.A./M.A. Program
      • Certificates & Minors
        • Undergraduate Certificates
        • Undergraduate Minor
        • Graduate Certificates
        • Doctoral Minor
      • Dual Degree Programs
      • Ph.D. in Philanthropic Studies
        • Ph.D. Students
        • Dissertations
      • PhilD, Professional Doctorate in Philanthropic Leadership
        • Courses
        • Faculty
        • Cohort Schedule
    • Core Faculty
    • Experiential Learning
      • Internships
      • Study Abroad
      • Study Away Course
    • Career Services
      • The Patterson Foundation Fellowship
  • The Fund Raising School
    • Courses & Seminars
      • Schedule
      • Course Locations
      • How to Register
      • Our Faculty
    • Customized Training
    • Certificates
      • Fundraising Management
      • Fundraising Leadership
      • Nonprofit Executive Leadership
      • Digital Fund Raising
      • Planned Giving
      • Data for Good
      • Accreditation
    • Webinars
    • Scholarships
      • Dottie Rosso Scholarship
      • Hank Rosso Scholarship
    • First Day Podcast
      • Listen with the App
    • Advancing Indiana’s Nonprofit Sector
    • Blog
  • Research
    • Latest Research
    • Research by Topic
    • Ongoing Research
    • Partnerships
    • Philanthropic Studies Library
    • Research Funding
  • Institutes
    • Lake Institute on Faith & Giving
      • Insights Newsletter
    • Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy
      • Black Philanthropy Month
    • Muslim Philanthropy Initiative
      • Programs and Publications
        • Community Collaboration Initiative
        • Muslim Collaboration Prizes
      • Council of Advisors
      • Fellowships & Awards
        • Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship
        • Zakat Foundation Institute Fellowship
      • Research & Symposiums
        • Symposiums
      • Staff
    • Women’s Philanthropy Institute
      • About
        • WPI history
      • Council
      • Research
        • Newest Report
          • Newest Report
        • Research Highlights
    • Higher Education and Philanthropy Initiative
  • Alumni & Giving
    • Get Involved
      • Alumni Board
        • Join the Board
      • Contact
      • Distinguished Alumni Award
      • Share Your Success
      • Alumni Board
    • Ways to Give
      • Areas to Support
      • Donor Bill of Rights
  • News & Events
    • News & Media
      • Philanthropy in Action
      • Diving Deeper
      • Newsletters
        • Philanthropy Matters
      • First Day Podcast
      • Blog
    • Events
      • Philanthropy Research Workshop Series
        • Schedule
      • Perspectives on Philanthropy Discussion Series
  • People Directory
  • Contact Us

Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

  • Home
  • About
    • Mission, Vision, & Values
    • History
    • Board of Visitors
    • Employment
    • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
  • Admissions
    • How to Apply
    • Financial Aid & Scholarships
    • Explore Career Options
    • Visit Us
  • Academics
    • Degrees & Programs
    • Core Faculty
    • Experiential Learning
    • Career Services
  • The Fund Raising School
    • Courses & Seminars
    • Customized Training
    • Certificates
    • Webinars
    • Scholarships
    • First Day Podcast
    • Advancing Indiana’s Nonprofit Sector
    • Blog
  • Research
    • Latest Research
    • Research by Topic
    • Ongoing Research
    • Partnerships
    • Philanthropic Studies Library
    • Research Funding
  • Institutes
    • Lake Institute on Faith & Giving
    • Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy
    • Muslim Philanthropy Initiative
    • Women’s Philanthropy Institute
    • Higher Education and Philanthropy Initiative
  • Alumni & Giving
    • Get Involved
    • Ways to Give
  • News & Events
    • News & Media
    • Events
  • Search
  • People Directory
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • News & Events
  • News & Media
  • News
  • 2017
  • News Display Name

Are religious differences the key to a more civil society?

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Eboo Patel

Interfaith Youth Core leader Eboo Patel to discuss building interfaith cooperation at Thomas H. Lake Lecture in Indianapolis March 30

In a world where diverse faith communities interact with great frequency and intensity, how can we both preserve the particularities of our distinct faith traditions while promoting positive interfaith cooperation?

Eboo Patel, founder of Interfaith Youth Core, will explain how and why interfaith cooperation and democracy depend on the differences among religions as much as the similarities in the 2017 Thomas H. Lake Lecture, “Building a Diverse Democracy: Exploring the Theologies and Practice of Interfaith Cooperation.” The lecture, which is presented by Lake Institute on Faith + Giving at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, will take place on Thursday, March 30 in Indianapolis.

Patel has said, “To see the other side, to defend another people, not despite your tradition but because of it, is the heart of pluralism.”

In his remarks, Patel will call on individuals and faith organizations to consider the religious beliefs and theories of interfaith cooperation that exist within their own faith traditions and how cultivating these beliefs and theories can both deepen one’s own faith and improve relationships across faith communities in a way that strengthens civil society.

“Eboo Patel has been at the forefront of championing interfaith engagement for over a decade,” said David King, the Karen Lake Buttrey Director of Lake Institute. “He is adamant that working across faith traditions does not mean we should only work to find a lowest common denominator of mutual agreement. Instead, digging deep into our distinct faith or moral commitments should help us grow in mutual understanding and service to humanity. In our current context where distinct religious and cultural identities are used to exacerbate difference over commonality, Patel’s message is vital for every local community to take to heart.”

Patel founded Interfaith Youth Core on the idea that religion should be a bridge of cooperation rather than a barrier of division. He is inspired to build this bridge by his identity as an American Muslim navigating a highly religiously diverse social landscape. For more than 15 years, he has worked with governments, social sector organizations and college and university campuses to help make interfaith cooperation a social norm.

Named by U.S. News + World Report as one of America’s Best Leaders of 2009, Patel served on President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Faith Council and is the author of Acts of Faith, Sacred Ground and the new Interfaith Leadership: A Primer. He holds a doctorate in the sociology of religion from Oxford University, where he studied on a Rhodes scholarship.

The lecture will begin at 4:30 p.m., followed by a reception at 6:00 pm. Both events will be held at the Indiana Historical Society’s Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, 450 West Ohio Street in Indianapolis. Both are free and open to the public.

Lake Institute on Faith + Giving

Lake Institute exists to foster a greater understanding of the ways in which faith inspires and informs giving through research, education and training. The institute offers customized programs that translate data and giving trends into practical tools. Lake Institute supports the development of research designed to explore the broad context of religious giving. Through public forums Lake Institute engages practitioners, scholars and the community in thoughtful conversation and reflection. Follow us on Twitter @LakeInstitute.

The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

The Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy is dedicated to improving philanthropy to improve the world by training and empowering students and professionals to be innovators and leaders who create positive and lasting change in the world. The school offers a comprehensive approach to philanthropy through its academic, research and international programs and through The Fund Raising School, Lake Institute on Faith + Giving and the Women’s Philanthropy Institute. Follow us on Twitter @IUPhilanthropy.

Lilly Family School of Philanthropy social media channels

  • Faculty & Staff
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

Indiana University

Accessibility | College Scorecard | Privacy Notice | Copyright © 2025 The Trustees of Indiana University