BEGINNING A MOVEMENT FOR BETTER INTERFAITH DIALOG

THE RIVERSIDE CHURCH IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK

OCTOBER 1, 2026

WITH

PETER BEINART

JOHN THATAMANIL AND SUNITA VISWANATH

As many suffer and die from the weaponization of religion by the governments of India, Israel, the United States and many other countries, it must be countered with real interfaith dialog which cannot be trivialized or used as by anti-democratic forces as a cover for oppression, authoritarianism and fascism.

Together, we want to chart a new path forward with dialog marked by truth seeking, listening, confession, repentance and shared commitment to democracy and community building.

Our inaugural conversation will be at The Riverside Church in New York City on October 1, 2026 from 4:00 to 6:00 with a reception from 6:00 to 7:00. This opening conversation will center on understanding Hinduism and how it is distorted by Hindutva devotees committed to using their brand of religious nationalism to create a Hindu only state.

The session will open with comments by Imam Shamsi Ali, Imam of Jamaica Muslim Center and The Reverend Adriene Thorne, Senior Minister at The Riverside Church on the necessity to create spaces in our synagogues, temples, mosques, churches for authentic interfaith dialog marked by creating curiosity about different religious traditions and how they can be distorted by religious nationalism.

Noted Jewish journalist and political commentator, Peter Beinart, will offer his reflections on the importance of faith and how it can be so badly distorted by religious nationalisms to hurt others. Beinart is an Opinion Columnist for New York Times, Editor of Jewish Currents, Commentator for MS NOW, Professor, Newmark School of Journalism at City University of New York and author of Being Jewish after Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning. You can hear his many interviews with prominent guests on Substack.

In addition to Peter’s reflections, we will do a deeper dive into Hinduism and Hindutva with Sunita Viswanath, Co-Founder, of Hindus for Human Rights and The Reverend John J. Thatamanil, M.Div., Ph.D. Professor of Theology & World Religions Director, Insight Project: Theology & Natural World, Union Theological Seminary.

Subsequent self-reflective and confessional conversations in synagogues, temples, mosques, churches, mediation centers and other sacred settings in New York and across the country will use a similar format where we highlight a particular religion and discuss how it gets distorted by religious nationalism.

Click here to see the flyer and to register.

Nationwide Interfaith Letter in Support of Truth-Telling, Confession and Repentance on 9/11 Released with Over 129 Signatures

Additional Signers Welcome!

Click here to sign the letter:

A Nationwide Interfaith Letter in Support of Truth-Telling, Confession, and Repentance on 9/11 and Beyond

We Shall Choose Life, A sermon preached by The Reverend Peter Cook, Senior Minister, The Plymouth Church, United Church of Christ, Framingham, Massachusetts on September 16, 2001—-5 days after 9/11. 12 Framingham residents died in the towers.

We invite you to share your reflections on 9/11 and beyond. Please write to PcookFIPS@GMail.com to offer your thoughts. We will post them on this site for others to benefit.

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What are Religious Nationalisms and Why are They Such a Problem?

It is confusing out there when you are trying to live into your faith tradition which is being exploited and weaponized by people in power to serve their selfish ends. Faith Beyond Religious Nationalism helps teach faith communities how to authentically live into their faith while exposing and resisting policies and actors who cleverly use a given faith tradition to discriminate against other people while building up their political and military power. 


Living into Your Faith Tradition


Resisting religious nationalism begins with understanding and living into the life giving aspects of your faith tradition. While there are some slight variations in approach, the religions of the world hold on to these ideals:


Every person is created in the image of God or some divine source and must be treated with dignity and respect. 


We are committed always to seeking the truth in personal and public settings. Truth is best discerned in a community of people who can test and examine truth claims without fear. 

We are called to passionately love God or a divine source. Our first devotion is to God. 

If we love God, then we show the depth of our love in how we treat our neighbors and advocate for them. 

All faiths call on us to give particular priority to lift up and empower the marginalized in our society. Examples include immigrants, people of different races, nationalities, and sexual orientations, religious minorities, women, children, the elderly, the disabled, the poor and those who are incarcerated or previously incarcerated. 

We believe that everyone deserves to have a democratically governed country where they are able to fully participate.

Theocracy is incompatible with religious freedom and democracy

Be alert to how any faith tradition can be co-opted and twisted by people in power to abuse human rights, perpetuate racism and impede the religious freedom of minorities.

All religious traditions are vulnerable to the scourge of religious nationalisms. All religions, drawing on their central precepts and scriptural texts, can rigorously critique religious nationalism. 


How We Can Help You

The Reverend Neal Christie and The Reverend Peter Cook are founders and serve as Co-Principals of Faith Beyond Religious Nationalism.

We can:

  • Plan and conduct seminars to understand the life giving elements of your faith tradition while identifying how your faith is weaponized by people in power.

  • These seminars help congregations:

  • Identify and live into the strengths of various faith traditions and what they share in common with others while understanding our limitations and need for grace. 

  • Understand the way in which fascism and authoritarianism distorts religion and limits human rights and religious freedom

  • Focus on one or more of the following religious nationalisms Christian Nationalism and its abuse by United States politicians, Extreme forms of Zionism and supremacy of the state of Israel, Christian Zionism, Hindu Nationalism while understanding what they share in common.

  • Practical ways faith leaders can to advocate against the abuse of religion in our communities

    Sample Topics:

  • Understanding and countering religious nationalisms, authoritarianism and fascism using Hindu, Christian, and Jewish Nationalisms as illustrations.

  • Understanding and countering religious nationalisms using Christian nationalism as a primary illustration

  • Understanding and countering religious nationalisms using Hindu nationalism as a primary illustration

  • Understanding and countering Religious Nationalisms Using Zionism and Jewish ethno-nationalism and Christian Zionism as primary illustrations

  • Countering anti-semitism while advocating for Palestinian rights.

  • Is it possible to be Zionist and also advocate for the rights of Palestinians? 

  • Interfaith approaches to advocating for Palestinian rights

  • Countering Islamophobia

Learning Formats ‍ ‍


We can organize and speak for a weekend, weeklong tours  (5 or 6 congregations), or lead webinars and zoom calls. Call The Reverend Peter Cook at 508-380-8289 or Pcook@Nyscoc.org or The Neal Christie, 202-285-4544 nealchristieumc@gmail.comto discuss a learning opportunity which is the right fit for the goals of your group and the needs of your region. Fees vary based on format.

Sample Seminars and Conferences


What follows are examples of conferences and seminars we have done which we can adapt to the needs of your community. We have changed our name recently from The Religious Nationalisms Project to Faith Beyond Religious Nationalism to more accurate reflect our work. Below were conferences done under the auspices of TRNP.