As religious differences continue to divide some sects of society, author and activist Eboo Patel strives to bring them back together, promoting not only mutual tolerance, but also respect.

Patel, an American Muslim, has been invited by the Great Issues Committee and the Department of Undergraduate Initiatives to speak at Saint Louis University about his mission of religious pluralism.
“Eboo Patel is one of the nation’s leading experts on interfaith dialogue, and it is such a topical issue now in the United States, that it is the perfect time to bring in a speaker of his caliber,” Colin Shevlin, president of the GIC, said.
The First Year Reading Program has chosen Patel’s book, Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation, as suggested reading for new students attending the University this year. Discussing several instances of religious differences in the past, as well as his testimony of struggles with Islamic faith in America, Patel raises awareness of the need for religious pluralism in society.
“[The book] showed me what it would be like to be someone whom people look at with fear and anger for no reason. I was able to, in some small way, connect with [Patel] and almost put myself in his shoes and experience it,” senior John Wendel, who serves on the First Year Reading Program committee, said. “It also helped me examine myself and see what makes up who I am.”
Freshman Jaclyn Allexan said she was disappointed when she learned that she was required to read a book over the summer, but as she began reading she said that she found Patel’s story interesting and easy to relate to.
“Learning about the faith of others is a great way to bring us closer to one another and to our own faith,” Allexan said. “Faith provides a connection between everyone, which I think is very interesting.”
Shevlin said that Patel was chosen as a speaker for GIC because he advocates religious pluralism, an idea that coincides with the organization’s mission of social justice.
Patel is the founder and executive director of the Interfaith Youth Core, a non-profit organization that is based in Chicago where members explore not only their own faith tradition, but also the traditions of others.
The IFYC welcomes young people to become involved with the organization, and its associates travel to college campuses across the country in an effort to increase religious tolerance among students.
While he was in college, Patel was able to reconnect with his religious identity by questioning his faith, rather than accepting it without understanding its meaning. Shevlin said he felt that many college students can relate to Patel’s exploration of his faith tradition.
“I think that a lot of college students are going through similar experiences,” Shevlin said. “While [Patel’s] path may not be the path that a lot of people are going to go down, people are going to learn a lot from his own experience.”
Patel plans to work with students of the University through the IFYC by spending time with SLU 101 classes in an effort to raise awareness of religious pluralism. The University will also hold an Interfaith Fair, in which multicultural organizations on campus will take part.
Apart from his work with the IFYC, Patel also serves the Obama Administration as a council member for the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, established last spring.
Patel is the author of “The Faith Divide,” a blog for the Washington Post, and is a frequent contributor to National Public Radio.
GIC will host the event at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 5 in the Wool Ballroom of the Busch Student Center.
Patel will be available to sign copies of his book following the presentation.
Wendel said that he hopes students who attend will leave with a deeper understanding of ways to interact with people of different walks of life.
“We need to see each other as fellow humans, as equals,” Wendel said. “It doesn’t matter one’s faith, economic standing, sexual orientation, political stance or anything. We are all human. We all struggle with something in our life and we need to understand that to reach out to each other and be one community.”