Building the Multi-faith Future: Freedom of Religion in a Democracy - April 21-23, 2023

The Didier Seminar

In every age the Spirit speaks.


The Calvin W. Didier Annual Seminar on Religion and Contemporary Thought was endowed in 1993 as a retirement tribute to Reverend Didier in honor of a ministry mindful of the many voices of the spirit and the profound changes we continue to experience in contemporary thought and culture. This yearly seminar is dedicated to spiritual growth through the best comprehensive thinking in religion, the arts, letters and science. We seek to present inspiring and acknowledged leaders in their various fields.

 

The Didier Seminar 2023

Writer, Editor, and Religious Activist
Paul Brandeis Raushenbush

Building the Multi-faith Future: Freedom of Religion in a Democracy

April 21-23, 2023

 

President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance, Rev. Paul Raushenbush served as Senior Vice President at Auburn Seminary, Executive Editor of HuffPost Religion, and Associate Dean of Religious Life and The Chapel at Princeton University. Most recently, he was Senior Advisor for Public Affairs and Innovation at Interfaith America.


An ordained Baptist minister, Rev. Raushenbush has been a leader in the interfaith movement to protect freedom and preserve democracy. He comes from a dual line of pioneers in the very work he has been called to do. As the great-grandson of the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis and great-grandson of Baptist theologian Walter Rauschenbusch, a key figure in the Social Gospel movement, Rev. Raushenbush’s commitment to interfaith advocacy comes in part from his own interfaith background.


Also:
The Honorable Paul Anderson, Minnesota Associate Supreme Court Justice, Retired
Dr. Piercarlo Valdezsolo, Associate Professor of Psychology Science, Claremont McKenna College and Visiting Associate Professor of Psychology, Macalester College


Schedule:


Friday, April 21
6:30 p.m. Dessert Reception | Assembly Room
7:30 p.m. Democracy Not Theocracy: Confronting the threat of Christian Nationalism to preserve our religiously diverse nation – Rev. Paul Raushenbush


Saturday, April 22, Moderated by Rev. Paul Raushenbush
9:30 a.m. Christian Nationalism and the United States Supreme Court: Is the concept rooted in U.S. history? – Justice Paul Anderson
10:45 a.m. The Psychology of Meaning: How we create meaning and struggle with difference – Dr. Piercarlo Valdezsolo


Sunday, April 23
10 a.m. Worship | Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush Preaching: Shall Christian Nationalists win? The Critical Role of Congregations in Protecting our Diverse Democracy
11:15 a.m. Adult Enrichment with Rev. Paul Raushenbush: Where Do we Go From Here? Building a Multi-faith Future.

Lectures will be in the sanctuary and streamed on our website.


Registration is appreciated here or call the church office.

 

Click here to view archived 2021 Didier Seminar lectures with Jeannine Hill Fletcher: Christian Entanglement in Racism: Facing the Past, Transforming the Future.

MnMN Convenes Interfaith Leaders from Local Minnesota Communities

By Bob Hulteen • September 11, 2025
Six leaders of local interfaith activities in communities across Minnesota gathered recently in a video conference call convened by Minnesota Multifaith Network (MnMN) to get acquainted, learn about each others' roles, and share about local activities, as well as the various challenges each faces. Leaders from Moorhead, Duluth, Rochester, Prior Lake, Lakeville, and St. Peter participated in the call. Participants reported on such activities as a bridge-building awards event, tours of houses of worship, day of peace and multicultural festivals, matching volunteers with-nonprofits needing them for services, organizing days of service, establishing an international twin communities relationship, shared concern and support for immigrants and more. The biggest challenge they reported, after Covid halted so much local interfaith activity, has been scheduling time together, mainly due to differing holiday calendars for the various communities and commitments within their own faith communities.  MnMN plans another convening with other individuals in communities around the state, both in advance of MnMN's Annual Conference, "The Time is Now: Powering Pluralism," on November 6 in St. Paul, and after. For more information or receive an invitation to a future one, contact volunteer conveners Paula Nordhem (Lakeville) or Tom Duke (St. Paul). An AI summary of this meeting is available upon request.

Cutting Through the Noise

By Bob Hulteen • September 4, 2025
Cutting Through the Noise Sunday, September 21, 2:30-4:00 p.m.; Geroge Floyd Square, 38th and Chicago Avenues (followed by informal social time at Bichota Coffee) In a world rife with systemic injustice, “cutting through the noise” has never been more critical. Let us come together with a commitment to justice to embody peace and bear witness in shared public places. With a hope for deepening wellness, we will practice “retreat” in real time and space … right where we are! Together with Rev. Dr. Jia Starr Brown and Rev. Ben Connelly, attendees will be invited to reflect, pray, or simply rest in the sights, sounds, and feelings of the present moment. Facilitators will provide brief instructions for finding mindful quiet. To support this offering, we suggest a donation of $10. No one will be turned away. For more information about the facilitators: http://jiastarrbrown.com https://wisdomexperience.org/content-author/ben-connelly/  Questions? Please contact benconelly70@gmail.com

Gateway to Himalayan Art

By Bob Hulteen • September 2, 2025
Gateway to Himalayan Art Currently - December 7; Flaten Art Museum, St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota The Flaten Art Museum at St. Olaf College in Northfield is hosting the exhibition Gateway to Himalayan Art . It introduces the main forms, concepts, meanings, and religious traditions of Himalayan art with objects from the collection of the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art in New York. A large multimedia map at the start of the exhibition orients visitors to the greater Himalayan region, which encompasses Indian, Nepalese, Bhutanese, and Tibetan cultures, as well as interrelated Mongolian and Chinese traditions.

Money, Lies, and God

By Bob Hulteen • August 26, 2025
CHANGE IN DATE! Originally, as shown in the graphic above, this online event was scheduled for September 17; it now is on Monday, September 15. Money, Lies, and God: Inside the movement to destroy American democracy Wednesday, September 15, 11:00 a.m. – Noon, Central Time; Online Via Zoom In The Power Worshippers (2020), journalist Katherine Stewart exposed Christian nationalism as a growing threat to democracy. Her new book, Money, Lies, and God (2025), goes further—revealing how ultra-wealthy donors, conservative think tanks, and far-right religious groups are driving a radical anti-democratic movement. Stewart, also a key voice behind the Rob Reiner-produced documentary God & Country, asks urgent questions: How did we get here—and why are so many Americans turning against democracy?

Decolonizing Church Music

By Bob Hulteen • July 15, 2025
Tuesday, July 17, 7:00 - 8:00 pm; Virtual The Rev. Dr. Jia Starr Brown is hosting a Bible study series about "Decolonizing Church Music: Decolonizing Jesus Liberating Ourselves and the Church" on Tuesday, July 17, at 7:00 p.m. She will peel bak the familiar colonial layers that have overshadowed the gospel message to reveal the radiance of Jesus and his ministry. A link for the event will be provided to those who register. 

New Web Page Shares Wide Perspectives on Abrahamic Faiths

By Bob Hulteen • July 8, 2025
Have you looked on the internet for basic information about another religion but weren’t sure where to go? The Institute for Islamic Christian Jewish Studies (ICJS) now offers help. The new ICJS web page, Faith Inside & Out: Exploring Judaism, Christianity, & Islam , is a collection of curated resources assembled by ICJS scholars, program staff, and communications team to help you explore the beliefs and practices of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Faith Inside & Out links to online resources created by faith practitioners themselves, (the insiders’ view). It also includes perspectives that look at religion from outside the tradition. This page is ideal for educators, dialogue groups, and anyone seeking to explore faith beyond stereotypes.

Turkish American Society to Host Bake Sale

By Bob Hulteen • July 8, 2025
Saturday, July 12; 10:00 am - 5:00 pm; Turkish American Society of Minnesota, 6565 Oakley Drive NE, Fridley The Turkish American Society of Minnesota (TASMN) invites everyone to its Community Sale and Turkish Bake Sale on Saturday, July 12. This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a vibrant day of community, culture, and delicious homemade Turkish treats.

Holy Days and Holidays: Exploring Religious Celebrations in the Community

By Bob Hulteen • July 8, 2025
Saturday, August 2, 10:00 - 11:30 am; Eden Prairie School's Valley View Building, 11840 Valley View Rd, Eden Prairie The PeopleFest! Committee invites all interested people to a meaningful morning of learning and connection as we explore the rich traditions of religious holidays across different faiths in our community. A panel discussion will feature guest speakers from Judaism, Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism, each sharing insights into significant holidays within their traditions, the values behind them, and how they are celebrated. Whether you're curious about the stories behind various holy days or interested in fostering greater cultural understanding, this session offers a welcoming space to learn, ask questions, and celebrate the diversity within our community. All are welcome!

"Solidarity with Refugees" to be World Refugees Day theme

By Bob Hulteen • June 19, 2025
Friday, June 20, 3:00 p.m.; Lake George, St. Cloud The Saint Cloud Diocese will host World Refugee Day under the theme "Solidarity with Refugees." Participants will gather to stand shoulder to shoulder with those who’ve been forced to flee their homes — families who’ve lost everything and still rise every morning to build new lives with hope, dignity, and quiet strength. In today’s political climate, the theme couldn’t be more urgent. When refugees and immigrants are treated like threats, we must respond with humanity. When fear is loud, our love must be louder. There will be music, dance, food, and powerful stories — but most importantly, there will be people, together, choosing to build a welcoming city and state for all. 

Tenth. Anniversary Commemoration of. the Emanuel Nine Vigil

By Bob Hulteen • June 17, 2025
Tuesday, June 17, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.; Say Their Names Cemetery , 711 East 37th Street, Minneapolis Ten years ago a young white supremacist man was welcomed into a Bible study at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. After about an hour, he opened fire, killing Clementia Pinckney, Cynthia Hurd, Daniel Simmons, Ethel Lee Lance, Depayne Middleton-Doctor, Tywanza Sanders, Susie Jackson, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, and Myra Thompson. The event is hosted by Calvary Lutheran Church, Minneapolis.
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