Cutting Through the Noise

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.

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?

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. 

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.

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.

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!

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. 

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.

It began with an explosion of rhythm, poetry, and soul. The Schoenecker Center Performance Hall erupted into life as Meet You at the Crossroads opened with welcoming remarks from University of St. Thomas President Rob Vischer , who invited the audience to expand their understanding of “neighbor” through the parable of the Good Samaritan and then brought Somali blues into dynamic conversation with Black gospel-style music. With voices soaring and drums pulsing, the evening opened not with silence, but with celebration. At the heart of it stood two master storytellers: Somali author and poet Ahmed Ismail Yusuf and music legend J.D. Steele Muslim and Christian, Somali and African American, elder and youth, their presence embodied the very spirit of the festival: a harmony forged not through sameness, but through the beauty of shared humanity. A highpoint of the concert featured a young boy from the MacPhail Community Youth Choir delivering a stirring solo of Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror,” drawing the audience to its feet in a moment that was as tender as it was electric. Curated by David Jordan Harris with the Jay Phillips Center and co-produced by Beck Lee and the Cultural Fluency Initiative – with support from the College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Music, Film, and Creative Enterprise, Scene Setters, the Encountering Islam Initiative of the Theology Department, and the Chapel Arts Series – the sold-out performance launched the 2025 Culture of Encounter Ideas Festival with a profound sense of awe, welcome, and shared tears. With a waitlist that had to be closed and a crowd that rose more than once in standing ovation, the evening set the tone for what was to come: bold, embodied, and unapologetically plural.