NAVIGATING RELIGION ISSUES
IN DIVISIVE TIMES
Deborah’s interfaith experience spans 33 years beginning with coordinating the National Workshop on Christians and Jews, speaking at the 100th anniversary of World Parliament of Religions, and serving as consultant for prayer book research to the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. She was executive director for Jewish Federations in Illinois and Tennessee and director of community relations for the Tulsa Jewish Federation after the OK City bombing. She has published several award-winning books with Quick Reference Religious Diversity Cards.
Her presentations and training on religious literacy are invaluable for corporations, community, education and healthcare sectors.
Goodwill
A major goal of religious literacy is to avoid mistakes that can fester and divide by developing a buffer of Goodwill. According to the Pew Research Center, religious affiliation is decreasing, but the affiliated are more intensely engaged. The unaffiliated are increasing, including atheists, spiritualist, and humanists. Yet, both groups are invested in good works, as are most religions. We. can build Goodwill by incentivizing joint collaboration in community and charitable projects.
Sacred time and Food
Build on that collaborative goodwill with religious literacy, beginning with Sacred Time. For centuries, diverse cultures used harvest seasons and phases of the moon to mark holy times. Religious communities retain those calendars which don’t always sync with the secular calendar. Before you require attendance at conferences, meetings, or exams, learn about these calendars so that you can demonstrate respect of major religious holidays.
Religious literacy should also include knowledge of diverse Faith Traditions and the 3 Fs: 1) Food – know the taboos and don’t serve them. 2) Formality: don’t grab people’s hands to shake them if not offered. 3) Female: don’t take gender-related traditions, like clothing, lightly. These details can symbolize entire belief systems.
Participants Will Learn How To…
1) Understand the status of religion, faith and spirituality in our culture and how it makes religious diversity one of the most challenging areas of diversity to address.
2) Manage conflict by developing personal relationships with common interests across religious differences.
3) Develop religious literacy to show respect. Quick Reference Religious Diversity Cards will guide you through 1. Common Values, 2. Sacred Time, and 3. Faith Traditions.
Clients
U.S. Dairy Export Council, Assoc. of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, the Equity Forward Conference/University of TN at Chattanooga, Colleges of Medicine (Chattanooga, Birmingham). Metropolitan Ministries, Women’s Council on Diversity, DuPage Interfaith Resource Network, Wheaton College. Elmhurst College.
Testimonials
“Dr. Levine hosted a dynamic training for our staff on Religion in the Workplace. Her passion for the subject shone through with every element of the training. She provided strategies for how managers and colleagues can approach this sensitive topic with mindfulness and respect. Her real life experiences were key to taking the training from theory to the real world application. I would absolutely recommend any workplace offer this training to their staff.”
~ Omar Syed: HR Director, U.S. Dairy Export Council
“I want you to know how blown away everyone was with your presentation today. It was impeccable. You hit it out of the ball park. I don’t know if we’d had anybody who engaged the group like you did. The enthusiasm, the expression and animation, the eye contact. You were truly where you described – whether in college or in Bermuda. We were with you. That’s skill my friend. It’s always a pleasure to watch a pro at work. And a pro you are.”
~ Glynn Hodges: Executive Director, John Maxwell Team
“Religious Diversity at Work provides a much-needed perspective of a fundamental, but often over-looked, aspect of today’s healthcare industry. It’s a guide to navigating religious sensitivities and instituting healthcare measures to address religious diversity concerns. Religion encourages us to live the way we say we believe. That premise doesn’t stop at the doors of a hospital, behavioral healthcare facility, emergency transport, or medical provider’s office. Religious diversity awareness should be used to proactively provide equal care by equal practice. Thank you for tackling these issues in ways not generally featured in other references.”
~ Sam Verniero, Planning Commission Board Member at Georgia Dept. of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities
“Thank you beyond words for this time we had together. Truly your wisdom – each piece of your education and experience and life have combined – with your teacher’s heart, healer’s spirit – to take us to the heart of the matter. You have given us wisdom and knowledge and tools that will only impact our ministry – it will touch, change and grow each of us.
~ Shari Hofstetter: Pennsylvania Chaplains Association Annual Conference