More About Brian Carwana
Brian is the Executive Director of Encounter World Religions and the self declared Religions Geek. His greatest passion is teaching about religion, ethno-religious diversity and what that diversity means in our modern workplaces, schools and societies. Over the past 20 years, through the various programs delivered by Encounter, Brian has helped thousands of people understand more about religious, spiritual and secular identities in ways that help them be a better leader, colleague, neighbour and friend.
Mysticism and Muslims: Meeting the Sufis
On a recent visit to Istanbul, I was granted the rare opportunity to join in a ritual in a Sufi lodge. The powerful midnight ritual took about two hours and was packed with people. Below, I want to share a bit about the experience and about Sufism, a spiritual path in Islam that is not well known in the West. Image: Historic Sufi Lodge Exterior in Istanbul, Source: Canva.com Origins Sufism is the mystical tradition within Islam. Sufis trace their origins to the Qur'an and to Muhammad, pointing [...]
Upcoming Events
- World Religions Series – Innis College (Sept 18 – Nov 27)Adriana2026-09-29T17:00:37+00:00
World Religions Series – Innis College (Sept 18 – Nov 27)
- Visiting Houses of Worship – Rotman Business School (Oct 3)Adriana2026-09-29T17:17:09+00:00
Visiting Houses of Worship – Rotman Business School (Oct 3)
- Religious Holidays: Judaism – Oakville Public Library (Oct 7)Adriana2026-09-17T00:33:47+00:00
Religious Holidays: Judaism – Oakville Public Library (Oct 7)
- American Exceptionalism: On Religion and Politics (Oct 8)Adriana2026-08-26T15:45:33+00:00
American Exceptionalism: On Religion and Politics (Oct 8)
- Religious Holidays – Ultieg Engineering (Oct 13)Adriana2026-08-19T21:49:22+00:00
Religious Holidays – Ultieg Engineering (Oct 13)
- Visiting Houses of Worship (Oct 24)Adriana2026-08-17T02:05:06+00:00
Visiting Houses of Worship (Oct 24)
- Santa Muerte & the Day of the Dead – Road Scholar (Oct 26)Adriana2026-08-17T21:16:41+00:00
Santa Muerte & the Day of the Dead – Road Scholar (Oct 26)
- Demystifying Islam – Thames Valley District School Board (Oct 27)Adriana2026-09-29T16:57:52+00:00
Demystifying Islam – Thames Valley District School Board (Oct 27)
- Religious Holidays – Bernardi Human Resources Law (Oct 28)Adriana2026-08-27T19:27:10+00:00
Religious Holidays – Bernardi Human Resources Law (Oct 28)
- Understanding the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict – Lakeside Church, Guelph (Nov 8)Adriana2026-09-21T20:17:47+00:00
Understanding the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict – Lakeside Church, Guelph (Nov 8)
- Discovery Program 2027 (July 11-17)Adriana2026-07-07T00:51:25+00:00
Discovery Program 2027 (July 11-17)
