A Month of Hope
The news these days isn’t always the most cheerful. But [...]
The news these days isn’t always the most cheerful. But [...]
The Catholic Church, which oversees a billion devotees, is the [...]
Readers, this is very different from our typical blog as [...]
The news cycle these days has a fair bit of [...]
This spring brings a rare confluence where Muslims, Christians and [...]
Ramadan, which starts this weekend, is for many Muslims the [...]
On February 4, the Aga Khan IV died at age [...]
There is a lot of discussion right now online and [...]
At Encounter, we often say religious literacy can help you [...]
During our 2024 Discovery Week, we visited a new Christian [...]
This past week, Paris’ Notre Dame cathedral re-opened five years [...]
With politics being everywhere these days, I thought we’d take [...]
Next week, four really significant holidays are occurring that, despite [...]
When it comes to religious literacy, often we don’t know [...]
This is a very polarizing topic but amidst preparing for [...]
Encounter’s programs have always evolved based on what we learn [...]
August is supposed to bring to mind sunshine, peaches and [...]
I just finished a wonderful book by Kim Ghattas called [...]
This month, Encounter held its 25th annual Discovery Week. It [...]
Tomorrow is National Indigenous People’s Day in Canada. Of course, [...]
Dear Readers: Karen Hamilton has had a long career as [...]
In the past couple of years, I have had the [...]
Recent years have brought a remarkable change in how workplaces [...]
Varanasi, which lies on the Ganges river, is often called [...]
Sikhs today actually make up a larger proportion of Canada's [...]
I've had the good fortune to visit many places, but [...]
Spending a week visiting Japanese temples has been very eye-opening. [...]
Shinto is an unusual religion. There is no founder, no [...]
Psychologist Gordon Allport founded the idea of Contact Theory, which [...]
After twenty years of learning about religions and engaging with [...]
The Israeli/Palestinian conflict has posed a unique challenge for many [...]
When I first started studying religions, I expected to learn [...]
The news these days is heavy. For admirable reasons, many [...]
Amidst the heartbreaking the events in the Middle East and [...]
Over the past month, we decided to respond to the [...]
Our blog a few weeks ago on the background of [...]
In light of events in Israel and Palestine, we are [...]
With the terrible news in Israel and Palestine this past [...]
National Truth and Reconciliation Day (also known as Orange Shirt [...]
Encounter does much work to promote religious inclusion in workplaces. [...]
At Encounter, we emphasize that religious communities are diverse and [...]
I believe no religion is growing as quickly or with [...]
I met an old friend this week named Paul McKenna. [...]
Today is national Indigenous People’s Day in Canada, a day [...]
It’s Pride month. A month for celebrating a community that, [...]
About thirty years ago, my grandmother, the matriarch of my [...]
In English, we routinely use the word “faiths” to mean [...]
We often hear that religion in Canada is waning as [...]
This Sunday is Easter for Orthodox Christians. Despite being a [...]
The Forum for Workplace Inclusion is the largest Equity, Diversity, [...]
“Those who spend their wealth in Allah’s cause are like [...]
While recently visiting Bangkok, I encountered this enormous reclining Buddha. [...]
I have spent the past week in Malaysia and Singapore [...]
Westerners’ image of Islam has not often been very positive. [...]
Two news stories caught my attention last week. First, a [...]
This past year was very kind to Encounter. We [...]
With Christmas coming this week, I was reflecting at how [...]
At Encounter, we’re pretty big on religious literacy because of [...]
In the midst of the onslaught of Black Friday advertisements, [...]
What is Inclusive Scheduling? Inclusive scheduling is just one way [...]
As trade, migration, and the internet make our globe more [...]
From October through early January there are dozens of religious [...]
Instead of our usual blog, today I want to share [...]
"Every act of forgiveness mends something broken in this fractured [...]
When we talk about religious literacy, we are often focusing [...]
I have written before about Quebec’s Bill 21 which legalizes [...]
We just finished running our first in-person Discovery Week since [...]
A little more than a year ago, a Muslim family [...]
Given that over the next week we will celebrate Canada [...]
No organization says it is serious about inclusion but that [...]
How should a healthy democracy balance competing priorities while respecting [...]
More than thirty years ago, an American minister, with a [...]
If you are reading this blog, you are likely interested [...]
Sikhs are a community dedicated to service. Whether it’s through [...]
Friday marks the start of Ramadan. Many know Ramadan is [...]
I recently heard a podcast on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that [...]
The horrors of what is transpiring in Ukraine have gripped [...]
As International Women’s Day approaches, I find myself thinking of [...]
A small experience last week really demonstrated to me how [...]
One year ago in Edmonton, a Black Muslim woman (given [...]
In recent years, advocating for “tolerance” has fallen out of [...]
The title above sounds like the start of a joke. [...]
Holocaust Remembrance Day occurs today, regrettably in an environment where [...]
I am genuinely thrilled to announce we are again offering [...]
This Sunday is World Religions Day, a day started by [...]
I am always amazed that modern psychology – with its [...]
The manger scene is so iconic. Millions of homes have [...]
Representation is powerful. Seeing someone like us in positions of [...]
When I say "power," what do you think? We often [...]
In Christmas manger scenes, the magi are side characters, seemingly [...]
So often when Muslims make the news, it is as [...]
Tomorrow, Sikhs everywhere will celebrate the birthday of their founder, [...]
We are in the midst of a season of religious [...]
Encounter’s mission is to promote religious literacy. Despite living in [...]
You never know where conversations might take you. During a [...]
I want to share a story about the impact [...]
We frequently hear preachers, ordinary people, and politicians invoke [...]
October is Islamic Heritage Month in Canada. Islam is [...]
Today is Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, [...]
I've had the privilege, several times, of interviewing Rev. [...]
My colleague keeps insisting that I MUST listen to [...]
Canada is in the midst of a federal election. [...]
Last week, I attended the Anima Leadership Institute’s “Deep [...]
My job is a bit of a treasure. I [...]
The news from Afghanistan right now is crushing. Lives [...]
Often in my work, people seeking to affirm our [...]
Religion impacts many aspects of our lives that we [...]
The hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, is one [...]
In a normal year, this week in early July [...]
Tanya Luhrmann is one of the most interesting scholars [...]
Through my work, I often get to witness religious [...]
This week a family was murdered in London, Ontario. [...]
Last week, I had the opportunity to present to [...]
We have witnessed yet another outbreak of hostilities between [...]
I like to say our founder, JW Windland was [...]
Religion is everywhere. It is there when I watch [...]
A colleague shared a story recently of how small [...]
“Not belonging is a terrible feeling. It feels awkward [...]
Earlier this week, the Quebec Supreme Court upheld all [...]
Ramadan? That means no food, right? Well, yes, there [...]
Chances are high that you interact with Sikhs, either [...]
The factors that shape our religious traditions and rituals [...]
Sunday and Monday, Hindus around the world will celebrate [...]
In last week’s newsletter I wrote that I opposed [...]
You probably don’t follow or know people who follow [...]
We love receiving feedback from participants in our programs, [...]
We are often asked if our Discovery Week is [...]
Education is like a passport to another world. It [...]
Today on Clubhouse, I will be interviewing Diana Eck, [...]
This week is Interfaith Harmony Week, designated by the [...]
When I had a chance to guest host a [...]
A real privilege in my work is the ability [...]
This fall, my twitter feed came alive with people [...]
Today is Christmas! Well, at least it is for [...]
Christmas is a time of hope – birth over [...]
Ask a non-Jew to name a Jewish holiday and [...]
When I was in university, I remember someone wishing [...]
A recent survey of Canadian employees found that 39% [...]
Years ago, I discovered the Ahmadiyyas, a Muslim sect [...]
No religion is a monolith. Every tradition changes over [...]
Today marks the start of the five-day festival of [...]
As all of you know, there was a big [...]
Saturday is Hallowe’en, a North American cultural day that [...]
Navratri is a 9 day festival in Hinduism, celebrated [...]
I track religion stories (surprise!) and these days, almost [...]
One often hears that the American Religious Right was [...]
My friend Dr. Edith Szanto (fellow University of Toronto [...]
The stress of the virus can bring out the best and worst in us ...
Jews will celebrate one of the most important days [...]
The anniversary of 9/11 is remembered for many things ...