Being Muslim in today’s world

Crossroads meets the third Friday of each month in Des Moines

CROSSROADS | Des Moines

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
Plymouth Congregational Church
Waveland Hall
4126 Ingersoll Ave, Des Moines

in-person and virtual options

Being Muslim in today’s world

Sabriya Khan
Muslim Community Organization, Masjid An-Noor

Islam is one of the largest religions in the world but for those who are not Muslim, do we really know enough about the beliefs, practices, and sense of community found in the tradition? How have world events and human biases impacted daily living for the Muslim community – historically and especially right now? Sabriya Khan, a leader in the Des Moines Muslim community, will share her perspective.

Join us at the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Crossroads luncheon in September as we hold our second Understanding Our Neighbors project focused on learning about and understanding one another just a little bit more.

There are three ways to attend Crossroads. Registration is required for all three:

Attend in person (with lunch) by clicking here. Four bag lunch sandwich options are available for $15: turkey, roast beef, ham salad, and vegetarian. You must pre-order and pay for your lunch by 12:00 PM on Wednesday, September 17. Late orders or walk-in requests for lunch will not be available.
Attend in person (no lunch) by clicking here. There is no cost for this option, but we must have your RSVP to ensure we have enough seating.
Watch via YouTube by clicking here. This online presentation will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel.

Understanding Our Neighbors is a project of Interfaith Alliance of Iowa intended to help each of us listen to and understand those who differ from us. After all, if we don’t take the time to understand our neighbors, how can we ever move our world to one that is less divided? Understanding Our Neighbors may appear as a speaker at one of our luncheons (Crossroads and Intersections), a Zoom gathering, or in other ways. We invite you to come ready to learn, listen, ask questions, and find a better understanding of your neighbors.

Crossroads is a monthly gathering of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa in Des Moines.

Intersections meets the first Friday of each month in Cedar Rapids

INTERSECTIONS | Cedar Rapids

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
ST. PAUL'S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
1340 3rd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids

in-person and virtual options

Who Wouldn’t Want More Babies?
Understanding Pronatalism in the U.S.

Susan D. Stewart, Ph.D.
Social Demographer and Professor
Iowa State University

Pronatalism is the idea that having many children is good for society and that childbearing should therefore be encouraged. The United States and other low fertility countries are experiencing a surge in pronatalist sentiment, and the Trump Administration is developing a range of social and economic policies designed to entice people to have more children. However, these policies and the “fertilization president” himself are being met with a considerable degree of skepticism, if not outright hostility. Why, if children are an absolute good, are pronatalist movements so fraught? Dr. Stewart explores the U.S. pronatalist movement in the context of broad population trends and pronatalism historically and globally.

There are three ways to attend Intersections. Registration is required for all three:

Attend in person (with lunch) by clicking here. Three boxed lunch options are available for $15: turkey & swiss on ciabatta, roast beef & cheddar on wheatberry, and garden veggie salad. You must pre-order and pay for your lunch by 12:00 PM on Tuesday, September 30. Late orders or walk-in requests for lunch will not be available.
Attend in person (no lunch) by clicking here. There is no cost for this option, but we must have your RSVP to ensure we have enough seating.
Watch via YouTube by clicking here. This online presentation will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel.

Intersections is a monthly gathering of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa in Cedar Rapids.

Brian McLaren: What the world needs from people of faith

ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA DIALOGUE SERIES

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
2:00 PM
Sheslow Auditorium, Drake University
2507 University Ave, Des Moines

Wisdom for a World Falling Apart: What the World Needs from People of Faith

Brian D. McLaren is Dean of Faculty of the Center for Action and Contemplation, founded by Franciscan priest Richard Rohr. A former English professor and pastor, McLaren is an activist, podcaster, and author of many books, including Life After Doom and Faith After Doubt. He is widely recognized for his work at the intersections of spirituality, social justice, and ecological concerns. McLaren will address the urgent need for new ways of thinking, becoming, and belonging in these turbulent times.

St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church and Student Center at Drake University is the host of the Dialogue Series. Please direct all questions to them.