The United Nations launched World Interfaith Harmony Week in 2010 to emphasize shared values across faith traditions, promoting love of God, good, and neighbor. Today, the focus has shifted from dialogue to fostering solidarity and cooperation against rising religious nationalism globally.
Reflecting on this shift, the author recounts an experience from January 6, 2026, when they attended the inaugural “Faith in Democracy Interfaith Concert” in Washington D.C. This event highlighted the significance of Jesus’ message of light overcoming darkness and showcased interfaith unity amidst a diverse gathering. The peaceful atmosphere was enhanced by a Syrian singer leading the U.S. national anthem in Arabic, embodying hospitality and welcome.
The concert featured various religious traditions through music, prioritizing art over speeches to inspire hope. The author resonates with their past experience in Malaysia, standing with friends against political violence, emphasizing that interfaith efforts must prioritize unity against those who weaponize faith for political ends. Today, challenges posed by jingoism, dominionism, and Theocratic nationalism make such solidarity essential. The concert exemplified “weak epiphanies,” demonstrating what is possible when choosing solidarity over divisiveness and fear.
