Ramadan is coming to a close, and that means it's time to celebrate Eid. If you're not familiar with  Islamic holidays, you may have heard of Eid, but there are two holidays referred to by the word, so it can be confusing. Here are the basics. 

During Ramadan you’ll hear a lot of talk about “Iftar.” But what exactly is Iftar? Here’s a short explainer.

Most peacemakers I know are better at talking and listening than they are at praying. Certainly, wise speech and attentive listening are fundamental peace practices. But so is prayer. In fact, the discipline of prayer is a key component of peacemaking.

Another school shooting. A suicide bomber. Partisan politics on steroids. The daily news can be a real peace-robber. So we need to learn how to pray down peace into our world.

Muslims eating Halal food in the church fellowship hall. People making friends across cultural and religious lines. Christians and Muslims openly discussing our common ground and differences about Jesus. This is a snapshot of our most recent Love Your Neighbor Dinner at the Valley Vineyard in Reseda, California.

What if people of all faiths, colors, genders, and political affiliations could unite and stand together for the cause of peace and justice? On Sunday, we did just that. The Interfaith March for Peace and Justice was a coast-to-coast coordinated event that took place in 12 cities across the U.S. to affirm freedom of religion and to stand against racial and religious discrimination. Peace Catalyst was part of three of these marches, in Columbus, Ohio; Boise, Idaho; and Oxnard, California. 

On April 9-11, we convened a “Seek the Peace of the City” consultation at Duke University to catalyze and equip a national network of Christians and Muslims to create safe, just, and vibrant cities. Over 40 attendees representing 12 cities gathered for two days to learn together and begin forming plans to combine our efforts for the next two years to bring about transformation in our respective cities. 

When I heard about the First Annual Black American Muslim Conference, I knew I had to attend.  As a white evangelical Christian, I wanted to hear this group's stories and stand in solidarity with them against the blatant racism and anti-Muslim sentiment that buffets their lives. Since Peace Catalyst focuses on Christian-Muslim peacemaking, it seemed like a practical way to be good neighbors and to live out our calling as peacemakers.

You’ve already taken the steps to plan your Peace Dinner and you’re equipped with our 5 tips for hosting successfully, but you may still find yourself feeling nervous or unsure about any number of elements of your peace dinner. Here are answers to a few questions you might have.