In Utah, where faith is a key part of the social fabric of the state and its residents, learning how to navigate discussions around potentially touchy subjects such as religion is a valuable skill. Fortunately, a group of University of Utah students got to hear from one of the nation’s leading authorities on interfaith about how to become a conduit to bridging the divide that may exist among differing faith traditions.

On Sept. 5, Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith America and current University Impact Scholar, spoke to an audience of U business students in the Spencer F. Eccles Business Building auditorium about the virtues of finding common ground within the interfaith community.

“Cooperation across differences is part of what this university is about. It’s part of what the state and the nation are about. And it’s part of what your own identity is about, whether you’re a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or a Muslim or a secular humanist,” said Patel. “So let’s lean into cooperation. It’s a way to take pride in your own identity. It’s a way to learn more about your friends and it’ll be useful to you later. Whether you’re a doctor or a diplomat, interfaith skills will be useful.”

The discussion was hosted by the Center for Business, Health, and Prosperity in the David Eccles School of Business’ Department of Entrepreneurship and Strategy.

The center’s executive director, Stephen Alder, said the interactive talk was part of a student experiences program called Prosperity U.

“We are working with the U’s interfaith initiative, including having an interfaith-themed community,” he explained. “With Eboo Patel now serving in a visiting scholar capacity at the university, we’re having him visit with our students to talk about this idea of what interfaith means, what it can do to elevate their lives and what it can do to elevate our institution.”

Alder said the interfaith movement looks at how people start to find places of connection rather than focusing on differences.

“We should not let the differences divide us. But instead, use them as a way to strengthen our ability to approach the world and collectively find solutions to challenges we face and to find ways to get along and improve,” Alder said. “We can choose to accentuate the differences and put all of our energy into dividing or we can celebrate that fact we have so many of these common features but those differences can be enriching in ways that we can grow and develop.”

For students in attendance, this opportunity to learn how to facilitate community engagement around interfaith cooperation and understanding will help them become leaders in the movement.

“There is a lot of work that needs to be done to connect communities because it does feel like things are really polarized in today’s society,” said Jaxon Harrison, a fourth-year student. “Coming here (to this presentation) kind of opened my eyes and was really inspiring. It made me realize I can be part of the change to help unify the community.”

“As he spoke I became very aware of how awkward it can sometimes be to try and break those boundaries when you’re talking about someone’s religion. That could be a sensitive topic,” said Paul Petersen, also a fourth-year student. “He helped me realize that I can have conversations with people about these kinds of things and it doesn’t have to be negative. Building bridges between faiths will only help bring people together, forge relationships and make life better for everyone.”