The FORBcast

On this episode of The FORBcast, we have an interview with James Holt - an associate professor at the University of Chester in the United Kingdom. He’s dedicated his career to preparing the next generation to respectfully interact with the belief systems of others. This will ultimately result in a more understanding and peaceful society. James is also the Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Freedom Declared Foundation, which is “Championing the right of everyone to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief. [They] provide research, information, educational and training resources and are the only UK charity on Freedom of Religion or Belief founded and governed by people of various faiths or those who hold no faith.”Thank you for listening to The FORBcast, presented by Bellwether International and hosted by Brenna Christen-Server. Please rate, review, subscribe, and send this episode to someone who you think would find it interesting. Send any questions, comments, or corrections to brenna@bellwetherngo.org. You can join us in the fight for freedom of religion or belief by visiting our website, https://www.bellwetherngo.org/Additional links for more information:https://freedomdeclaredfoundation.org/https://www.reonline.org.uk/2019/12/17/how-i-became-a-professor-of-religious-education/https://jamesdholt.com/cpd/beyond-the-big-six-religions/https://storefront.chester.ac.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12_14&products_id=825https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyxlGEr1PPb91WBIJiL3b3yyk5LTIIMMahttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyxlGEr1PPb-JETjTk7bc3v4-c6M7SXvY

On this week’s episode of The FORBcast, we have an interview with Ellie Thompson who is the Reflection Center Coordinator at Utah Valley University. Ellie founded an interfaith dialogue while a student at West Texas A&M University, and from her experience there, grew a desire to work in higher education promoting interfaith dialogue and activities. We discuss why providing safe spaces for spiritual connection is essential on college campuses and in workplaces. Ellie shares her expertise in promoting interfaith dialogue, understanding, and empathy. Thank you for listening to The FORBcast, presented by Bellwether International and hosted by Brenna Christen-Server. Please rate, review, subscribe, and send this episode to someone who you think would find it interesting. Send any questions, comments, or corrections to brenna@bellwetherngo.org. You can join us in the fight for freedom of religion or belief by visiting our website, https://www.bellwetherngo.org/Additional links for more information:https://www.uvu.edu/ethics/reflectioncenter/https://www.bellwetherngo.org/resources

On this week’s episode of The FORBcast, we have an interview with Shirin Taber. Shirin is an international consultant, media producer and the author. With an Iranian Muslim father and an American Christian mother, she has lived in the United States, Europe and the Middle East. Currently, she is directing the Empower Women Media and Middle East Women’s Leadership Network, which help women create media for their mission. With a background in writing, non-profits and cross-cultural training, Shirin assists multiple organizations with media-based initiatives. The Los Angeles Times, Detroit Free Press, Fox News, Christianity Today and the NYTimes.com have featured her writing and work among Muslims and Christians alike. She has assisted the George Bush Institute Women’s Leadership Initiative and the United Nations Office for Genocide Prevention with media projects focused on women and peace building. Shirin is a graduate of the University of Washington and speaks English, Farsi and French. Read more about Shirin in her book "Muslim's Next Door" and get involved with Empower Women Media by following the links below: http://empowerwomen.media/https://www.amazon.com/Muslims-Next-Door-Uncovering-Friendships/dp/0310255643/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=shirin+taber+muslims+next+door&qid=1633124309&sr=8-1https://human-rights-and-religious-freedom-training.teachable.com/p/homehttp://empowerwomen.media/film-competition-winners-and-finalists/"Empower Women Media helps women become world-class leaders by creating media for their mission. Launched in 2013, we gather women for networking, training, mentoring and collaborative purposes. We partner with United Nations, NGO and faith based organizations. We build relationships to leverage our talents and resources. We convene change agents and challenge them to create a practical plan for media engagement. As result of our network gatherings, trainings, mentoring and follow up efforts, several collaborative media projects have emerged for the Middle East and around the world."Thank you for listening to The FORBcast, presented by Bellwether International and hosted by Brenna Christen-Server. Please rate, review, subscribe, and send this episode to someone who you think would find it interesting. Send any questions, comments, or corrections to brenna@bellwetherngo.org. You can join us in the fight for freedom of religion or belief by visiting our website, https://www.bellwetherngo.org/

On this week’s episode of The FORBcast, we have an interview with Tanner Bean, a lawyer in Idaho and Utah. We discuss his special focuses such as nondiscrimination in the workplace and the intersection of LGBTQIA+ rights with freedom of religion or belief. Tanner breaks down why he’s called on lawmakers to strongly support the Freedom for All Act and why it would be the best step forward for the United States. Tanner is an associate at Fabian VanCott with particular focus on the intersecting areas of religious and LGBTQIA+ discrimination found in workplaces, housing, public accommodations, and education. He graduated with honors from Brigham Young University’s J. Reuben Clark Law School, where he served as President of the Trial Advocacy Team, Symposium Editor of the BYU Law Review, and Research Fellow and Student Management Board Member of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies. Currently, Tanner serves as the Secretary for the Labor & Employment Section of the Utah Bar, a member of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society’s Religious Freedom Committee, and is the founder of the Workplace Religious Accommodations Database (WRAD) Pro Bono Project. Apart from his law practice, Tanner balances his affinity for the outdoors with his love of ice cream. Read Tanner’s articles and learn more about his work at the links below: https://publicsquaremag.org/sexuality-family/a-path-to-unity-mr-president-the-fairness-for-all-act/https://publicsquaremag.org/politics-law/continued-restoration-of-religious-freedom-tanzin-v-tanvir-and-the-religious-freedom-restoration-act/https://fabianvancott.com/attorneys/tanner-j-bean/Thank you for listening to The FORBcast, presented by Bellwether International and hosted by Brenna Christen-Server. Please rate, review, subscribe, and send this episode to someone who you think would find it interesting. Send any questions, comments, or corrections to brenna@bellwetherngo.org. You can join us in the fight for freedom of religion or belief by visiting our website, https://www.bellwetherngo.org/Additional links for more information:https://fairnessforall.org/resources/https://www.standard.net/opinion/columnists/guest-editorial-5-years-ago-utah-saved-my-life-by-passing-lgbtq-nondiscrimination-protections/article_25f280f4-8bdc-5dc7-9a00-f050507cd5de.htmlhttps://www.bellwetherngo.org/resources

On this week’s episode of The FORBcast, we have an interview with Dr. Lacey Bagley, who has been working as a therapist for Encircle in Provo Utah for the past two years. She is currently in the process of opening her own clinic, Celebrate Therapy, aimed at supporting LGBTQIA+ folx and their families. She was raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and continues to be a practicing member, along with her husband of 13 years and their two children. She also identifies as bisexual, and considers it an honor to serve her community with her education.This episode has a focus on dismantling the widespread notion that the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community are somehow at odds with religious freedom. In reality, freedom of religion or belief protects everyone, including shielding us from having to live according to someone else's religious convictions. People in the LGBTQIA+ community should be able to freely practice their faith, or choose to step away from belief systems. This episode explores how religion and sexuality don't inherently conflict, and how to ultimately center the focus on human dignity.Thank you for listening to The FORBcast, presented by Bellwether International and hosted by Brenna Christen-Server. Please rate, review, subscribe, and send this episode to someone who you think would find it interesting. Send any questions, comments, or corrections to brenna@bellwetherngo.org. You can join us in the fight for freedom of religion or belief by visiting our website, https://www.bellwetherngo.org/Additional links for more information:https://www.laceybagleymft.com/https://encircletogether.org/impacthttps://religiousfreedomandbusiness.org/religious-freedom-and-lgbt-rightshttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13642987.2020.1763961https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/06/12/recognizing-religious-freedom-lgbt-issue#

On this week’s episode of The FORBcast, we have an interview with Hawa Hassan, a refugee from Kenya who is now studying nursing at the University of Utah. Hawa discusses what it was like to be born in a refugee camp, immigrate to the United States, and how it feels to be a religious minority in her everyday life. Thank you for listening to The FORBcast, presented by Bellwether International and hosted by Brenna Christen-Server. Please rate, review, subscribe, and send this episode to someone who you think would find it interesting. Send any questions, comments, or corrections to brenna@bellwetherngo.org. You can join us in the fight for freedom of religion or belief by visiting our website, https://www.bellwetherngo.org/

On this week’s episode of The FORBcast, we discuss the intersection of freedom of religion or belief and popular culture by looking at the beloved RomCom "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." We talk about how characters in the movie represent the plight of real people throughout history, as well as examine religious freedom in Greece today. Thank you for listening to The FORBcast, presented by Bellwether International and hosted by Brenna Christen-Server. Please rate, review, subscribe, and send this episode to someone who you think would find it interesting. Send any questions, comments, or corrections to brenna@bellwetherngo.org. You can join us in the fight for freedom of religion or belief by visiting our website, https://www.bellwetherngo.org/A big thank you to all of our sources for this week’s information: https://greekreporter.com/2019/04/21/april-21-1967-a-date-most-greeks-want-to-forget/https://www.meetinthessaloniki.eu/en/the-military-junta-in-greece-1967-1974/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/06/turkish-invasion-divided-cyprus-40-years-on-eyewitness-greek-cypriot-familyhttps://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/08/world/europe/cyprus-reunification-talks.htmlhttps://www.pri.org/stories/2012-08-07/greece-turns-back-religious-minorities#:~:text=The%20Greek%20constitution%20says%20that,of%20worship%20for%20all%20faiths.&text=The%20Greek%20government%20has%20not,Turkish%20Ottoman%20Empire%20in%201821.https://www.usccb.org/committees/ecumenical-interreligious-affairs/statement-persecution-greek-orthodox-community-greecehttps://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/greece/https://freedomhouse.org/country/greece/freedom-world/2020https://talkabout.iclrs.org/2020/10/31/the-trinity-the-prevailing-religion-and-the-greek-constitution/https://www.britannica.com/place/Greece/The-Goudi-couphttps://www.mfa.gov.tr/high-level-cooperation-council-meeting-between-turkey-and-greece.en.mfa#:~:text=The%204th%20High%20Level%20Cooperation,Davuto%C4%9Flu%20and%20Greek%20Prime%20Minister.

On this week's episode of The FORBcast we interview Amro Hussain, the Director of the All Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief at House of Commons, in London, United Kingdom. He discusses the FORB landscape, his position working in government, and some tangible steps everyone can take to better engage with this human rights issue. Learn more about their organization here:https://appgfreedomofreligionorbelief.org/Thanks for listening to this episode of The FORBcast, presented by Bellwether International and hosted by Brenna Christen-Server. Please remember to rate, review, subscribe, and send this episode to someone who you think would find it interesting. Check out our website to learn more about fighting for human dignity: https://www.bellwetherngo.org/

On this week’s episode of The FORBcast, we discuss freedom of religion or belief at the intersection of gender equality. We look at gender-based statistics from around the world, hear recommendations from the UN Women Religion and Gender Equality report, and highlight just a few of the women working in their everyday lives to close the gender equality gap.  Thank you for listening to The FORBcast, presented by Bellwether International and hosted by Brenna Christen-Server. Please rate, review, subscribe, and send this episode to someone who you think would find it interesting. Send any questions, comments, or corrections to brenna@bellwetherngo.org. You can join us in the fight for freedom of religion or belief by visiting our website, https://www.bellwetherngo.org/A big thank you to all of our sources for this week’s information: https://www.bellwetherngo.orghttps://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/03/surprising-stats-about-gender-inequality/https://data.unicef.org/topic/gender/overview/https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=gender+equality+religion&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart#d=gs_qabs&u=%23p%3DaxRCE9Z-lPQJhttps://www.equalitynow.org/freedom_of_religion_womens_rightshttps://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.dw.com/en/religions-for-peace-women-push-for-gender-equality/a-50132476https://www.partner-religion-development.org/fileadmin/Dateien/Resources/Knowledge_Center/Religion_and_Gender_Equality_UNWOMEN.pdfhttps://religionunplugged.com/news/2020/5/20/book-review-the-untold-stories-of-how-women-used-power-to-influence-the-papacyhttps://www.huffpost.com/entry/women-religious-leaders_n_4922118?slideshow=true#gallery/559ea348e4b05b1d028fdcf3/42https://hds.harvard.edu/people/diana-l-eckhttps://www.afghaninstituteoflearning.org/our-founder.html

This week's episode of The FORBcast goes into the history and celebratory practices of Ramadan.  We also discuss four addresses from the Harvard Faith and Flourishing symposium. The topic of the conference was "Strategies for Preventing and Healing Child Sexual Abuse."Thank you for listening to The FORBcast, presented by Bellwether International and hosted by Brenna Christen-Server. Please rate, review, subscribe, and send this episode to someone who you think would find it interesting. You can join us in the fight for freedom of religion or belief by visiting our website, https://www.bellwetherngo.org/Click this link to watch Bellwether founder Rachel Miner’s address at the symposium:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF5SRCuEYA8Click here to be taken to all the presentations from the Harvard Faith and Flourishing symposium:https://hfh.fas.harvard.edu/video-presentationsA big thank you to our additional sources for this week’s episode: https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/ccpr.aspx#:~:text=Article%2027,to%20use%20their%20own%20language.https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ramadanhttps://www.britannica.com/topic/Eid-al-Fitrhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBzcBl67kMs&t=2s

Thank you for listening to The FORBcast: the leading podcast on freedom of religion or belief. Presented by Bellwether International and hosted by Brenna Christen-Server. In this week's episode we discuss Easter, as well as the similarities in discrimination against Christians and Atheists around the world. Please rate, review, subscribe, and send this episode to someone you think would find it interesting.  Clarifications and a big thank you to our sources for this week's research:UAE stands for United Arab Emirateshttps://www.history.com/topics/holidays/history-of-easterhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/how-easter-celebrations-are-changing-with-the-growth-of-nonreligious-americans/2019/04/19/865173a4-5d31-11e9-9625-01d48d50ef75_story.htmlhttps://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/atheist-day/https://www.geospatialworld.net/blogs/interactive-map-shows-countries-where-atheists-persecuted/https://fot.humanists.international/download-the-report/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/13/christian-persecution-rises-as-people-refused-aid-in-covid-crisis-reporthttps://www.forbes.com/sites/ewelinaochab/2021/01/13/one-in-eight-christians-worldwide-live-in-countries-where-they-would-be-persecuted/?sh=b027f2050162https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/how-easter-celebrations-are-changing-with-the-growth-of-nonreligious-americans/2019/04/19/865173a4-5d31-11e9-9625-01d48d50ef75_story.htmlhttps://www.bellwetherngo.org/

On today's episode of The FORBcast, we discuss current events related to freedom of religion or belief.  This includes information on a bill that was recently passed in the United States and examples of religious oppression specifically targeted toward Muslim women in both Sri Lanka and England. Click the link below to register for the Harvard University Faith and Flourishing symposium, where Bellwether's own Executive Director Rachel Miner will be presenting research.  https://www.bellwetherngo.org/faith-and-flourishing-symposium Please send any corrections or inquiries to brenna@bellwetherngo.orgA big thank you to our sources for this episode's research:https://apnews.com/article/constitutions-henry-mcmaster-coronavirus-pandemic-south-carolina-bills-a053cfc6b0f286654e7c86f042460cd7https://apnews.com/article/religion-national-security-sri-lanka-united-nations-freedom-of-religion-62917081dfbe8eb340862e8e3b05d2c9https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/mar/16/school-drops-legal-action-muslim-girl-told-skirt-too-long

On the first episode of The FORBcast we are introduced to our host, Brenna Christen-Server, who interviews Founder and Executive Director of Bellwether International, Rachel Miner.  Send this episode to someone you know, and check us out at our home on the web, bellwetherngo.org! Thanks for listening. 

Welcome to The FORBcast. The leading podcast on freedom of religion or belief. Presented by: Bellwether International. Episode one coming soon. Subscribe now!