Before I left for my yearlong Humanist service trip with Pathfinders Project, I gave the impression that I was most looking forward to traveling—visiting other countries, seeing cultural sites, and … [Read more...]
Pathfinders Project
#monthofmeaning
Pathfinders is over. It's was a life changing year. I fear I cannot begin to relate the hundreds of encounters, experiences, and moments that contributed to that change. But I can relate the lessons I … [Read more...]
The Pathfinders in Uganda: Humanism, Science, and Colonialism
![The Pathfinders in Uganda: Humanism, Science, and Colonialism](http://interbelief.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/IMGP3948-1024x819.jpg)
At Kasese Humanist Primary School (KHPS) in Uganda the students have a formal debate once a week. One debate I witnessed as a teacher there had the proposition: “Science has done more harm than good … [Read more...]
Getting Out of the Dumps: Ana’s Story
![Getting Out of the Dumps: Ana’s Story](http://interbelief.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/IMGP7053-1024x819.jpg)
Ana moved to Guatemala City from a rural village when she was twelve-years-old. Ana came alone and did not speak Spanish. She could not read the language she did speak, the Mayan K’iche’. At markets … [Read more...]
Interbeliefs Under One Roof
![Interbeliefs Under One Roof](http://interbelief.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/IMGP7475-819x1024.jpg)
Rarely am I hesitant to answer the question, “what is your denomination?” (or some variation of the question). I realize I am quite lucky in this regard. (Not to mention how lucky I am that this a … [Read more...]
Unreconcilable Beliefs: Humanism, Witches, and Human Rights
Before I went to Ghana I had no idea there were witches there. For me witchcraft accusations were of historical interest, not a contemporary concern. How wrong I was. Witchcraft accusations are … [Read more...]
Serving Water
![Serving Water](http://interbelief.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/DSCN0198-1024x819.jpg)
Today I spent two hours washing all my clothes by hand. All my clothes except the ones I was wearing. That’s five shirts, two pairs of pants, one pair of shorts, four socks, five pairs of underwear, … [Read more...]
From Just Us To All Of Us
![From Just Us To All Of Us](http://interbelief.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/wigs-e1392317350938-815x1024.jpg)
I am not sure if awe inspiring authentic communities can be defined, but recent travels lead me to believe that I might know them when I see them. To truly witness such community is to become a part … [Read more...]
How to Build a Latrine in Haiti
![How to Build a Latrine in Haiti](http://interbelief.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/20-768x1024.jpg)
Want to know how to build a latrine in the rural mountains of Haiti without roads or electricity? Let me help with my step-by-step guide. Follow it carefully and you will have a latrine (or 20) in … [Read more...]
A Tale of Two Communities
![A Tale of Two Communities](http://interbelief.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/possessions-620x1024.jpg)
How can we refuse those who come? A constant refrain as we visited Kukuo, a camp for alleged witches in northern Ghana, was that the accused women are part of the larger community not merely … [Read more...]
Building Community
![Building Community](http://interbelief.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/gawkers-1024x768.jpg)
In La Fond-Jeanette, the village in Haiti where we spent a month building latrines with Children of the Border, there are no roads. There is no plumbing. There is no electricity except from a few … [Read more...]
Interfaith Lessons Learned from a Witch Camp
![Kukuo's fetish priest](http://interbelief.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/IMGP62311-819x1024.jpg)
Kukuo, in northern Ghana, is home to a camp for alleged witches. There women who have been accused of witchcraft come looking for safety. They come looking because if they stay home they are in … [Read more...]
Surprising Smiles with Accused Witches in Ghana
![Senetu Kojo's only possessions.](http://interbelief.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/IMGP61861-587x1024.jpg)
In Ghana, like much of Africa, belief in witchcraft is quite common. So are witchcraft accusations. The vast majority of accusations are levied at old women. Who can no longer produce children. … [Read more...]
Confessions of a Female Traveler Part II
![Confessions of a Female Traveler Part II](http://interbelief.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/men-on-beach.jpg)
Our first night in Ghana we stayed at a hostel just across the street from the beach—not too shabby. Naturally, almost immediately after dropping our bags, we were at the beach. We split up and the … [Read more...]
Toppled White Castles in Africa and America
![Cape Coast Castle. The archway leads to the male dungeons. The stairs lead to the castle church.](http://interbelief.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/cape-coast-682x1024.jpg)
I visited two slave castles recently—Cape Coast and Elmina in Ghana. I am rarely so aware of my skin color. I’m conscious that white privilege is why I am even able to say that. It is absolutely … [Read more...]
Gye Nyame Blog Post
![Gye Nyame Blog Post](http://interbelief.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/jesus-never-fails-1024x907.jpg)
I have never been so enveloped by religion as I have been in Ghana (and Uganda). I say this having spent time in Lhasa; Varanasi, India; Jerusalem; and Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Before you ask, … [Read more...]
Silly Obruni
![Woman carrying a plastic box of eggs on her head through a market.](http://interbelief.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/egg-head.jpg)
Ghana is blue. I don’t mean it is sad, I mean it is tinted blue. So many light bulbs here are blue. I’m not talking in bars and clubs other places that are trying to achieve a certain atmosphere. … [Read more...]
Encountering Racism as a Tourist
![Encountering Racism as a Tourist](http://interbelief.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/chairs-2-1024x819.jpg)
In Uganda I am shackled by my outsiderness. I cannot be totally myself, because I am not just me. I am America. With so much animosity toward Americans around the world, whether I like it or not, … [Read more...]
Barbed Wire Fences
![Barbed Wire Fences](http://interbelief.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/barbed-line.jpg)
Almost every window in Uganda is protected by bars. Pretty, decorative bars, but bars nonetheless. The doors too are barred. While I am used to only screen doors protecting my regular doors in the … [Read more...]