R. Skyler Oberst

While many of us were celebrating our freedoms on the Fourth of July, someone wrote this on the outer of a prayer space in Spokane as many Muslims were praying during Ramadan

In this last six months, Spokane has witnessed religious intolerance, hatred and bigotry. From Temple Beth Shalom being defaced during the high holy days, to community leaders distrusting Muslim neighbors, Spokane would do well to tackle religious illiteracy and intolerance head on. That’s why I am planning on attending the Parliament for the World’s Religions.

I spent the morning hunched over my laptop talking to a friend in Nigeria. He has been working to bring Muslims and Christians together on the streets of Lagos for several years now.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about why in many houses of worship we have national flags displayed near the altar.

There have been 74 shootings since the Sandy Hook tragedy. That’s on average of one shooting every week.

I spent the weekend with Pope Francis. Well… Not exactly. A friend of mine lent her cardboard cut-out of the supreme pontiff to me for a special project I had to carry out on a college university.

"We would do well to be mindful one another—especially of our area’s history. We have triumphed before. We can keep moving forward, but only...