Crossing Faiths

In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna and Elliot Toman discuss the increasingly blurred lines between religion and governance in the United States, specifically examining the impact of the Trump administration on the separation of church and state. They explore the "unholy union" between Donald Trump and the broader Christian community, analyzing how his charisma and strategic alignment on issues like abortion have garnered loyalty from diverse religious blocks despite his often amoral public persona. The dialogue shifts into deeper theological and geopolitical territory, touching upon Five-Point Calvinism, the concept of a "sovereign magistrate," and the ambition to restore a "Christendom" framework both domestically and through interventionist policies in the Middle East. Pinna and Toman also contrast these Western religious-political movements with the internal struggles of the Islamic world, discussing post-colonialism, the Pahlavi dynasty in Iran, and the dangers of approaching modern conflicts as "faith-based wars" led by opportunistic rather than principled leaders.

In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John speaks with Rev. Marian Edmonds, who works at the intersection of faith, values, and technology. They discuss their shared involvement in the AI and spirituality initiative at Harvard University, as well as their mutual interests in AI, religion, and the concept of "covenantal pluralism." Rev. Marian explains how she has been working to apply AI within religious freedom and human rights spaces, emphasizing the importance of diverse, interfaith engagement to protect the rights of all people. They explore the ethical challenges of using AI in these spaces, including the need for a "moral compass" to navigate bias and ensure that technological tools remain helpful, transparent, and aligned with human values. https://www.marianedmondsallen.com/ Rev. Dr. Marian Edmonds-Allen works at the intersection of faith, values, and technology, serving with the AI & Spirituality Initiative at the Neurospirituality Lab at Harvard Medical School and as Senior Advisor for Moral Compass at American Security Foundation. Her work focuses on the human-centered and ethical development and use of artificial intelligence, with particular attention to how emerging technologies can support spiritual well-being, moral agency, and human dignity. A seasoned pastor and community leader, Dr. Edmonds-Allen brings decades of experience working across lines of difference—religious, ideological, and cultural—to foster collaboration grounded in compassion, conviction, and shared purpose. Her approach is shaped by the principles of covenantal pluralism and a deep commitment to helping people live in alignment with their core beliefs, especially in times of rapid social and technological change. She also serves as Executive Director of Parity, a nonprofit dedicated to healing divides and advancing the dignity of all people. Across all of her work, Dr. Edmonds-Allen is known for building bridges, elevating conscience, and championing the spiritual and moral capacities that make us fully human.

In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John and Elliot discuss the multifaceted relationship between religion, politics, and power, specifically focusing on how symbolism and visual representations—like vestments and tattoos—serve as tools of authority and identity for both historical figures and modern political actors. They explore the intersection of American political theater, such as the use of military imagery and "war-room" rhetoric, with religious concepts like the apocalypse, the second coming, and the idea of a "chosen" status. Throughout the conversation, the hosts critically examine the dangers of conflating political agendas with divine mandate, questioning how individuals in positions of power utilize religious narratives to justify policies, influence public opinion, and command a loyal following, ultimately reflecting on the ethical implications of using faith to sanitize or propel political warfare.

In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John speaks with Eitan Diamond, a legal expert at the Humanitarian Law Center in Israel, about his journey and professional focus on human rights and international law. Their conversation spans Diamond’s personal background as a South African Jew who moved to Israel during the apartheid era, reflecting on the complexity of that transition and his later career. They explore the critical intersection of human dignity, equality, and international humanitarian law, particularly in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the impact of settlements. Throughout the discussion, they critically examine the use of political and legal terminology, such as "apartheid" and "genocide," assessing their relevance and limitations in describing the realities on the ground, while emphasizing the importance of securing rights for vulnerable populations and the ongoing challenge of achieving a just, two-state political framework. https://en-law.tau.ac.il/profile/eitandiamond_65

In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John speaks with Ambassador Robert Rehak, the Czech Republic’s Special Envoy for the Holocaust, Interfaith Dialogue, and Freedom of Religion and Belief, about his extensive global efforts to protect marginalized communities and promote tolerance. The conversation creatively opens by comparing his human rights work to the Czech legend of Houska Castle—a fortress built to seal the gates of hell—before delving into his real-world responsibilities as the Chair of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance. Ambassador Rehak shares compelling examples of his advocacy, including his efforts to free a Nigerian prisoner of conscience, unique social experiments dressing as different religious figures at soccer matches to combat Islamophobia, and organizing interfaith sports tournaments for Jewish and Muslim youth. They also discuss urgent global crises, such as the destruction of religious sites and oppression of minorities in Russian-occupied Ukraine, the systemic persecution of Uyghur Muslims in China, and the ongoing struggles in Syria. Drawing on his own poignant experiences growing up behind the Iron Curtain in communist Czechoslovakia and participating in the Velvet Revolution, Ambassador Rehak underscores his deep personal dedication to democracy and concludes with a hopeful call to action for everyday people to champion religious freedom and global unity. Robert Řehák, Ph.D. is Special Envoy for Holocaust, Interfaith Dialogue and Freedom of Religion, Czech career diplomat, Head of the Czech Delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), Chair of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (IRFBA) or the Article 18 Alliance, published scholar of biblical proper names and the Dead Sea Scrolls, and official Hebrew interpreter. He studied at Charles University in Prague, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität in Heidelberg and Hebrew University in Jerusalem. As a researcher, he participates in several international research projects in the field of interfaith dialogue and sociology of religion. He is the initiator of the new Czech National Strategy of Combating anti-Semitism and co-ordinated the recent conference on the Terezín Declaration and the 2023 FoRB Ministerial in Prague. He is proficient in Czech, English, Hebrew, German and Russian, and reads classical Latin, Greek and Arabic. He lives in Prague with his wife and four children.

In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna speaks with Dennis Petri, focusing on the evolution and current state of metrics used to gauge religious freedom and persecution. Petri explains how documenting religious incidents is crucial for making them visible to policymakers, countering older secularization theories that often overlooked religious influence in public life. The discussion highlights the transition from anecdotal evidence to sophisticated datasets—such as those from the Pew Research Center—while acknowledging persistent gaps in capturing implicit discrimination and the nuanced cultural contexts of faith. A major theme of the interview is the potential for artificial intelligence and "big data" to enhance real-time reporting and move research beyond nationwide aggregates toward more detailed, sub-national analysis. Ultimately, Pinna and Petri emphasize the need for a "new IRFA moment" to update international religious freedom policies in alignment with modern technological advancements and data-driven insights. Prof. Dr. Dennis P. Petri is a political scientist, researcher, and international consultant, with extensive experience in Latin America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. He has worked in academic and policy roles for various universities, international NGOs, and multilateral organizations. Currently, Petri is Visiting Professor at the UN mandated University for Peace and Professor in International Relations and Humanities at the Latin American University of Science and Technology of Costa Rica. He also lectures at the Central American Public Administration Institute, the UNESCO mandated Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO), and The Hague University of Applied Sciences. He has been a visiting scholar at the University of Amsterdam (The Netherlands), the Interamerican Center for Social Security Studies, Bar-Ilan University (Israel), and Regent’s Park College, University of Oxford (UK). About Dennis Petri: https://petri.phd/about/

Recently, Crossing Faiths host John Pinna appeared on Franck Zanu's podcast to explore the intricate relationship between religion, tribalism, and politics across the African continent. Zanu argues that faith in Africa is deeply intertwined with tribal identity, which often dictates access to economic resources and political power. The discussion delves into the nuances of religious conflict in regions like Northern Nigeria, suggesting that while it appears as religious persecution to Western observers, it is often driven by deeper issues of socio-economic marginalization and tribal resentment. They critique Western policy frameworks on religious freedom, noting that in Africa, religion frequently serves as a practical necessity for seeking divine intervention in the absence of adequate government infrastructure like healthcare. Furthermore, the conversation touches on the historical impact of colonialism on ethnic homogeneity and warns against foreign military intervention in domestic disputes, advocating instead for neutral, multi-faith dialogue and government-sponsored think tanks to address the root causes of regional tensions. Franck Zanu is the host of the podcast, “Zanu Project Rethink”. He is intense, explosive, analytical and deeply thought provoking. He is a life-coach, inspirational speaker, and human development consultant. Zanu’s approach to working with people is unique. While he is empathetic, intuitive and objective, the most distinctive thing about his approach is the way he challenges you to see the issue in a completely different way. He is successful at turning the issue upside down and turning your perspective inside out so you see things from a brand new perspective, energizing you to action and instant results. He has served on many boards in the US including as Vice Chair of the International Institute of Connecticut, Chair of the Mayor’s Youth Initiative project, and Commissioner of the city of Bridgeport Fair rent commission. He is an award winning Black History speaker at the African American Affairs Commission and Sikorsky Aircraft, both in Connecticut. Additionally, he was awarded the 2012 Most Outstanding Immigrant by the Connecticut Secretary of State.

In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna resumes his conversation with Scott Horton to examine the historical and contemporary applications of the Monroe Doctrine, tracing its shift from a defensive stance against European colonization to a tool for American imperial dominance in the Western Hemisphere. The dialogue focuses heavily on the complexities of regime change in Venezuela, analyzing the motivations behind US sanctions, the influence of political figures like Marco Rubio, and the interplay between corporate oil interests and geopolitical lobbies. Moving beyond Latin America, Horton offers a critical perspective on NATO expansion and the denial of a Russian sphere of influence in Eastern Europe, which he argues has fueled the conflict in Ukraine. The interview further uncovers the "business of intelligence" by discussing how NGOs and faith-based organizations can serve as covers for government operations, illustrated by a detailed anecdote about a failed coup in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Finally, the speakers reflect on the legacy of US involvement in Afghanistan and the flaws in established narratives regarding counter-terrorism and global interventionism. Scott Horton is director of the Scott Horton Academy of Foreign Policy and Freedom director of the Libertarian Institute, editorial director of Antiwar.com and host of the Scott Horton Show from ScottHorton.org (https://scotthhorton.org). He is the author of four books. He has conducted more than 6,000 interviews since 2003. He has recently released The Scott Horton Academy of Foreign Policy and Freedom. Scott lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, Larisa Alexandrovna Horton.

In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna speaks with Scott Horton about the underlying motivations and consequences of American foreign policy in the Middle East and beyond. The discussion explores the influence of neoconservative ideologies on the Iraq War, the political motivations of the Bush administration, and the subsequent "redirection" of support toward various factions in the Syrian civil war. Pinna shares his firsthand experiences working with government-funded organizations during the Arab Spring, while Horton provides a critical analysis of the military-industrial complex and the role of manufactured intelligence in driving international conflicts. Their conversation further examines the complex geopolitical landscape involving Israel, Iran, and the Kurdish regions, highlighting the economic undercurrents of oil trade and currency movement that often dictate regional stability and interventionist strategies. Scott Horton is director of the Scott Horton Academy of Foreign Policy and Freedom director of the Libertarian Institute, editorial director of Antiwar.com and host of the Scott Horton Show from ScottHorton.org (https://scotthhorton.org). He is the author of four books. He has conducted more than 6,000 interviews since 2003. He has recently released The Scott Horton Academy of Foreign Policy and Freedom. Scott lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, Larisa Alexandrovna Horton.

In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna speaks with Mandana Hendessi about her career in human rights advocacy and international development across Iraq and Afghanistan, with a particular focus on her novel, The Almond Garden of Kabul (https://www.afsana-press.com/the-almond-garden-of-kabul). Drawing from her real-life experiences providing legal aid and counseling at the Badam Bagh women's prison, Hendessi explores the systemic oppression of women through the lens of "moral crimes" and the contradictions between national law and conservative judicial interpretations. The interview delves into the harrowing realities of sexual abuse and trafficking within the prison system, while also highlighting the profound sense of sisterhood and resilience found among a diverse group of incarcerated women. Ultimately, the conversation examines themes of trauma, institutionalization, and the complexities of translating Western concepts of mental health and empowerment into the cultural and linguistic nuances of Afghan society. Mandana Hendessi (https://www.afsana-press.com/mandana-hendessi) (OBE) is a writer and women's rights advocate whose thirty years in gender equality and humanitarian work have taken her from the corridors of Westminster to the crowded refugee camps of the Middle East and the dimly lit cells of Afghan prisons. These encounters – layered with resilience, grief, and defiance – have given her a rare insight into the human cost of injustice, an insight that continues to infuse her fiction. Lived at the intersection of politics, war, and survival, these experiences shape her writing, which seeks to give voice to those too often silenced.

In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna speaks with Shaka Mitchell, founder of the Come Together Music Project, about utilizing music as a tool to deepen relationships and foster vulnerability across cultural and political divides. They discuss the origins of Mitchell's podcast, which invites guests to share songs based on specific prompts, leading to unexpected and humanizing conversations—such as a dialogue between strangers regarding their differing perspectives on safety and isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pair also explores the intersection of faith and community, touching on the nuances of celebrating Christmas in diverse households, the communal nature of holiday traditions like caroling, and the parallels between church bells and the recently approved broadcast of the Islamic call to prayer in New York City. Ultimately, the interview highlights how music serves as a universal language that can lower defenses and allow individuals from opposing backgrounds to find common ground. Shaka Mitchell Substack: https://substack.com/@shakamitchell Come Together Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/13xN302EaRVizFTrsDZVRq https://podcasts.apple.com/sn/podcast/come-together-podcast/id1691123150

In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna speaks with Lauren Van Ham, an interfaith minister and the Earth Restoration Coordinator for the United Religions Initiative (URI), about the vital intersection of spirituality and environmental stewardship. Van Ham details her journey to becoming an "Eco-Chaplain," a role dedicated to caring for the Earth as our collective home, and explains how her multi-faith background informs her approach to climate action. The discussion explores the necessity of moving beyond symbolic gestures like Earth Day toward cultivating a daily, intimate relationship with the natural world, while also examining how diverse religious traditions provide theological frameworks for protecting the planet. They further discuss URI’s "Peacebuilding through Earth Restoration" program, which fosters grassroots interfaith cooperation to address issues like land degradation and resource scarcity, ultimately arguing for a shift away from anthropocentrism to recognizing humanity's deep interdependence with nature. URI: https://www.uri.org/ About Lauren: https://www.uri.org/lauren-van-ham

In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna speaks with Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, the Abbot of the Zen Mountain Monastery, about the intersection of traditional Buddhist practice and modern American life. Shugen elucidates the role of an Abbot as both a spiritual teacher and administrator before diving into core Buddhist concepts, explaining how the suffering caused by clinging to a permanent sense of self can be alleviated through the "Middle Way" and non-attachment. The conversation explores Shugen’s personal journey, from his upbringing in Atlanta during the Civil Rights movement—where the societal silence regarding segregation prompted his deep questioning of culture and history—to his transition from a budding career in mathematics and music to a disciplined monastic life in the Hudson Valley. They conclude by discussing the delicate balance between maintaining a cloistered environment for deep meditation and fulfilling the Bodhisattva vow of service, highlighting the monastery's efforts to engage with the wider community through social justice initiatives and anti-bias training. Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi is the Head of the Mountains and Rivers Order and Abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery. Shugen entered full-time residential training in 1986 after studying mathematics and receiving a degree in classical music. He received dharma transmission from John Daido Loori, Roshi in 1997. His teachings on Zen, social justice and environmental stewardship have appeared in various Buddhist journals, and The Best Buddhist Writing 2009 (Shambhala Publications). His book of poetry, O, Beautiful End (https://monasterystore.org/o-beautiful-end/), a collection of Zen memorial poems, was published in 2012. https://zmm.org/

In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna speaks with Stephen Schneck, a Commissioner for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), about the vital role the independent, bipartisan commission plays in monitoring and advocating for freedom of belief worldwide. Schneck details the distinction between USCIRF’s advisory role and the State Department’s policy implementation, while highlighting his specific focus on the intersection of religious persecution and the global refugee crisis. The conversation delves into Schneck’s background as a political philosopher and practicing Catholic, exploring how the American founders' ideals and the Catholic Church’s modern embrace of inter-religious dialogue inform his approach to human rights. Finally, the two discuss the difficulties of securing tangible victories in the current geopolitical climate and the critical necessity of Congressional reauthorization to ensure the Commission can continue its work amidst rising threats to religious liberty. A political philosopher by training, Stephen Schneck retired from The Catholic University of America in 2018, after more than thirty years as a professor, department chair, and dean. At the university he was also the founder and long-time director of the Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies. He received his doctorate from the University of Notre Dame. A well-known advocate for Catholic social justice teachings in public life, Schneck currently serves on the governing boards of Catholic Climate Covenant, which advocates for environmental justice and care for creation, and of Catholic Mobilizing Network, a Catholic organization working to end the death penalty and advance restorative justice. His writings appear regularly in the religious media and he is a frequent commentator on Catholic matters for national and international news services. Previously, he was the executive director of Franciscan Action Network, which promotes environmental, economic, racial, and social justice on behalf of the Franciscan communities of the United States. He served the administration of President Barack Obama as a member of the White House Advisory Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Born and raised in Clinton, Iowa, Schneck now lives with his wife, Suzanne, on Bald Head Island, North Carolina.

In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna speaks with Brian Grim from the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation about his influential research on global religious freedom. Grim recounts how his personal experiences living in the Muslim world, particularly during 9/11, led him to develop the groundbreaking framework that measures religious restrictions through two distinct lenses: government actions and social hostilities. He argues that this nuanced understanding is crucial for the workplace, asserting that accommodating and respecting employees' diverse faiths fosters a more productive and engaged environment, drawing a parallel between inclusive national policies and successful corporate cultures. The conversation explores the practical challenges of accommodating various religious practices, the importance of universal religious freedom for all faiths to ensure it for any, and the critical role of data in providing perspective, informing policy, and navigating the complexities of religious persecution beyond mere anecdotes. Dr. Brian J. Grim is a globally recognized expert on the socio-economic impact of religious freedom. He is the Founding President of the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation (RFBF) and serves as the Global Chair of Dare to Overcome, an initiative that fosters mutual respect and engagement among diverse faith-and-belief groups in workplaces worldwide. With a Ph.D. in quantitative sociology from Pennsylvania State University, Dr. Grim has authored numerous academic articles and books. His pioneering work at the Pew Research Center led to the development of global indexes measuring Government Restrictions on Religion (GRI) and Social Hostilities Involving Religion (SHI), which are now key tools for monitoring religious freedom worldwide. Dr. Grim’s research has shown that religion contributes approximately $1.2 trillion annually to the U.S. economy, surpassing the combined revenues of top tech companies like Apple, Amazon, and Google. His approach to religious freedom emphasizes building inclusive environments for people of all faiths and those without religious affiliation. He has lived and worked extensively across China, Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the former USSR, where he helped establish the first Western-style business school in the Soviet Union. His global influence included advisory roles with the World Economic Forum, the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, Notre Dame University Law School’s Religious Liberty Initiative, Brandeis University’s Chaplaincy Innovation Lab, and affiliations with Boston University and Baylor University. Dr. Grim is also known for organizing the Global Business & Intercultural Peace Awards, held in cities like Rio de Janeiro, Seoul, Tokyo, New Delhi, and Washington, D.C., with support from global leaders and organizations including the United Nations Global Compact and American Airlines. He and his wife, Julia Beth, are co-authors of Grims’ New Fairy Tales of Love Overcoming Evil (https://grimsfairytales.com/), parents of four and grandparents of 18.

In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna speaks with Rushan Abbas, an advocate for the Uyghur community and founder of the Campaign for Uyghurs, about the history and ongoing genocide of her people. Abbas explains the Uyghurs' distinct identity as a Turkic, Muslim people from East Turkestan (now called Xinjiang by China), tracing the evolution of their persecution from the Cultural Revolution to the present day. She details the current atrocities, linking them to Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative, and describes the horrific conditions in concentration camps, including torture, forced sterilization of women, family separation, and the use of forced labor to create a profitable genocide. Sharing her personal story of how her own activism led to her sister's imprisonment, Abbas highlights the Chinese government's transnational repression and concludes with a powerful call to action, urging listeners to educate themselves, use their consumer power to boycott goods made with forced labor, and pressure their governments to hold China accountable.

In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna speaks with Matt Hawkins (https://matthewthawkins.com/), a founder of the podcast, about his return to the international religious freedom (IRF) space and his new role as Executive Vice President of the IRF Secretariat. Hawkins explains how the Secretariat serves as an administrative support body for the global religious freedom movement, primarily by convening the IRF Roundtable (https://irfroundtable.org), a multi-faith platform for collaboration and advocacy. They discuss Hawkins' personal journey away from and back to this work, which included significant health challenges and a period in Christian publishing, as well as the evolution of the IRF movement itself. Hawkins outlines the movement's three-pronged strategy of advocacy, cooperative engagement, and building local capacity, and highlights upcoming initiatives like a high-level meeting in Prague. https://matthewthawkins.com/ https://irfroundtable.org

In this episode of Crossing Faiths, Elliot Toman speaks with Joseph Dumond, an author and expert on biblical prophecy and the Jubilee calendar. Dumond explains his theory that humanity has been allotted 120 Jubilee cycles of 49 years, a timeline derived from Genesis 6:3, which he believes provides a framework for predicting major prophetic events, including the beginning of the end times. He argues that the holy days described in Leviticus 23 serve as a prophetic template, with Jesus's crucifixion fulfilling the Passover and his return corresponding to the Feast of Trumpets. The conversation also explores the historical divergence of Christianity from its Jewish roots, the importance of observing God's law (including the Sabbath), and the practical implications of Dumond's timeline, which points to a final judgment period culminating in 2033. Ultimately, Dumond issues an urgent call for listeners to repent, return to the Bible as their sole authority, and prepare for what he asserts is a biblically calculated and imminent conclusion to the current age. Joseph F. Dumond's Website: https://sightedmoon.com/

In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna speaks with Despina Namwembe, a social scientist and regional coordinator for the United Religions Initiative (URI) in the Great Lakes region of Africa. Namwembe discusses her work coordinating dozens of grassroots interfaith organizations to address the area's complex challenges, primarily focusing on violence prevention, environmental protection, and community empowerment. She details the drivers of conflict, including political instability, resource competition, and identity-based extremism, while also sharing heartbreaking stories about the human cost, such as the plight of refugees, the recruitment of child soldiers, and the trauma endured by women. Namwembe highlights URI's strategy of providing long-term psychosocial support, fostering economic independence for women through small business initiatives, and utilizing indigenous knowledge for sustainable development. She ultimately calls for a global shift away from a purely numbers-driven aid model towards a more empathetic, long-term investment in the human-centered, grassroots work necessary for lasting peace and stability. Despina is a social scientist with a Master’s in Peace and Conflict Studies. She coordinates the work of over 70 grassroots interfaith organizations doing different social action in the Great Lakes countries of Africa. Despina is a community organizer, trainer, and mentor in organizational development and peace work. Growing up on a continent that sometimes fuses strong customs with religion to deter the full participation of women, Despina has a passion for addressing issues that support women and girls to achieve their full potential. She has widely traveled, which has helped her conceive many “out of the box” solutions which have changed lives. She is also a contributor to different literature in the areas of interfaith, gender, environment and peacebuilding work.

In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna speaks with Michael Kinnamon, a novelist, professor of theology, and expert in interfaith relations, about his novel "A Rooftop in Jerusalem" and the broader themes of his life's work. Kinnamon discusses his three careers—as a professor, an ecumenical leader with the National Council of Churches, and now a novelist—and how they are all connected by the goal of fostering empathy and cross-cultural understanding. The conversation delves into the power of fiction to humanize complex political and religious conflicts by putting a face on headlines and allowing readers to inhabit different perspectives. They explore the central plot of Kinnamon's novel, a 40-year love story between an American Christian and an Israeli Jewish woman, which serves as a lens to examine the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the tension between unity and justice, and the role of hospitality in bridging divides. Throughout the discussion, Kinnamon emphasizes how personal relationships and shared experiences, often over meals, can break down stereotypes and create meaningful dialogue in a world defined by walls and conflict. Michael Kinnamon (https://michaelkinnamon.com/) is the author of two previously published novels: Summer of Love and Evil (2021) and The Nominee (2024). Prior to his career as a novelist, he was a widely respected professor of theology, author of numerous books on ecumenical and interfaith relations, and general secretary of the National Council of Churches in the US. [A Rooftop in Jerusalem](https://www.amazon.com/Rooftop-Jerusalem-Michael-Kinnamon/dp/B0DZQDMQ15/) draws on his extensive experience in the Middle East. Dr. Kinnamon and his wife, Mardine Davis, an art consultant, live in San Diego.