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What Do They Believe Anyway?

A Project for Enhancing Religious Literacy for Helping Professionals

▶ About This Project

"What Do They Believe Anyway?" addresses a critical gap in religious literacy for professionals in helping fields. While many professionals interact daily with individuals from diverse faith backgrounds, they often lack basic knowledge about these traditions and how they shape everyday life, decision-making, and interpersonal and community engagement.

Our initiative provides accessible education about religious practices in our local context - covering foundational beliefs and practices of each tradition alongside how faith influences daily interactions, family dynamics, and approaches to personal challenges. Through discussions with local faith leaders and practical resources, we help professionals provide more effective support to people of all backgrounds.

▶ Learn More About the Project

The "What Do They Believe Anyway?" initiative addresses a critical gap in religious literacy for professionals in helping fields. While many existing interfaith resources focus primarily on end-of-life care and crisis situations, our project explores how religious and spiritual frameworks shape everyday life and routine interactions. Gaining basic knowledge of beliefs, practices, and community perspectives and norms is the best entry point for this important area of learning.

Why Religious Literacy Matters

Religious traditions influence not just explicit beliefs but also broader worldviews that impact daily life in countless ways. For helping professionals, understanding these dynamics can be essential to providing effective, culturally sensitive support.

Many professionals interact daily with individuals from diverse faith backgrounds yet may lack accurate knowledge about these traditions and how they shape:

Daily decision-making processes
Approaches to personal challenges
Family dynamics and relationships
Views on wellness and healing
Perspectives on interpersonal and community engagement

Our goal is to create accessible, engaging resources that bridge this knowledge gap and foster greater understanding across faith traditions.

Who Should Attend?

This initiative is designed for:

Social work students and professionals
Healthcare providers
Educators and school administrators
Community organizers
Faith leaders
Public service professionals
Anyone seeking greater understanding of diverse religious traditions

Whether you're looking to enhance your professional practice or simply expand your understanding of different faith traditions in our community, these events and resources are for you.

Project Components

Public Events

In-person and online discussions featuring religious leaders who will explain basic information about their traditions, with a special focus on how these traditions shape everyday life and interactions.

Training Resources

Video Modules: Recordings of public events and interviews with faith leaders
Written Guides: Concise, reliable "cliff notes" on each religious tradition
Practical Applications: Focus on how religious literacy supports helping professionals in their daily work

All resources will be freely available online for professional development and community education.

Our Next Event - Sikhism - Date TBD

We are currently planning our next event in the "What Do They Believe Anyway?" series, focusing on Sikhism. The date is to be determined. Check back soon for details.

Questions? Please contact:
Rev. Mark Breese: 716-285-3403 ext. 2259
mbreese@communitymissions.org

Event Schedule

Inaugural Panel Discussion
April 3, 2025
✓ COMPLETED

Judaism
June 24, 2025
✓ COMPLETED

Sikhism - Next Up!
Date TBD

Catholic Christianity
Date TBD

Hinduism
Date TBD

Islam
Date TBD

Native American Religious Traditions
Date TBD

Protestant Christianity
Date TBD

Completed Events

Below you will find videos and information about our completed events.

Inaugural Panel Discussion Event

Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025

▶ About Our Inaugural Event!

Community Missions of Niagara Frontier, Inc. (CMI) and Niagara University's Rose Bente Lee Ostapenko Center for Race, Equity, and Mission presented the inaugural event for the "What Do They Believe Anyway?" on April 3, 2025.

The panel discussion explored why it is important for helping professionals and others to ask the question: "What Do They Believe Anyway?"

Our panel of diverse faith leaders discussed the importance of religious literacy and how understanding different faith traditions can enhance professional practice and community engagement.

Our Panelists and Moderator

Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein from Congregation Shir Shalom, Williamsville
Dr. Nasir Khan of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Buffalo Chapter
Beatrice Singh-Arnone as representative of the Sikh community in Niagara Falls
Rev. Raymond Allen of Bethany Missionary Baptist Church, Niagara Falls

Our Moderator was Rev. Dr. Jonathan D. Lawrence, Associate Professor of Old Testament at Canisius College.

▶ Watch The Video

Watch our inaugural panel discussion to learn about the importance of religious literacy for helping professionals. (The video is coming soon.)

Video coming soon!

Judaism Event

Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2025

▶ About Our Judaism Event!

Community Missions of Niagara Frontier, Inc. (CMI) presented our second event in the "What Do They Believe Anyway?" series on June 24, 2025, focusing on Judaism.

This event provided an introduction to Jewish beliefs, practices, and traditions, with special attention to how Judaism shapes everyday life, family dynamics, and community engagement.

Our speakers shared insights into Jewish faith and practice, helping helping professionals better understand and support individuals from Jewish backgrounds.

Our Speakers

Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein - Rabbi of Congregation Shir Shalom, Williamsville. A graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Rabbi Alex brings warmth, creativity, and compassion to his role as synagogue Rabbi.
Rabbi Sara Rich - Rabbi of Temple Beth Tzedek in Williamsville. Rabbi Rich is passionate about connecting Judaism with daily life, and answering the Torah's call to live lives of meaning and holiness, in community with others.

▶ Watch The Video

Watch our Judaism event to learn about Jewish beliefs, practices, and how they shape everyday life. (The video is coming soon.)

Video coming soon!

Project Partners

Community Missions of Niagara Frontier, Inc. has been providing services and support to those in need since 1925, including crisis housing, mental health services, recovery programs, and youth services.

This project is supported by a grant from The Network of Religious Communities 2025 Riefler Fund Grant, from the Reifler Memorial Enablement Fund which is awarded through the Network of Religious Communities.