The Pluralism Project at Harvard University

Religious Diversity News Summaries- Philadelphia

Philadelphia Religious Centers in the Pluralism Project’s Directory

In On Common Ground: World Religions in America, Pennsylvania is portrayed as “the site of the nation's first museums of art and natural history, its first free library, and its first hospital. It is also the state with the first Ashkenazi synagogue, the oldest Bible Society, the first Mennonite congregation, the first independent African-American Christian denomination, and the first Hindu temple to become a pilgrimage site in the United States. The story of religious Pennsylvania continues to unfold. Today, the seemingly timeless Amish and Mennonite communities are part of the information superhighway, maintaining web sites on which cyber travelers can "Ask the Amish" or contact the Mennonite Information Center. Not far from the Amish farmlands of rural Pennsylvania, one can now find Hindu temples, Hindu Vedanta summer camps, and the only Sufi saint's shrine in the U.S.

Pennsylvania takes its name from the Quaker William Penn, who received the land for the former colony by grant from King Charles II of England, in 1681. Penn's "Holy Experiment" in religious tolerance was lived out during the years that followed. Pennsylvania was one of the few original colonies that would accept Jews and Catholics , Mennonites and Amish. Penn would be fascinated to see what has happened to this Holy Experiment after three centuries. The city of Pittsburgh is today an important center for Orthodox Christianity. In the Pittsburgh suburb of Penn Hills sits the elegant Sri Venkateswara Temple, one of America's great Hindu temples. Consecrated in 1977, it now attracts Hindu pilgrims from all over America. In nearby Monroeville another new temple was built with altars for the worship of both Hindus and Jains. Not far away is a new Sikh gurdwara.

Philadelphia is also a living example of Penn's vision, from the downtown grid layout of streets and public squares he planned, to the tolerance and diversity of "the city of brotherly love" of which he dreamed. In busy downtown Philadelphia, the sounds of passing trains can be heard in the prayer hall of the Muslim Society of the Delaware Valley. In the leafy suburbs, the temple of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness attracts Euro-Americans, African Americans, and new Indian-American immigrants. A Korean Won Buddhist Temple is housed in what was formerly a white clapboard church in suburban Glenside. There is a Vietnamese Buddhist temple in Lansdowne and a...Thai temple in Bensalem.

Each summer, Philadelphia's Penn's Landing is the site of numerous cultural and religious festivals, including a Hispanic fiesta, celebrations for Polish Americans, Italian Americans, Irish Americans, German Americans, as well as Native Americans. It is also the site of the Islamic Heritage Festival, including entertainment, activities for children, and lectures and presentations on the religion and culture of Islam.”

Muslim Community and Police Chief

Philadelphia features a diverse religious community that is also distinct. According to national Islamic advocacy groups, Sylvester Johnson, chief of the Philadelphia Police Department, is the only Muslim police chief in the United States. Bloomberg.com reports that Muslims account for about 2 percent of the city's 1.5 million population, making Philadelphia's Muslim population the 18th largest in the nation. While Islam has strengthened Johnson in his duties, his faith has also provided challenges. For instance, Johnson was criticized recently for suspending Kenneth Wallace, a nine-year veteran of the force and a Muslim, for refusing to shave. In August 2003, Johnson had softened prior regulations to allow neatly trimmed beards no more than 1/4 inch long. More recently, in September 2005, Johnson’s counterterrorism chief, Inspector Joseph E. O'Connor, offended local Muslims by stating that the city was “notorious for [the] fund-raising and recruitment” of terrorists. Johnson promptly denounced these remarks, affirming that “Islam does not teach violence or terrorism.”

Indian Majority in Millbourne

An established Indian community also contributes to Philadelphia’s rich diversity. Millbourne, Pennsylvania, located only 5 miles outside of Philadelphia, has the distinction of being the only town in America with a majority Indian population based on 2000 census data. According to Little India, Indians now constitute almost 63 percent of Millbourne’s current estimated population of 994, with Sikhs as the largest subgroup constituting possibly 80% of the Indian majority. While there has been a steady flow of Sikh migration, Millbourne’s Indian population grew significantly after the attacks of September 11, 2001, as many Sikhs from New York City sought refuge from racial profiling by fleeing their communities in the city. Little India reported that “Millbourne is a blue-collar sort of town where modest dreams are dreamed about family, faith and community. It is a town fueled by faith, since many of the Indian immigrants moved to this neighborhood to be near their gurudwara, church or mosque.” Moreover, Millbourne is an attractive option for Indian immigrants because it provides affordable housing, a peaceful community, and reliable transportation into Philadelphia where work is readily available.

Interfaith Activity

Philadelphia also displays a great deal of interfaith activity. A commitment to peace united Muslims, Jews, and Christians from all parts of the city in May 2004, as they marched together in an interfaith walk through Philadelphia and participated in services at a mosque, a synagogue and a church (photos of the peace walk are available online). In Overbrook Park, Congregation Beth T’Fillah leases space in their synagogue to a Muslim youth school, a partnership that has promoted dialogue between members of the two faiths. Even a seemingly commonplace event like the interfaith wedding of Michael Poulshock, a Jew, and Sunanda Ghosh, a Hindu, at the Top of the Towers in downtown Philadelphia is noteworthy as an example of a marriage that not only unites not only two people but also two religions. In an upcoming event, the Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia will host a service of thanksgiving on November 20 in which people from different faiths will come together to “share blessings and join together in a spirit of gratitude.”

Diverse Celebrations and Events

In recent years, Philadelphia has hosted a number of diverse religious and non-religious celebrations. In September, 2005, over 200 visitors from the greater Philadelphia area gathered at Free Speech Park to participate in Pagan Pride Day, which focused on “education, activism, charity, and community.” Earlier in the year, in March, the American Atheists 31st convention was held in Philadelphia, which included speakers such as Dr. David Eller, author of Natural Atheism. In October, 2004, approximately 3500 people, including special guest Swami Dayananda Ji Saraswati, gathered at the Bharatiya Temple in Montgomeryville to celebrate the grand opening of the temple, which "featured elaborate Hindu and Jain rituals conducted by priests, religious discourse by special guests, Raas-Garba, cultural programs by the Indian community represented by different communities in the area followed by Maha Prasad."

Resources

A number of helpful resources are available via the internet for those interested in learning more about religious diversity in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Inquirer publishes an extensive religion section in its newspaper, including a weekly interfaith calendar. The Broom Closet website was created as a resource to inform the Philadelphia community about “local Pagan events, groups, and gatherings” and includes Pagan listings of over 70 local, national, and international circles and organizations. The website of the Philadelphia Buddhist Association offers resources such as a directory of over twenty Buddhist centers and meditation groups in the Greater Philadelphia Region and a quarterly newsletter with an extensive event listing. Those interested in Christian and Jewish history might visit Old Philadelphia Congregations, a website that includes a diagrammatic history of some of the oldest churches and synagogues in the city.

Religious Centers

For a listing of religious centers in Philadelphia, please reference Philadelphia Religious Centers in the Pluralism Project’s Directory.