World Religions in Greater Boston: Home

On Friday, March 26, 2010, Pluralism Project Director Dr. Diana L. Eck and a panel of youth representatives from various religious traditions participated in Billerica Memorial High School’s E Pluribus Unum Day. After Dr. Eck’s keynote presentation on pluralism in America and the religious diversity of Greater Boston, panelists reflected on common misconceptions about their faith, the relationship between their faith and interreligious understanding in a pluralist society, and concluded by offering wisdom from each of their traditions for an audience of graduating high school seniors. Panelists included Alexis Gewertz (Jewish), former Pluralism Project research associate and current program associate at Combined Jewish Philanthropies; Harvard College Students Jessamin Birdsall (Christian) and Na’eel Cajee (Muslim); Inderpreet Singh, a member of the local Sikh community; Ajahn Mangkone Sananikone, a Buddhist monk from Wat Buddhabhavana in Westford, MA; Prof. Jason Giannetti from Regis College in Weston, MA representing Hinduism; and PJ Andrews (Baha’i), Pluralism Project research associate. This event was organized by the Billerica Public Schools and Billerica CARES. 

Won Buddhism of Boston, established by Reverend Hyunoh Kim, is located in Somerville. It serves the Korean Won Buddhist community in Boston, as well as various other groups who attend their services.

Members of the Kurukulla Center in Medford gather monthly to honor Tara, a female Buddha, with offerings and chanting.

The Buddhist community of Greater Boston is one with diverse representation. Boston Buddhists practice a variety of traditions and come from nearly every ethnicity, age group, and socio-economic class.