Nevada Governor declares Feb 4 “Faith Forum Day” after Zed led interfaith

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval has issued a “Certificate of Recognition” to religious statesman Rajan Zed coordinated “Faith Forum”, a highly popular one-of-a-kind weekly dialogue on religion at a Gannett publication in Nevada (USA), which will touch two-year mark on February four without any break.

Sandoval wrote in this signed Certificate carrying State of Nevada Seal: In recognition of February 4, 2013, as Faith Forum Day, marking the completion of two years uninterrupted of the highly popular weekly column “Faith Forum,” featured in the Reno Gazette Journal. As Governor of the State of Nevada, I commend this interfaith effort at constructive dialog which has helped to foster mutual understanding, trust and loyalty in the diverse religious communities of Northern Nevada.

Zed, who has been bestowed with “World Interfaith Leader Award”, lead a panel of area leaders of various religions and denominations to produce this weekly discussion Forum in Pulitzer Prize winner Reno Gazette-Journal (RGJ) involving important religious issues affecting the area-country-world.

Panelists currently include: Brother Matthew Cunningham (Roman Catholic), Dr. Stephen Bond (Christian Church), Father Stephen Karcher (Greek Orthodox), Nicholas F. Frey (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), Dr. Sherif A. Elfass (Islam), Reverend Jikai’ Phil Bryan (Buddhist), Rabbi ElizaBeth W. Beyer (Jewish), Dr. Kenneth G. Lucey (religion professor) and Dr. Bradley S. Corbin (Baha’i). Dr. William Tell Gifford (religion professor), Monique Jacobs (Roman Catholic) and Sharla S. Hales (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) also participated part of the year.

Completion of the 100^th week landmark was marked by a celebration in which panelists and RGJ Executive Editor Beryl Love participated.

Beryl Love says that this Forum is a model on how to engage the community on a subject matter that touches their daily lives and hearts. It will continue, he adds.

Rajan Zed points out: Religion is complex. Religion is powerful. Religion is much more than our own particular tradition. There are interconnections and interdependencies between religions and there are differences. If we dig deeper, we shall find that we have more in common than in conflict. This widely read column is for constructive dialogue and this dialogue effort has brought more mutual understanding and trust and loyalty in the community.

RGJ, whose traces go back to 1870 and which has been recognized for its journalistic excellence, is one of the leading newspapers of Nevada and produces various other print and online publications also. McLean (Virginia, USA) headquartered Gannett is an international media and marketing solutions company headed by Gracia C. Martore.

Rajan Zed is a religious statesman who has taken up interfaith, religion, environment, Roma (Gypsies) and other causes all over the world. He has read opening prayers in United States Senate, various state senates and houses of representatives, counties and city councils all over USA. He was invited by President of European Parliament in Brussels for a meeting to promote interfaith dialogue. Many cities in USA have named October 25 as “Rajan Zed Day”. He is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, Senior Fellow and Religious Advisor to Foundation for Religious Diplomacy, Director Interfaith Relations of Nevada Clergy Association, Spiritual Advisor to National Association of Interchurch & Interfaith Families, etc. Zed prominently appeared in a recently released documentary on religion titled “Unresolvable?”.