Why a potluck?

America has been called a “melting pot,” but what if you brought your best dish to a dinner and you were met at the door with a giant machine that melted it into the same bland goo as everybody else’s best dish? That would be a nightmare.

On the contrary, the whole point of a potluck is the diversity of dishes. Potlucks are a celebration of pluralism. They rely on the contributions of a diverse community. If people don’t bring an offering, the potluck doesn’t exist. If everyone brings the same thing, the potluck is boring. With that in mind, here’s your how-to guide in spreading this message to your campus.

Why an interfaith potluck?

The interfaith potluck is a way to introduce religious diversity as another significant part of who we are
and how we might relate to one another, driving forward the idea that religious diversity should be actively
engaged as a strength.

We believe that creating a society that values religious diversity is crucial to building relationships that
strengthen our civic cohesion. If we want people of divergent values to work together in solving issues we
collectively face, we will have to begin by talking to one another about what matters to us most.

This guide outlines the three big components of an interfaith potluck event: eating, presenting, and sharing.