The Buddha taught a path of awakened living, but how does that manifest in today’s world of constant connectivity and widespread suffering?
How do we keep our hearts open without being defined or hardened by the pain that surrounds us, whether personal, collective, or historical? How do we navigate the paradox of holding both pain and joy, without mistaking suffering for punishment or personal failure? Can we infuse our compassion with wisdom and perspective to find the agency to take meaningful action in our communities? In her new series, Engaged Compassion, Sharon delves into these questions and more, engaging in candid conversations with a diverse group of teachers, activists, and changemakers.
For the eighth episode in the series, Sharon speaks with Rev. Paul Raushenbush. This is his first appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast. Rev. Raushenbush is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. An ordained Baptist minister, Rev. Raushenbush is a longtime interfaith leader and renowned advocate for civil rights and religious freedom. Rev. Raushenbush has published two books and contributed essays to several volumes on faith in public life. He also hosts the weekly podcast and radio show “The State of Belief,” in partnership with Religion News Service.
In this conversation, Sharon and Paul speak about:
• How Rev. Raushenbush came to service
• The Social Gospel
• Rev. Raushenbush’s interfaith family
• How spiritual practice can fuel activism
• Insisting on joy in moments of great sorrow
• Embodying the future we hope for now
• Rev. Raushenbush’s POV that we are all neighbors
• Figuring out how to help
• What inspired this Engaged Compassion series
• How art can be resistance
• Where Rev. Raushenbush turns for inspiration
• The work of Interfaith Alliance
• The possibilities of lovingkindness
• Rev. Raushenbush’s husband’s new book, “Good Morning Moon”
Additional Resources
The episode closes with a reflection from Rev. Raushenbush. Learn more about Rev. Raushenbush’s work right here. Learn more about Interfaith Alliance right here, including its many local chapters.
Related Metta Hour Episodes
Episode 281: The first episode of the Engaged Compassion Series with Jerry Colonna, released in March of 2026.