New Land, New Religious Experience? (part 1) – Judith Pajo, Zeyneb Sayilgan and Meli Solomon

New Land, New Religious Experience? (part 1) – Judith Pajo, Zeyneb Sayilgan and Meli Solomon

Author: Meli Solomon, the Talking with God Project June 12, 2025 Duration: 36:10
Episode 100. For this episode, I’ve invited two women, Judith Pajo and Zeyneb Sayilgan, for a group discussion about living our faiths in America and Germany. We each have unique patterns of immigration in addition to different religious identities and practice. Judith grew up in both countries as a Catholic, Zeyneb likewise grew up in Germany and is a lifelong Muslim, while I grew up in the US and lived in Germany for nearly nine years, having become a practicing Jew as an adult...

Hosted by Meli Solomon of the Talking with God Project, Living Our Beliefs: Exploring Faith & Religion in Daily Life is a conversation about the practical realities of spiritual life. This podcast moves beyond abstract theology to examine how ancient traditions from Judaism, Islam, and other spiritual paths actually inform our modern routines, decisions, and relationships. Each episode delves into the nuanced spaces where belief meets action, exploring the challenges and rewards of aligning deeply held values with everyday behavior. You'll hear from a variety of voices discussing how they navigate this integration, whether through ritual, ethical choices, or community engagement. The discussions are grounded in real-life experience, focusing on the tangible ways faith provides meaning, fosters connection, and shapes identity in a contemporary context. Rather than offering simple answers, this series invites reflection on the ongoing, personal work of weaving spiritual principles into the fabric of daily existence. It’s for anyone curious about how others live out their convictions and seeking inspiration for their own journey toward a more coherent and purposeful life, all through thoughtful, accessible dialogue.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Living Our Beliefs: Exploring Faith & Religion in Daily Life
Podcast Episodes
How Faith Can Evolve Through Change – Aaron Solberg [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:52
Episode 98. (replay of Episode 78) Over the last two episodes with Judith Pajo and Zeyneb Sayilgan, we’ve talked quite a bit about faith challenges and dealing with changes in life that impact religious practice. Those c…
Grief as a Sacred Opening – Zeyneb Sayilgan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:26
Episode 97. Burying a child is an unimaginable trauma that no parent should have to face. My guest today, Zeyneb Sayilgan, has sadly needed to endure that pain and grief twice. Through it all, her Muslim faith has sustai…
Embracing Oneness: Jewish Mysticism in Practice – Lex Rofeberg [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:30
Episode 95. What comes to mind when you hear the term mysticism? Perhaps you imagine a yogi sitting cross legged in meditation, or people sitting in a circle chanting. Several religions have mystical practices, Sufism in…
Forging a more Resilient Faith After Doubt – Aubrey Chaves [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:51
Episode 93. Did you grow up in a highly observant home and religious community where surety of belief was the norm? Aubrey Chaves did, and much as she felt embraced by the family’s deep engagement within their Mormon con…
Building Peace Through Interfaith Dialogue – Raphael Luzon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:27
Episode 92. Jews had lived in Libya since the third century BCE, but 1967 marked their final expulsion from the majority Muslim country. Raphael Luzon was a child at the time and fled with his family. Like many, they wen…