I’ve been compiling a list of religious organizations mostly in Silicon Valley, from San Jose to San Francisco. The middle school class of our congregation visits other faith communities, and this list is designed to be used as a resource to help the class find places to visit.<\/p>\n
Even though I was familiar with the work of Harvard’s Pluralism Project<\/a>, even though I expected a wide diversity of religious traditions, I was still astonished at the religious diversity I found: there are hundreds of faith communities, ranging from Anabaptists to Zoroastrians, within an hour’s drive of our congregation.<\/p>\n Most of the research I did was online. It proved difficult to research some faith communities online, as quite a few do not have Web sites, or they have Web sites that are so outdated you don’t trust them. Yelp proved to an excellent source of information about many faith communities, especially when there were recent reviews (search for “Religious organizations” in a given locale). Youtube also proved a good source of information in a few cases; sometimes faith communities have inadequate Web sites but their members may post videos that provide useful information. One or two congregations had Facebook pages that provided the most recent information.<\/p>\n This list also relies on some real-world research. Our middle school class has visited some of these congregations, as noted on the list below. I also relied a lot on word-of-mouth information — people telling me about some faith community that they knew about, or had friends in, or belonged to.<\/p>\n Perhaps the most difficult part of making this list was figuring out a reasonable way to organize it. I started with the eight major world religions identified in Stephen Prothero’s book God Is Not One<\/em>; added Zoroastrian, Sikh, Baha’i, and Jain to the list; then finished off with a list of New Religious Movements organized according to the categories in the book New Religious Movements<\/em>, ed. Christopher Partridge. That takes care of the major divisions. It was more difficult to know how to categorize sub-groups within Christianity and Islam. Christianity is arguably the most diverse of the major world religions, and I did the best I could based on various scholarly reference works. Islam was also challenging to categorize, and I finally decided to use the categories from the Salatomatic Web site<\/a>. <\/p>\n If you live in Silicon Valley, I’d love it if you looked over the list — then let me know if you see any errors or obvious omissions.<\/p>\n And now: the list! <\/p>\n LIST OF FAITH COMMUNITIES NEAR PALO ALTO<\/strong><\/p>\n Unitarian Universalist<\/a> <\/a> <\/p>\n Unitarian Universalist congregations<\/strong><\/p>\n First Unitarian Church of San Jose Sunnyvale UU Fellowship Redwood City UU Fellowship <\/a>———<\/p>\n A. Christian<\/strong><\/p>\n A-1. Roman Catholic<\/em><\/p>\n St. Thomas Aquinas Parish A-2. Eastern Orthodox<\/em><\/p>\n Greek Orthodox: Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Russian Orthodox: St. Herman of Alaska Russian Orthodox: Protection of the Holy Virgin Church A-3. Oriental Orthodox<\/em><\/p>\n Antiochian Orthodox: Orthodox Church of the Redeemer Armenian Orthodox: St. Andrew Armenian Church Coptic Orthodox: St. George and St. Joseph Coptic Orthodox Church Eritrean Orthodox: Eritrean Holy Trinity Orthodox Tewahdo Church of Santa Clara County Syriac Orthodox: St. Thomas the Apostle A-4. Assyrian Church of the East<\/em><\/p>\n Mar Yosip Parish A-5.Protestant<\/em><\/p>\n a. Lutheran<\/p>\n ELCA: First Lutheran Church Missouri Synod: Trinity Lutheran Church b. Church of England \/ Episcopalian<\/p>\n Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church c. Reformed tradition (incl. Presbyterian, Congregational, etc.)<\/p>\n Presbyterian<\/p>\n Presbyterian Church USA: First Presbyterian Church A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (ECO): Menlo Park Presbyterian Congregational<\/p>\n United Church of Christ: First Congregational Church of Palo Alto Unitarian, Universalist<\/p>\n Unitarianism and Universalism began as rejections of Calvinism. Unitarian churches grew out of Congregational churches in the U.S. and England, and out of Presbyterian churches in Scotland and Ireland. Universalist churches have more complicated origins, probably with roots in both Congregationalist and Baptist churches. Some people would now call Unitarian Universalism a post-Christian religion, so it is listed separately above.<\/p>\n d. Baptist<\/p>\n American Baptist: First Baptist Church of Palo Alto National Baptist Convention: Jerusalem Baptist Church Primitive Baptist: Golden Gate Primitive Baptist Church e. Anabaptist<\/p>\n Mennonite Church USA: First Mennonite Church of San Francisco f. Religious Society of Friends (Quaker)<\/p>\n Palo Alto Friends Meeting g. Methodist groups<\/p>\n African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AME Zion): University AME Zion church [Note that AME Zion is a different denomination from AME.]<\/p>\n United Methodist Church: First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto h. Non-denominational<\/p>\n Stanford Memorial Church A-6. Restorationist churches<\/em><\/p>\n Latter-Day Saints (Mormon): Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints in Palo Alto Seventh Day Adventist: Seventh Day Adventist Church of Palo Alto Disciples of Christ: First Christian Church of Palo Alto Jehovah’s Witness A-7. Pentecostal and Charismatic churches<\/em><\/p>\n C3 Church Global (Christian City Church International): C3 Silicon Valley A-8. African Independent Churches (African Intitiated Churches)<\/em><\/p>\n None known in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n A-9. Other Christian groups<\/em><\/p>\n First Church of Christ Scientist <\/a>———<\/p>\n B. Jewish<\/strong><\/p>\n B-1. Orthodox<\/em><\/p>\n Congregation Emek Baracha B-2. Conservative<\/em><\/p>\n Kol Emeth B-3. Reform<\/em><\/p>\n Congregation Beth Am B-2,3. Conservative and Reform<\/em><\/p>\n Congregation Etz Chayim B-4. Reconstructionist<\/em><\/p>\n Keddem Congregation <\/a>———<\/p>\n C. Islamic<\/strong><\/p>\n Names of “denominations” from the Salatomatic Web site<\/a>.<\/p>\n C-1. Sunni<\/em><\/p>\n Yaseen Foundation (Muslim Community Assoc. of the Penninsula) C-2. Shia<\/em><\/p>\n a. Bohra Ismaili Shia<\/p>\n Anjuman-e-Jamali b. Jafari<\/p>\n Masjid Al Rasool C-3. Sufi<\/em><\/p>\n a. Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi<\/p>\n Jamil Islamic Center C-4. Other Muslim groups<\/em><\/p>\n a. “Nondenominational”<\/p>\n Taha Services Masjid Muslim Community Association <\/a>———<\/p>\n D. Buddhist<\/strong><\/p>\n D-1. Theravada<\/em><\/p>\n Sri Lankan: Buddhivara Vietnamese: Chua Giac Minh D-2. Mahayana<\/em><\/p>\n a. Pure Land<\/p>\n Palo Alto Buddhist Temple b. Zen<\/p>\n Soto Zen: Kannon Do Zen Meditation Center D-3. Tibetan<\/em><\/p>\n Dechen Rang Dharma Center <\/a>———<\/p>\n E. Confucian<\/strong><\/p>\n No known Confucian temples in the Bay Area.<\/p>\n N.B.: The Confucius Institute at Stanford is not a faith community, but rather a scholarly group dedicated to promoting Chinese culture and Confucian values. Web link<\/a><\/p>\n <\/a>———<\/p>\n F. Daoist (Taoism)<\/strong><\/p>\n Kong Chow Temple Tah Teh Taoist Temple <\/a>———<\/p>\n G. Hindu<\/strong><\/p>\n Hindu Temple and Community Shirdi Sai Darbar <\/a>———<\/p>\n H. Orisa devotion<\/strong><\/p>\n Prothero calls this “Yoruba religion,” though other West African peoples such as the Fon also venerated Orisas. The Harvard Pluralism Project calls this “Afro-Caribbean” religion. For more on Santeria and Vodun in the U.S., including tensions with white society, see: Anthony Pinn, Varieties of African American Religious Experience<\/em> (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1998).<\/p>\n H-1. Botanicas<\/em><\/p>\n A botanica is a store that sells supplies for practitioners of Orisha devotion, as well as for related traditions such as folk Catholicism, etc. Followers of Orisa devotion may not belong to formal religious organizations, and the Harvard Pluralism Project lists botanicas as religious centers for this religious tradition.<\/p>\n La Sirena Botanica Botanica El Trebol <\/a>———<\/p>\n I. Zoroastrian<\/strong><\/p>\n San Jose Darbeh-Mehr <\/a>———<\/p>\n J. Sikh<\/strong><\/p>\n Gurdwara Sahib <\/a>———<\/p>\n K. Baha’i<\/strong><\/p>\n Baha’i of Palo Alto <\/a>———<\/p>\n L. Jain<\/strong><\/p>\n Jain Center of Northern California <\/a>———<\/p>\n M. New Religious Movements<\/strong><\/p>\n The categories in this section are taken from Christopher Partridge, New Religions: A Guide: New Religious Movements, Sects, and Alternative Spiritualities<\/em> (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004).<\/p>\n M-1. New religions with roots in Christianity<\/em><\/p>\n Unity: Unity Palo Alto M-2. New religions with roots in Judaism<\/em><\/p>\n SEE: Reconstructionist Judaism above.<\/p>\n M-3. New religions with roots in Islam<\/em><\/p>\n SEE: Baha’i above.<\/p>\n M-4. New religions with roots in Zoroastrianism<\/em><\/p>\n None known in the Bay Area.<\/p>\n M-5. New religions with roots in Indian religions<\/em><\/p>\n Ananda Church of Self Realization: Ananda Palo Alto M-6. New religions with roots in East Asian religions<\/em><\/p>\n Cao Dai: Cao Dai Temple of San Jose Rissho Kosei-kai: Rissho Kosei-kai of San Francisco M-7. New religions with roots in indigenous and pagan traditions<\/em><\/p>\n Neo-Pagan and Wiccan M-8. New religions with roots in Western esoteric traditions<\/em><\/p>\n
\nA. Christian<\/a>
\nB. Jewish<\/a>
\nC. Islamic<\/a>
\nD. Buddhist<\/a>
\nE. Confucian<\/a>
\nF. Daoist<\/a> (Taoist)
\nG. Hinduism<\/a>
\nH. Orisa devotion<\/a>
\nI. Zoroastrian<\/a>
\nJ. Sikh<\/a>
\nK. Baha’i<\/a>
\nL. Jain<\/a>
\nM. New Religious Movements<\/a><\/p>\n
\nVisited in 2012-2013, and in 2013-2014. Web site<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWeb site<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWeb site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n3290 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto
\nWeb site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n1260 Davis St., San Jose
\nWeb site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n161 N. Murphy Ave., Sunnyvale
\nVisited 2013-2014. Web site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n3475 Ross Road, Palo Alto
\nWeb page<\/a><\/p>\n
\n380 Magdalena Ave., Los Altos Hills
\nWeb site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n11370 South Stelling Rd., Cupertino
\nWeb site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n395 W. Rincon Ave., Campbell
\nWeb site<\/a><\/p>\n
\nCampbell, Calif.
\nWeb site<\/a> (mostly in English)
\nWeb site<\/a> (mostly not in English)<\/p>\n
\n1921 Las Plumas Ave., San Jose
\nWeb page<\/a><\/p>\n
\n680 Minnesota Ave., San Jose
\nWeb site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n600 Homer Ave., Palo Alto
\nAccording to their Web site, “we welcome people diverse in sexual orientation and gender identity.” Web site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n1295 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto
\nNo Web site.<\/p>\n
\n600 Colorado Ave., Palo Alto
\nVisited 2012-2013. Web site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n1140 Cowper St., Palo Alto
\nKnown as a liberal church with a social justice orientation. Web site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n950 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park
\nRecently broke with Presbyterian Church USA to join a more conservative Presbyterian group. Web site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n1985 Louis Rd., Palo Alto
\nWeb site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n305 N. California Ave., Palo Alto
\nAccording to the Web site, “a welcoming, inclusive community of faith.” Web site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n398 Sheridan Ave., Palo Alto
\nVisited 2012-2013. A historically Black church. Web site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n2950 Niles Canyon Road, Fremont
\nOne characteristic of Primitive Baptists is they have no musical instruments in their services. Web site<\/a> | Facebook page<\/a><\/p>\n
\n290 Dolores St., San Francisco
\nWeb site<\/a> <\/p>\n
\n957 Colorado Ave., Palo Alto
\nVisited 2012-2013. Web site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n3549 Middlefield Rd. Palo Alto
\nA historically Black church. Web site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n625 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto
\nWeb site<\/a><\/p>\n
\nVisited 2013-2014; 2014-2015. Non-denominational liberal church at Stanford University. “Protestant Ecumenical Christian worship.” Web site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n3865 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto
\nThey host the annual Christmas creche<\/a>. 650-494-8899 No Web site<\/p>\n
\n786 Channing Ave., Palo Alto
\nNo Web site<\/p>\n
\n2890 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto
\nWeb site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n4243 Alma Street, Palo Alto
\n650-493-3020 No Web site<\/p>\n
\n3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto.
\nWeb site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n3045 Cowper St., Palo Alto
\nWeb site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n4102 El Camino Real, Palo Alto
\nWeb site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n4175 Maneula Ave., Palo Alto
\nWeb site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n26790 Arastradero Rd., Los Altos Hills
\nWeb site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n4161 Alma St, Palo Alto
\nVisited Purim festival in 2014-2015. They “meld Reform and Conservative traditions.”
\nWeb site<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMost services are at Kehillah Jewish High School, 3900 Fabian Way, Palo Alto
\nAccording to their Web site, “Reconstructionist Judaism may be considered a ‘maximalist liberal Judaism’.” Web site<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMosque: 621 Masonic Way, Belmont
\nCommunity center: 1722 Gilbreth Road, Burlingame
\nWeb page on Salatomatic<\/a> | Web site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n998 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto
\nUUCPA’s Adult RE Committee found that this group was not interested in contacts with our congregation. Web page on Salatomatic<\/a><\/p>\n
\n552 South Bascom Ave., San Jose
\nPredominantly Persian. Web site on Salatomatic<\/a><\/p>\n
\n427 S. California Avenue, Palo Alto
\nWeb page on Salatomatic<\/a><\/p>\n
\n1285 Hammerwood Ave., Sunnyvale
\nPredominantly Indian\/Pakistani. Web page on Salatomatic<\/a><\/p>\n
\n3003 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara
\nWeb page on Salatomatic<\/a> (called the “largest and most active” mosque in the Bay Area) | Web site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n402 Knowles Ave., Santa Clara
\nResident monks. Web site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n763 Donohoe St., East Palo Alto
\nVisited 2012-2013. Services mostly in Vietnamese. Web site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n2751 Louis Rd, Palo Alto
\nVisited 2014-2015. Organized in 1914, mostly by persons of Japanese descent. Web site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n1972 Rock St., Mt. View
\nWeb site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n1156 Cadillac Ct., Milpitas
\nWeb site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n855 Stockton St, San Francisco
\nDedicated to Guan Di. Wikipedia page<\/a><\/p>\n
\n361 Sea Horse Court, Foster City
\n650-573-1495. No known Web site; it is a registered nonprofit and has filed IRS form 990 at least through 2013.<\/p>\n
\n450 Persian Dr., Sunnyvale
\nVisited 2012-2013; 2014-2015. Variety of deities. Web site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n255 San Geronimo Way, Sunnyvale
\nWeb site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n1918 Brewster Ave., Redwood City
\nYelp page<\/a><\/p>\n
\n“Santeria, Orishas…”
\n1864 W San Carlos St., San Jose
\nWeb site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n10468 Crothers Rd., San Jose
\nWeb site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n3636 Murillo Ave., San Jose
\nVisited 2013-2014; 2014-2015. Web site<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMeets in members’ homes.
\nOne of their prophets spoke at the old Palo Alto Unitarian Church in 1912. Web site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n722 S. Main St., Milpitas
\nWeb site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n3391 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto
\nWeb site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n2171 El Camino Real, Palo Alto
\nVisited 2013-2104. Web site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n947 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose
\nPredominantly Vietnamese language. Web site<\/a><\/p>\n
\n1031 Valencia Way, Pacifica
\nA liberal religion from Japan based on Buddhism. Listed here primarily because Rissho Kosekai and UUism had strong ties in the 1960s-1970s. Web site<\/a><\/p>\n
\nSensitivity note: Many Neo-Pagan groups are quite small, and they may not welcome a group visit from a class.
\nSouth Bay Circles
\nMeet at various locations
\nWeb site<\/a><\/p>\n