Religion Faire a Spirited Event of Varied Faiths : Community: Representatives of more than a dozen organizations shared their beliefs in gathering attended by about 600.

With his hands raised heavenward and an African kente cloth draped over his shoulder, the Rev. Randall L. Jordan told listeners gathered at UC Irvine on Saturday about the history of the black church.

In another part of the building, a devotee of yoga taught the science of breathing and disciples of the Baha’i faith proclaimed the oneness of God. Earlier in the day, a rabbi and cantor gave a Sabbath service.

The array of ceremonies and speeches was part of the second annual Religious Diversity Faire sponsored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Alliance for Spiritual Community and UC Irvine’s Office of Affirmative Action. Representatives from more than a dozen religions, including Judaism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Roman Catholicism and Zoroaster, sought to spread knowledge of their faiths to a gathering of about 600 people.

“We always learn about the differences and not the similarities,” said Jordan, a Baptist minister from Fullerton. “Everybody has a label. But as soon as you label someone else, you label yourself. That’s why we’re here today.”

Rabbi Allen Krause of Temple Beth El in Aliso Viejo founded the gathering last year. Shortly after Krause and his family moved to Orange County from the Bay Area, the family went to a grocery store. No sooner did they walk in the door than his 7-year-old daughter, Gavriella, blurted out, “Mommy, where are all the brown people?”

Krause said he realized that day how homogenous the county can be and why there is a need for more education about diversity.

“Orange County tends to be rather insular in many ways. Many people may be committed to their own religion but they have little knowledge about other religions,” he said. “I wanted to give people a way to reach out.”

People who study religion will find the faiths share many common beliefs, he said. For example, Krause learned at the gathering that there is a strong tradition of charity toward others in Native American spirituality. “We have that concept in Judaism,” he said. “It may look different and it may sound different but if you really listen, you see that it’s much the same.”

Some of the dialogue was animated.

After Jordan’s lecture concerning the divisions between blacks and whites within religion, many hands flew into the air.

“A lot of people take offense at the term ‘white church,’ ” said Kevin La Pointe, 26, who lives in Fullerton.

Jordan replied: “People don’t take offense at the term ‘black church,’ but they take offense at the term ‘white church.’ Ask yourself, why is that?”

La Pointe nodded his head at the answer and the exchange between them continued as other people jumped in.

After the session, La Pointe, an agnostic, said: “I’m glad I came. It’s really interesting to learn what people believe and how they feel about religion.”

Bernice Rosenman, 66, who lives in Leisure World, said she learned about the philosophies behind many different faiths.

“When you know the history and background, it’s easier to understand why people think they way they do,” she said.

Her husband, Dan, agreed.

“This day has knocked down a lot of stereotypes for me,” he said. “And I consider myself a liberal.”