Our Beginnings

Humor Turned Into Healing

Shugaria Law has its roots in a very simple act - caring for others. When Rev. Ranwa was studying at Union Theological Seminary, they had a practice of baking for their fellow students. Graduate school is demanding even in the best of times, and having a sweet treat waiting for you in a common room or student lounge can help nourish both your body and spirit! Plus, baking gave Ranwa an outlet to relieve stress, engage in creativity, and procrastinate on whatever paper was due the next week.

Well, one day while Ranwa was sharing these treats, they were having a conversation with one of their classmates about leaving containers of cookies around for people to find. While discussing this practice, they joked it was like they were “imposing” their food on others, taking over the school with sugary goodness. Ranwa, who was raised and identifies as Muslim, was amused by this framing, and in a humorous nod to the Islamophobic fearmongering and misconceptions around “Sharia Law” taking over the United States, joked that this practice was an act of imposing “Shugaria Law.” In that moment of humor, an idea was born.

What if this practice of baking could be used to address Islamophobia and built greater religious understanding? What if, in bringing people together to enjoy food and each other’s company, “Shugaria Law” could also offer a space of faithful reflection and collaboration? What if, instead of stirring up fear with words like “jihad,” “Sharia,” “intifada,” we stirred up learning and cookie dough? What if… “Shugaria Law” really could be shared with the world?

Fast forward to today. Shugaria Law as a baking ministry has had several small experimental moments. On multiple occasions, baking, education, community, and conversation were intentionally brought together to connect people of different faiths as we deepened our relationships to each other and our own traditions. Sometimes the conversations themselves were the end goals. Sometimes they helped guide future collaborations to achieve a value-driven goal. Every time, however, baking and eating together were central to making those relationships even more fulfilling to our bodies and spirits.

We hope that, though still in its early stages, Shugaria Law can find a place in your kitchen to support your community building and faith development. With experiences tailored to your needs, we can make - and bake - moments of deeper understanding and commitment that move us closer to a world where our religions heal and nourish all the way they were meant to.