~ by Sylvia Hordosch who lives in Manhattan and works for the United Nations on gender issues. She is a feminist Christian and cannot hide her impatience with sexist language in society at large and in her faith community. As a native of Austria, she misses Vienna's coffee houses.
The adventure of people of different faith communities coming together seems to attract more and more interest. Just within the last month, two Christian magazines published articles on interfaith issues. Christian Century (August 26, 2008) had a cover piece Seattle’s 3 Amigos: A Muslim, a Christian and a Jew in Ministry Together, and Sojourners (September-October 2008) wrote about theological seminaries teaching for a multifaith world in an article titled Many Mansions. Christian Century refers to Faith House as an example of a new kind of interfaith initiative organized by people who are keen to move beyond academic discussions to joint activities and celebrations.
Both articles argued for the need of a better understanding of interfaith issues in an increasingly interconnected world – and within their own families. In both pieces, the focus was on the three Abrahamic traditions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam, perhaps because that’s the mostly obviously wounded place to begin. Christian Century described the collaborative efforts between a Rabbi in the Reform tradition, a Pastor of the University Congregational Church and a Sufi Muslim teacher in Seattle. In formal and informal meetings, the three congregations have come closer together – not by sharing the lowest common denominator, but by celebrating together in each other's houses of worship and working together on common projects. While they remain within their separate and distinct religious identities, they acknowledge “other faiths as legitimate paths to a shared universal.”
Sojourners’ article focused on a number of theological seminaries involved in interfaith activities, including Auburn Theological Seminary, The New Seminary (both in New York), Fuller Theological Seminary, Hebrew College and Andover Newton Theological School. Hebrew College and Andover even share a piece of property on their Massachusetts campus in addition to offering joint courses. Almost all experts cited in the piece are closely linked to the work of Faith House as advisors or endorsers.
While Jewish-Christian dialogue has a longer tradition than other interfaith dialogues, and both magazines seem to focus on Jewish-Christian issues, more efforts are being directed to include Muslims in interfaith discussions. In addition to learning about different ways to struggle with religious questions, the current trend of interfaith initiatives includes hands on experience in joint projects and activities. Though, there is recognition that it is often easier for believers to communicate with progressive minds of different faiths, rather than with members of their own traditions.
Noticably, the Christian Century and Sojourners articles share a focus on men’s activities in interfaith activities – the same way that United Nations events, where I work, seem to include mostly male speakers. In the highly recommended book, The Faith Club: A Muslim, a Christian, a Jew – Three Women Search for Understanding, women bring fresh new voices to the debate. Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver and Priscilla Warner share their soul-searching project of understanding their different faiths – as well as prejudices and biases. In their different voices, the co-authors describe how they struggled to learn about each others' religion, lived through individual crises of faith and expanded their understanding of God.
And three women, Jill, Bowie, and Rabia are on their way to put Faith House on the map in New York City!
Recent Comments