Course Faculty: Prof. Yehezkel Landau, Rev. Karen Nell Smith, and Imam Abdullah Antepli; with guest facilitators Prof. Mahmoud Ayoub, Rabbi Or Rose, Gail Syring, Jan Bennett, and Tamar Miller.
This course is designed for students who have taken BUILDING ABRAHAMIC PARTNERSHIPS I (DI-650) or have equivalent experience. It presumes a familiarity with the beliefs and practices of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and some background in interfaith dialogue. The focus is on developing practical skills for interfaith leadership, including: facilitating interreligious encounters; compassionate listening and nonbelligerent communication; understanding group dynamics and multiple identities; joint study of sacred texts; designing interreligious worship; and spiritual resources for conflict transformation.
Methods of Delivery: presentations; facilitated discussions; simulation exercises; small
group exchanges; film screening and conversation; joint text study; intra- and inter-
faith worship/devotion experiences
Methods of Assessment: For those taking the course for credit, class participation will count for 20% of the course grade; a daily journal of one’s reflections on the experience will count for an additional 30% of the grade; and a final paper, approximating 15 double-spaced pages, or a creative project will count for 50% of the grade. The paper/project and the journal reflections are due by September 1, 2009. It is recommended students consult with one or more of the course faculty before undertaking the final paper or project.
COURSE SCHEDULE AND READINGS
Sunday, June 21: Opening dinner, self-introductions combined with initial exercise;
“Before” questionnaires distributed
Monday, June 22: Facilitating Interfaith Workshops (facilitators: Yehezkel Landau,
Karen Nell Smith, Abdullah Antepli)
Reading:
The Little Book of Cool Tools for Hot Topics by R. Kraybill and E. Wright
Peace Skills Leaders’ Guide by Alice Frazer Evans and Robert A. Evans
with Ronald S. Kraybill
Tuesday, June 23: Morning: Compassionate Listening and Nonbelligerent
Communication (facilitators: Gail Syring and Jan Bennett)
Reading:
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall B.
Rosenberg
That’s Not What I Meant! by Deborah Tannen
Recommended: Nonviolent Communication Companion Workbook by Lucy Leu
Speak Peace in a World of Conflict by Marshall B. Rosenberg
Connecting Across Differences by Jane Marantz Connor and Dian
Killian
Afternoon: The Dynamics of Diversity (facilitator: Tamar Miller)
Reading: Identity and Violence: The Illusion of Destiny by Amartya Sin
Wednesday, June 24: Comparative Text Study (facilitators: Prof. Mahmoud Ayoub
and Rabbi Or Rose)
Reading:
Sh’ma issue on Muslim-Jewish Dialogue, May 2005, featuring articles by
Reuven Firestone (“Dialoguing Text Study”) and Raquel Ukeles
(“Creating a New Model for Dialogue”)
Contesting Texts: Jews and Christians in Conversation about the Bible
edited by Melody D. Knowles et. al. (selected chapters, on reserve)
Scriptures in Dialogue: Christians and Muslims Studying the Bible and
the Qur’an Together edited by Michael Ipgrave (selected chapters, on
reserve)
Evening: screening of the film “Long Night’s Journey into Day” about the
Truth and Reconciliation process in South Africa, followed by discussion
Thursday, June 25: Spiritual Resources for Conflict Transformation (Landau, Smith,
Antepli)
Reading: Healing the Heart of Conflict by Marc Gopin
The Art of Forgiveness by Geiko Muller-Fahrenholz
Nonviolence and Peace Building in Islam by Mohammed Abu-Nimer
Friday, June 26: Designing Interfaith Worship (Landau, Smith, Antepli)
Morning: Christian prayer, followed by interfaith devotional exercises (designed by
the group) and discussion
Mid-day: Muslim Juma’a prayer at the Bosnian Mosque in Hartford, followed by
lunch and conversation
Afternoon: Interfaith devotional exercises (designed by the group)
Evening: Shabbat prayers, followed by closing dinner; “After” questionnaires
distributed
Reading: selected articles on interreligious prayer (on reserve or handed out)
Yehezkel Landau