Dialogue in a World of Difference

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Students and faculty in a collegial setting will learn about the practice and models of interfaith dialogue; be introduced to critical substantive issues related to interfaith relations in today’s globalized context; and appreciatively encounter the diversity of Hartford Seminary’s student body and faculty through an ongoing experience of dialogical listening and conversation.

UNDERLYING COURSE ASSUMPTION: This is more than a course about dialogue. It is an invitation to engage in the practice of dialogue in a structured setting and thereby to develop the appreciative capacities that, among other things, will enable you to take maximum advantage of the diversity of students you will have in classes throughout your Hartford Seminary experience. Course outcomes focus on what is learned in the process.

OUTCOMES:

• A sense of collegiality and community across religious, cultura, gender lines
• An experientially grounded understanding of the principles of interfaith dialogue
• The ability to participate meaningfully and constructively in multi-cultural and interfaith conversations and learning
• The critical, intellectual capacity to address substantive issues from a dialogically appreciative perspective
• Familiarity with a spectrum of Hartford Seminary faculty

EXPECTATIONS:

• Complete assigned reading in preparation for the class session for which it is assigned
• Participate fully in class discussions and activities. Timely and regular attendance is especially important, as is familiarity with the assigned reading
• The nature and quality of classroom discussion is critical. Expectations include:
  • Sharing openly and respectfully
  • Empathetic listening (listening with an intention of hearing and understanding others’ perspectives)
  • Creating and sustaining a safe space for open and beneficial conversations, including respecting the confidentiality of what is said in class.
• Timely submission of one’s reflection papers.

ATTENDANCE POLICY: Attendance at all class sessions is expected. If, for any reason, a student cannot attend a session, notice should be given to the instructors as early as possible, so that any appropriate make-up experiences can be assigned.

THE GRADE FOR THE COURSE WILL BE PASS OR FAIL

COURSE READING: Primary course readings will consist of papers, book chapters and excerpts assigned by guest faculty for their respective sessions. These will either be handed out at the previous class, be available online, or be made available to be copied in the library reserve section. Additionally, students should purchase Not Without My Neighbor: Issues in Interfaith Relations (by S. Wesley Ariarajah) and The Other (by Ryszard Kapuscinski). We will be reading chapters from the following books, which students may purchase if they prefer having a book to an online copy of selective material: Jane Smith, Muslims, Christians, and the Challenge of Interfaith Dialogue (Oxford University Press, 2007); Michael Walzer, Thick and Thin: Moral Argument at Home and Abroad (University of Notre Dame Press, 1994), and Jonathan Sacks, The Dignity of Difference: How to Avoid the Clash of Civilizations (Continuum Books, 2002).

Assigned reading should be read prior to, and in preparation for, the class session for which it is assigned

FIRST WEEKEND: September 7 to 9

Friday, September 7, morning

Why Dialogue? Why Me?

Heidi Hadsell — Introduction to Interfaith Dialogue in a Global Context Yehezkel Landau — The Benefits and Risks of Interfaith Engagement Omer Awass

Readings:

Ariarajah, Not Without My Neighbor (chapters 1, 2, 3, and 7)

Swidler, “The Dialogue Decalogue” (handout)

Smith, Muslims, Christians, and the Challenge of Interfaith Dialogue (chapters 1 and 3)

Hadsell, Interfaith Dialogue in Christian Theological Education in North America: Opportunities and Challenges (pp. 213-222)

Engaging the “Other” with our Multiple Identities

Yehezkel Landau, Heidi Hadsell, and Omer Awass, facilitators

Readings:

Ryszard Kapuscinski, The Other

Amartya Sen, Identity and Violence: The Illusion of Destiny (chapters 2 & 4)

Jonathan Sacks, The Dignity of Difference (prologue and chapters 10 & 11)

Saturday, September 8, 1 to 5 p.m.

Scripture and Dialogue – Hebrew Bible and New Testament

Guest faculty: Uriah Kim and Shanell Smith

Readings:

• Genesis 37-50 and Sura 12 (Yusuf) of the Qur’an
• The Student Journal of Scriptural Reasoning (Vol. 1, No. 1, October 2006), 35 pages available online
• "How Do Jews and Christians Read the Bible?" by Amy Grossblat Pessah, Kenneth J. Meyers, and Christopher M. Leighton, in David Fox Sandmel, Rosann M. Catalano, and Christopher M. Leighton, eds., Irreconcilable Differences? A Learning Resource for Jews and Christians (Boulder: Westview Press, 2001), 53-74.
• "An Interfaith Wisdom: Scriptural Reasoning between Jews, Christians, and Muslims," by David F. Ford, in David F. Ford and C.C. Pecknold, eds., The Promise of Scriptural Reasoning (Malden, MA: Blackwell, 2006), 1-20.

After break: Small-group conversations to practice dialogue skills

Sunday, September 9, 1 to 5 p.m.

The Qur’an and Interfaith Engagement

Guest faculty: Mahmoud Ayoub

Readings:

Ayoub, The Qur’an and Its Interpreters, Vol. 1

Genesis 37-50 and Sura 12 (Yusuf) of the Qur’an

The Student Journal of Scriptural Reasoning (Vol. 1, No. 1, October 2006), 35 pages available online

After break: Small-group conversations to practice dialogue skills

SECOND WEEKEND: October 12 to 14

1st Reflection Paper Due —Topic: How do I make sense of a diversity of faith traditions, and how does this relate to my engagement of the religious other?

Friday, October 12, morning

Islam & Interfaith Relations: Omer Awass presenting and facilitating

Readings:

Ayoub, Mahmoud, “Christian-Muslim Dialogue: Goals and Obstacles,” The Muslim World, Volume 94, July 2004, pp. 313-319

Tikam, Liyakatali, “From Conversion to Conversation: Interfaith Dialogue in Post 09-11 America,” The Muslim World, Volume 94, July 2004, pp.343-355

Haney, Marsha Snulligan, “The Practice of Theological Engagement in Interreligious Dialogue: The Need for a Clarification,” The Muslim World, Volume 94, July 2004, pp. 357-371

Shafiq, Muhammad & Mohammed Abu-Nimer, Interfaith Dialogue: A Guide for Muslims, chapter 1

Afternoon (2 to 4 p.m.): Discussion of morning session, then small-group conversations to practice dialogue skills

Saturday, October 13, morning

Travel to local synagogue for Shabbat prayers, then return to the Seminary for lunch and discussion

Saturday October 13, 2 to 5 p.m.

Judaism and Interfaith Relations: Yehezkel Landau presenting and facilitating

Readings:

Jonathan Magonet, Talking to the Other: Jewish Interfaith Dialogue with Christians
and Muslims (chapters 2 and 8)

Yehezkel Landau and Yahya Hendi, Jews, Muslims and Peace

Yehezkel Landau, God as a Multiple Covenanter: Toward a Jewish Theology of Abrahamic
Partnerships

After break: Small-group conversations to practice dialogue skills

Sunday, October 14, 1 to 5 p.m.

Christianity and Interfaith Relations: Guest Faculty: Lucinda Mosher

Readings:

Nostra Aetate

Paul Knitter, Is the Pluralist Model a Western Imposition?

Lucinda Mosher, Walking Deliberately Into Difference: A Theology of Enabling Interreligious Understanding

Lucinda Mosher, Appreciative Conversation: The Archbishop of Canterbury’s “Building Bridges” Seminar

After break: Small-group conversations to practice dialogue skills

THIRD WEEKEND: November 9 to 11

2nd reflection paper due—Topic: What does my faith tradition teach about ethical obligations to those within my tradition, and to those beyond my tradition?

Friday, November 9, morning

Ethics as a Foundation for Intercommunal and Interfaith Dialogue:
Heidi Hadsell presenting and facilitating

Reading:

Michael Walzer, Thick and Thin: Moral Argument at Home and Abroad (chs. 1 & 5)

After break: Small-group conversations to practice dialogue skills

Friday, November 9, 2 to 4 p.m.

Social Justice as a Shared Imperative: Cases of Ethical Engagement

Discussion in large and small groups focusing on concrete cases of social injustice, facilitated by Heidi Hadsell, Yehezkel Landau, and Omer Awass

Saturday, November 10, 1 to 5 p.m.

Peacemaking Skills in Dialogue

Guest Faculty: Rev. Dr. Robert A. Evans, Executive Director, Plowshares Institute
Alice Frazer Evans, Director of Writing and Research, Plowshares Institute

Readings:

Kraybill, Evans, and Evans – Peace Skills for Community Mediators, chapters 11-12

Evans, Evans, and Kraybill – How to Read a Case Study & Case Study: “Giving Thanks”

Sunday, November 11, morning

Travel to local church for Sunday worship, then return to the Seminary for lunch and discussion

Sunday, November 11, 1 to 5 p.m.

Dialogue in Action at the Local Level (1 to 2:30 p.m.)

Guest Facilitators:

Ben Watts, Hartford Seminary Faculty Associate and church leader
Reverend Edwin Ayala, Associate Director, Christian Activities Council
Ms. Aida Mansoor, Muslim Coalition of Connecticut
Dr. Andrea Kandel, Director, National Conference for Community and
Justice, Connecticut and Western Massachusetts

Readings: TBA

Issues for Dialogue: World Café Conversations (2:45 to 4 p.m.)

Class participants will choose topics for dialogue and will invite others to join them for small-group conversations.

CLOSURE AND COURSE EVALUATION (4 to 5 p.m.)

3rd Reflection Paper Due (November 30th) Topic: Worship observations in your tradition and in the two other another traditions

4th Reflection Paper Due (December 14th): What lessons in this course would you apply in your life and work? What questions still challenge you?