Discussing religion or politics often feels fraught. As a result, connecting across religious difference is a skill many of us are still strengthening.
Olya Glantsman, assistant professor of psychology, participated in a recent workshop series on campus that builds capacity for these engagements, funded by Interfaith America. She says conversations around religion can sometimes devolve into people preaching their way of thinking.
“The series was a chance to sit down and just listen, learn and celebrate religious diversity,” Glantsman says. “I also appreciated the common thread across different speakers - having the same purpose of making the world better, each guided by their faith.”
In all, two dozen DePaul faculty and staff engaged in conversations rooted in respect for diverse identities, mutually inspiring relationships across differences, and cooperation for the common good – the characteristics of religious pluralism according to Interfaith America.
The divisions of Mission and Ministry, and Belonging, Engagement and Mission (BEAM) offered a series of workshops this year to build capacity in addressing antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of bigotry on campus. Interfaith America, the Chicago-based nonprofit that provides consultation and training to “unlock the potential” of religious diversity, supported the program.
“Our Vincentian mission calls us to join with others on shared goals and projects that benefit the common good,” says Mark Laboe, interim vice president for Mission and Ministry. “This work is also at the heart of Catholic teaching, especially evident in the recent papal encyclicals, including the late Pope Francis' social encyclical, ‘Fratelli Tutti.’”
Workshops for faculty and staff drew on the expertise of the DePaul community, featuring staff from the Office of Religious Diversity and Pastoral Care and faculty members from the Religious Studies and Catholic Studies departments. The program hosted scholars from the Catholic Theological Union who specialize in Islamic, Jewish and interreligious studies.
An understanding of the shared responsibility for the common good is one insight Fr. Stan Chu Ilo hoped participants gained in their latest workshop in the series. Ilo, a professor of Catholic studies at DePaul, led the session on Catholic foundations for interreligious cooperation and dialogue.
He referenced Pope Francis’ social encyclical and the groundbreaking “Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together,” a joint statement from the pope and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad el-Tayeb.
“The declaration challenges us to move beyond focusing on what divides religions and instead ask what humanity can accomplish together when faith becomes a force for peace, healing, and reconciliation,” Ilo says.
For Heather Nash, senior director of corporate and foundation relations, a phrase that stayed with her was, “We worship God, not our specific religions.” She says speakers throughout shared about the main tenants of their religions, which created a helpful baseline for our dialogues. Her key takeaway: Substantive dialogue really explores our differences.
“In order to do that, it was important to recognize power dynamics,” she says. “As a Christian who has grown up in the U.S., these dialogue sessions helped me to see how our western society is framed by Christianity, putting the burden on members of other religions to conform their language and consistently dispel harmful myths about their beliefs. This context has been helpful to bring back into my work and personal life.”
Laboe facilitated the series in partnership with Dania Matos, senior vice president of BEAM, and Kimberlie Goldsberry, vice president of BEAM. The three completed a training with Interfaith America on promoting pluralism on campus last summer.
Mission and Ministry plans to offer similar programming next academic year along with the Dialogue Collaborative and Bridgebuilding Fellowship. Laboe says the division will also help to lead a fellowship for Jewish, Muslim and Catholic chaplains from several universities committed to interfaith engagement.