“Before participating in this dialogue seminar, I was afraid that I might meet with disrespect, but now I know I can meet with followers of other religions without any rancor, and with love and mutual respect.”
— Saudi seminar participant
In September–October 2009, the Dialogue Institute hosted 14 professors from Imam University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for a one-week seminar on interreligious and intercultural dialogue. The seminar was organized in partnership with The Center for Islamic Contemporary Studies and Dialogue of Civilization at Imam University.
The first half of the seminar focused on Christian-Muslim dialogue. In that context Dialogue Institute Director Dr. Julia Sheetz-Willard and Project Director and Graduate Intern Rebecca Mays spoke about the heritage of religious pluralism and tolerance in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. The talk was held at the historic Arch Street Friends Meetinghouse, allowing participants to encounter the Quaker religious tradition. The program included a visit to the National Constitution Center where Dr. Khalid Blankinship, Professor at the Religion Department at Temple University, lectured on the founding values of the United States to the participants in Arabic. Dialogue Institute President Dr. Leonard Swidler led the Saudi professors in a discussion about approaching interreligious dialogue.
One of the highlights for all was an unforgettable visit to the Weavertown Beachy Mennonite-Amish community in Lancaster County, PA. It was most likely for the first time ever that representatives of these two very different religious groups came together to intentionally learn about one another’s faith and to engage in respectful dialogue. The group also visited historic Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church.
The second part of the week focused on Jewish-Muslim dialogue. Participants visited Mikveh Israel Synagogue, heard an introductory lecture on the history of Judaism from Dr. Racelle Weiman, Senior Director for Global Education and Program Development of the Dialogue Institute, and had the opportunity to celebrate Sukkoth as guests in the homes of local Jewish families. The last day included a visit to Al-Aqsa Mosque where Philadelphia Muslim leaders welcomed the delegation and spoke about the work of the Islamic Center and school following Friday prayers.
- Dr. Abdulkareem Al-Sayegh, head of the Saudi delegation, with Dr. Leonard Swidler, President of the Dialogue Institute
Seminar participants were welcomed by Temple University at a reception in their honor hosted by Deputy Provost Richard M. Englert. The university community was also invited to a panel discussion on cultural influences on dialogue, which was held with participants from Indonesia (Achmad Munjid, PhD student in Religion); Saudi Arabia (Dr. Fahad Alhomoudi from Imam University); and the United States (Dr. Khalid Blankinship, Religion Department Professor). Dr. David Grafton, Professor of Muslim-Christian Relations at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia and Dr. Racelle Weiman, Senior Director for Global Education and Program Development of the Dialogue Institute, were respondents. Dialogue Institute Director Dr. Julia Sheetz-Willard moderated the discussion.
Both the Dialogue Institute and The Center for Islamic Contemporary Studies and Dialogue of Civilization at Imam University hope that this seminar signaled only the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership.
“After completing this seminar, I will teach my students to take dialogue seriously and to seek to learn and understand what others have or believe.”
— Saudi seminar participant
The Journal of Ecumenical Studies and its related Dialogue Institute comprise an independent 501(c)(3) (NGO) at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA.