Georgetown University: Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs: Bruno Cruchant, Winning Essay

Advancing interreligious dialogue at Georgetown University: Three proposals

First of all, I must say I am very glad that the Berkley Center called for students to contribute to innovation in interreligious dialogue on campus. This is a subject that has been dear to me for quite a long time, and, along with other students, I feel the university does not listen to us enough on this question. It is constructive that the Berkley Center acts against this tendency: We are a diverse community of students, and we should have our say on such a subject.

Interreligious dialogue at Georgetown: the reason why

Let us try to see on which grounds Georgetown must be concerned with this question, for it will determine the kind of action we should decide. To be relevant to the Georgetown community, any plan, especially if religious, must take into account the fact that we are a Catholic, Jesuit university. For the very sake of inter-religious understanding, we should preserve this specificity, not dissolve nor lighten it by trying to shun potential disagreements. Indeed, a dialogue is fructuous only between entities conscious of their identity and of what they  stand for. First, modern Catholicism is committed to interreligious understanding, as Paul VI stated in Ecclesiam Suam (1964) and John Paul II stressed with his ambitious “spirit of Assisi”; according to him, “the differences [between religions] are a lesser important element in relation to the unity which, on the contrary, is radical, fundamental and determining”: “all authentic prayer is fostered by the Holy Spirit who is mysteriously present in the heart of every human being”1. Furthermore, Jesuits’ ideals lead us toward an emphasis on religious dialogue, especially by stressing the importance of the seven works of charity (Mt 25:35-36). Paul VI justly said Catholics should “join with [other religions] in promoting and defending common ideals in the spheres of religious liberty, human brotherhood, education, culture, social welfare, and civic order” Georgetown, as I have attempted to demonstrate, has a very particular reason to foster interreligious understanding. It is crucial to understand that identity and dialogue go hand in hand – but the protection and enhancement of this living heritage is another subject that I cannot debate here.  Let us look toward concrete proposals. So far, interreligious dialogue has been undertaken mainly by the university itself. Therefore it is extremely important that students feel more concerned about it. The following are three simple, pragmatic measures that would achieve this goal.

1. Create requisite classes of compared theology
The obligation for undergraduates to take two theology classes is excellent. But these classes are often limited to a single perspective: students are taught to comprehend the message of one particular religion, without being able to compare these values with other religions. Since the subjects studied are often very broad, this is necessary. However it would be invaluable to create specific classes of Compared Theology on more specific themes: e.g. War in Christianity, Islam and Judaism; Gender roles in religious texts… Professors of different faiths could teach in each class. As a student, I know curiosity and autonomous learning very often come from insights perceived in class; I cannot emphasize enough the fact that this informed discovery of the plurality of religion will result in greater interest for interreligious studies. That is why I suggest that undergraduates, in their two theology classes, have the obligation to take one in Compared Theology.

2. Create awards for practical research papers by students

The University already does a lot to promote individual initiative in interreligious dialogue among students and faculty. However, two dangers should be avoided. The first is that, since interreligious dialogue is advocated so massively (and quite exclusively) by university bodies, it is sometimes viewed as some sort of “politically correct” subject (as a matter of fact, I know this feeling is not rare). So we must find a way to massively foster student initiative. The second danger is that projects involving students (Undergraduate Fellows Program…) are so constructed that they attract only those who are already interested. Obviously, especially since Georgetown forms “future global leaders” that will have to have substantial knowledge of various religions, the stakes are too high to limit education in interreligious subjects to those who already care. In order to appeal to a broader public, simple and old means are often the best ones: I recommend the creation of financial awards, specific to each school, bestowed on the best student-written research paper in theology or compared theology. The subjects of the papers would be specific to each school (and published afterwards). For example, a business student could focus on the Islamic doctrine of interests and loans, and a medical student on compared religious bioethics of stem-cell research. Thus, it would be very precious for one’s future career, which is no small incentive. Such an award system could also be used to stimulate initiative on other projects (conferences, community service…) that can sometimes be co-sponsored today, which is good but does not foster the very creation of these projects. To touch potentially every student, we need more pragmatism.

3. De-marginalize interfaith events

Many interfaith events already take place. They should become regular occurrences: is it normal that on a campus dedicated to interreligious understanding, these occasions of common prayer (the very core of religion) are only occasional, i.e. extra-ordinary? But a second thing we should avoid is to confine interfaith events altogether, to specific celebrations, thus reducing there impact. Interreligious prayers could be integrated into important religious events on campus, such as the Mass of the Holy Spirit: there is no reason why this celebration should be exclusively (I’m not saying primarily) Catholic3. It would also be good to make, during the religious services of each tradition, a special prayer for the advancement of religious dialogue. This would further ingrain among the audience the need for better mutual understanding and respect. And after all, we might well be inspired to remember that this would actually be the best part of any of such schemes: prayer for the progress of interreligious dialogue, Georgeurbi et orbi!