Building religious pluralism
When he comes to St. Mary’s College in Moraga Sept. 15, Muslim author and interfaith dialogue proponent Eboo Patel told Catholic San Francisco he plans to press students to pursue religious diversity and understanding.
“Religious pluralism exists when people from different backgrounds live together in equal dignity and mutual loyalty,” Patel said. “I plan to extend the challenge and the invitation to become leaders in building that pluralism.”
Patel is founder and executive director of the Interfaith Youth Core, a Chicago-based non-profit that encourages interfaith cooperation. He was also recently appointed to the Advisory Council of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, where he works with other faith leaders to promote cooperation through service.
Patel said Muslims and Christians have an important role to play in fostering interfaith dialogue.
“Young Muslims and young Christians are all taught compassion and mercy,” Patel said. “At this point of commonality Muslims and Christians can build relationships. Once these relationships have been established, we can begin to take on challenging issues that we might not agree on – knowing that we start at a place of mutual respect.”
Patel’s talk is part of a yearlong interfaith initiative at the college. Patel is a member of the advisory board of the school’s Center for Engaged Religious Pluralism, headed by Professor Barbara McGraw at St. Mary’s College.
McGraw said the group began from a desire to bridge the differences between religious and secular groups, and blossomed into an interfaith effort.
“The center grew out of my interests in bridging the divide between religious right and secular left,” McGraw said. “There are many other voices, other secular voices, other religious voices, that have interesting things to add to the discussion. But the center is not just interfaith dialogue, but specifically addresses public policy and issues in the culture.”
Among the endeavors the center has taken on are efforts to promote the rights of diverse religious groups in California’s prisons, and addressing the impact of non-Christian current and former legislators in the U.S. Congress.
McGraw said apprehension about interfaith dialogue stems from misunderstanding the goal of interreligious collaboration.
“People often think everybody is getting together and watering down their faiths into one common interfaith faith,” McGraw said. “Actually, we’re coming together with all our own core commitments to be a witness to common values. It enriches and deepens one’s own faith and also creates a community of greater understanding.”
Patel, an Indian American and a Muslim, holds a doctorate from Oxford University, where he studied religion on a Rhodes scholarship. He writes “The Faith Divide,” a featured blog on religion for the Washington Post.
Patel’s talk at St. Mary’s College will be held at 7 p.m. at the Soda Activity Center, 1928 St. Mary’s Rd. in Moraga. The event is free and open to the public. For more information visit www.engagedpluralism.org or contact Professor Barbara McGraw at (925) 631-4061.
By Michael Vick
Catholic San Francisco issue of September 11, 2009
