West Michigan has a rich history of engagement in interfaith dialogue, largely because of the organizations Sylvia Kaufman, a respected community leader, has founded. Sylvia initiated the first community dialogue on interfaith issues through the former West Shore Committee for Jewish/Christian Dialogue in 1989. Since that time, hundreds of premier scholars, clergy, citizens, and students from the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths have come together every three years for a conference, now known as the Jewish/Christian/Muslim Triennial Interfaith Dialogue.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks pointed out that the 21^st century has led to a polarization driven by the politics of identity.  This is in contrast, he argues, to the 20^th century dominated by the politics of ideology, the battle between two universal ideologies, communism vs. capitalism.

Political and religious identities have led to division and a tribalism that has fractured our society, isolating us into separate echo chambers. Technology has allowed us to relate primarily with those with whom we identify, those who are like us and with whom we already agree.  At the same time at the personal level our identities are becoming more hyphenated.  We are not just American, but we struggle with what it means to be Muslim-American or Jewish-American.  It is no longer be assumed that being American means being Christian.

Will religious communities contribute to this division, or do we have the resources in our traditions and texts that can bring us together to find a shared commitment to the common good?  Can we be faithful to our religious identities and also be committed to an interfaith vision that builds bridges rather than barriers? This is the challenge we face. Will we contribute to further division or to a unity that respects and learns from our religious differences and commitments?

The 2018 Jewish-Christian-Muslim Triennial Interfaith Dialogue was held on November 14th and 15th, 2018. The event began with a pre-conference on GVSU's Allendale campus and continued on GVSU's Grand Rapids campus the next day. Check out GVSU's article on the event.

In our world of poverty, violence, and pollution, all religions are called to repair the world, to make it a better place. During the Year of Interfaith Service, we came together to examine how our religious traditions and scriptures have helped in this effort, as well as ways in which they have hindered. We are called to be of service to our fellow humans, to those in need, to our environment, and to bring peace.

The 2015 event was a day-long program modeled after past Dialogues, including major presentations and responses by Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman, Dr. Cynthia Campbell, and Dr. Ingrid Mattson. Videos of the event are below.

On Thursday, October 29th, 2015, we hosted our Triennial Jewish/Christian/Muslim Dialogue on To Repair the World: How Does Religion Help or Hinder?

Brochure

Click here to download the brochure

Individuals experience suffering and evil in ways that often challenge their faith commitment and understanding. How does the religious parent deal with the experience of a child suffering from cancer or severely injured by a drunk driver? How does a faith community respond to a horrendous evil such as the Holocaust or a tsunami or violent earthquake that takes the lives of hundreds of thousands, or even millions? What are the resources in the Jewish, Christian and Muslim scriptures and faith traditions that help us deal with such challenges to one’s faith? The Triennial Dialogue, in the context of our community’s year of interfaith understanding, addressed these hard questions that we face as individuals and as faith communities.

The 2012 Triennial Dialogue was the culminating event of the Year of Interfaith Understanding and included major presentations and responses by Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman, Dr. Cynthia Campbell, and Dr. Omid Safi as well as a musical performance by Qawal Najmuddin Saifuddin & Brothers as part of Arts Midwest World Fest. Videos of the event are below.

On October 30, 2012, we hosted the Triennial Jewish/Christian/Muslim Dialogue on "Living with God in a Time of Suffering"

The 2009 event's theme was "Religion and the Challenges of Modernity" and included major presentations and responses by Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman, James Carroll, and Professor Vincent Cornell. Videos of the event are below.

2006 - RELIGION AND POWER: THE POWER TO CREATE, THE POWER TO DESTROY - Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman, James Carroll, and Professor Vincent Cornell.

2003 - SELF CRITICISM AND MUTUAL AFFIRMATION: THE FUTURE OF JEWISH-CHRISTIAN RELATIONS IN A RELIGIOUSLY INFLAMED WORLD - Rabbi Dr. Irving Greenberg and James Carroll

2000 - OLD BOUNDARIES, NEW BOUNDARIES: TAKING THE NEXT STEP - Rabbi Dr. Irving Greenberg and Professor Harvey Cox

1997 - THE WORD OF GOD AND THE INTERPRETIVE COMMUNITIES: POSSIBILITIES FOR SELF-CORRECTION - Rabbi Dr. David Hartman and Father Richard John Newhaus

1994 - RELIGION THAT KILLS, RELIGION THAT HEALS: BRINGING OUT THE POSITIVE SIDE - Professor Martin E. Marty and Rabbi Dr. David Hartman

1991 - FAITHFUL INTERPRETATION: A JEW AND A CHRISTIAN REFLECT ON CONTINUITY AND CHANGE - Rabbi Dr. David Hartman and Bishop Krister Stendahl