Great way to experience interfaith contact

For anyone who has the opportunity to study, let me rave on a bit about taking a university course taught by someone of another faith, especially a subject that impinges on inter-faith issues. For example, I’ve been doing a subject as part of my MA (on interfaith relations) that’s taught by an Orthodox Jewish lecturer. It’s on the subject of exegesis in Rabbinic Judaism and in the Early Church. The subject especially explores areas where the 2 are similar, e.g. the use of midrash in the church, how both faiths explain Genesis, the interplay and reaction to Hellenism etc. Verrrrry interesting! Class discussions allow some very inspiring times of discovering just how much we have in common. And the lecturer loves his topic and faith so its far from being a dry academic subject. (The subject is HYM5175 at Monash Uni, Melbourne, with Dr. Michael Fagenblat who I highly recommend).

In second semester i’m doing HYM5260: Medieval dialogues: Reason, mysticism and society, which has 2 lecturers, one of whom is Jewish. Should be great too!  There’s also a related newly-formed Religion and Theology Study group that meets monthly with students from all 3 faiths. This group provides another great opportunity to discuss in a more academic environment some of the meaty issues that unite and divide us.

So check out your local University. its a great environment for serious inter-faith learning and relationship development!

PS: For anyone planning for 2011… HYM5175 Synopsis:
“Judaism and Christianity are both text-centred religions and, as such, the practice of interpretation invariably mediates the authority of the text. Interpretation is the way in which the authority of the text is extended and contested. This course examines the interpretive methods as well as the theological and ideological content of practices such as: Midrash, allegory, legal interpretation, mystical symbolism and multi-levelled approaches to the text. Focus will be given to the historical contexts in which such practices arose and to their socio-political investment, as well as to the differences and similarities of Jewish and Christian approaches.”

Fr. John D’Alton