The Role of Academia in Interfaith Dialogue: A Path to Civic Engagement

One of the major stumbling blocks for interfaith dialogue is ignorance. Members of different religious communities are usually ignorant of the “other.” Most of the time, the little that they do know about the “other” are stereotypes and incorrect information. This ignorance creates a gap between different religious communities and stands as an obstacle for meaningful collaborations between communities. Education is key to eradicating such ignorance. Universities and colleges around the world have a duty to educate students and the public not only with facts but also with the skill to critically engage with the “other”, especially to promote common goals between communities, such as the concern for the environment and civic justice. This session addresses the issue of whether universities and colleges are doing what they should to help educate students and the public to promote interfaith dialogue, and what more should be done to achieve such a goal.