Experience teaches how to learn, grow through faith differences

It seems that every religion has assumptions about the others.

Is it possible for a group of Christians, Muslims and Jews to live together in an environment for four days without blaming one another for current and past religious events, without name-calling and without hating each other?

If this were a new reality television show, perhaps not. Luckily, it is something else.

Since 1988, without video cameras, the Multicultural Alliance has been real and live during our annual Seminarian Interfaith Retreat.

During these four days, future ministers, priests, rabbis, imams, seminary faculty and local clergy participate in inter-religious and ecumenical study and dialogue.

Participants examine theological and social issues across the represented religious traditions.

Searching for common ground on an issue helps teach a way of relating to each other. But often, instead of finding commonalities, the interaction reveals the differences among traditions, and seminarians gain a deeper insight.

The exposure and meaningful interaction is a larger part of this experience.

In early January, 43 seminary students and faculty members representing 13 seminaries participated in the 29th Seminarian Interfaith Retreat. What made the success of the retreat possible was that the students were intentional in their desire to learn from one another.

There was a high level of honesty and vulnerability, and they found a way to create community.

The experience was not just about religion. It was about people and the proof that whenever a group of people communicate and discuss differences, understanding diminishes tension.

Upon returning to their academic studies, the students enhance the learning environment through sharing their retreat experiences and new perspectives with classmates.

They use the knowledge gained from the retreat — for some soon after the retreat and for others years later.

We hear from seminary participants that the relationships and the skills developed for interacting with interfaith clergy are invaluable to their ministry, rabbinate and imamate.

Many of the students indicate that this is a life-altering experience for them to talk with those who view faith differently, if a safe place is provided where misconceptions can be clarified.

Overwhelmingly, the students indicate that they come away with a deeper appreciation of their own faith and an equally deeper appreciation of the faith path of others.

We estimate that more than 1,200 seminary students have attended our 29 retreats.

Mutual respect among differing faith-based systems is fundamental to our culture and in our founding documents in the protection of religious freedom.

Even so, our history is often characterized by misunderstanding, distrust and defensiveness (if not outright hostility) based on conflicting religious views.

And while our culture seems to be making progress in identifying and overcoming the most blatant forms of institutionalized discrimination, the question of interfaith relations remains an important conversation for all of us.

Through this Seminarian Interfaith Retreat, we affirm that people of faith are the voice of compassion and understanding.

We ask that you join the dialogue and be another voice for compassion and understanding and have the courage to meet the people who live next door.

This story was originally published February 25, 2016 at 5:53 PM with the headline "Experience teaches how to learn, grow through faith differences."