I am delighted that a student whose honors thesis I am currently supervising will be presenting at this year\u2019s Undergraduate Research Conference at Butler University<\/a>. Here are the details about the presentation:<\/p>\n Today, there is an ongoing debate within and between different faiths regarding the correct way to interact with religious diversity. For example, exclusive language is found in several religions, which states that individuals can only experience the Ultimate through a specific faith practice. This belief directly challenges the relevance of interreligious dialogue, but a spectrum exists amongst adherents of different faith communities in how they understand religious diversity amid absolute truth claims in their own tradition. The goal of my research is to illustrate this debate, so my audience has a foundation on which to build. Then, I will introduce my case study on the Center for Interfaith Cooperation (CIC), which is a local organization that seeks peaceful dialogue in an interfaith setting. I have and will continue to interview board members within the CIC to get their perspective on why interfaith work is so important. Their input is meant to add to the conversation not to provide an inerrant approach to religious diversity. It is my attempt to merely record their oral histories rather than reach a conclusive answer to the debate. The Undergraduate Research Conference<\/a> happens at Butler every year, and is a great opportunity for students from around the Midwest and across the country to present papers and have a fantastic conference experience already as undergraduates. Here are more details from the URC website<\/a>:<\/p>\n The Undergraduate Research Conference (URC) is celebrating its 31st\u00a0year of providing students from around the country an opportunity to showcase their research and creative endeavor.<\/p>\n Last year, the Butler URC welcomed more than 900 registered participants who attended 480 presentations!<\/p>\n We welcome\u00a0your\u00a0participation and attendance at this year\u2019s conference on April 12, 2019.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n It has been a particularly rewarding experience working with Rachel on her research. It was actually conversations with her, exploring a possible research avenue that she ended up not pursuing, that inspired the start of my book project on\u00a0What Jesus Learned From Women<\/em><\/a>. You can read more from Rachel about her work on producing a podcast that features interviews with the CIC leadership in a post she wrote for the Center for Faith and Vocation blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n Of related interest, Barbara Brown Taylor shared this advice from Krister Stendahl<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n
The Dynamics of Interfaith<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n
\nMy hope is that through this project people will be able to recognize the importance of interreligious dialogue and gain some insight on how dedicated members of the CIC have reconciled interfaith to their own faith. Hate crimes against religious communities is a real, current threat, so conversations that unite rather than divide are extremely important.<\/p>\nWhen & Where<\/h4>\n
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