Interfaith dialogue refers to cooperative and productive discussions between people of different religious backgrounds to build understanding, form relationships and bridge gaps between people. One Kind Act a Day aimed to bring this discussion to the University of Utah in a student panel discussion at the Impact Prosperity Epicenter Building March 25. The panel and featured voices from different religions to discuss how compassion and understanding can be achieved despite people’s differences.
“It’s very important for students to share characteristics that are important to them, and for a lot of students that’s faith,” said Charlie Freedman, executive director of University Interfaith Initiatives at the Center for Business, Health and Prosperity. “Universities are enriched by the students enabled to talk about the things that make them who they are.”
During the panel, students were invited to converse using safe and productive lines of communication with each other. At the base of each question asked was, “How do we treat each other with respect while understand accepting that those differences exist?”
One panelist was named Dahlia, who studies public health and grew up in a Jewish background. She addressed this question by encapsulating the guidelines set by One Kind Act a Day for peaceful discussion.
“It’s really easy to see the world in black and white, and it can feel really comforting to have that solid structure to view yourself in the world,” Dahlia said. “It’s a beautiful thing as long as we can acknowledge there are other structures that are also valid and correct. It’s so easy to talk to people in the same religion who have the same beliefs, but when you’re able to step out and talk to others, it can broaden that perspective.
Jan Saeed, One Kind Act a Day initiative representative for interfaith and higher education, moderated the event. He laid out the foundation for how to facilitate this productive faith-based discussions. Some of these guidelines included “actively listen for new perspectives” and “strive to not be offended or offend.” These guidelines are meant to keep talks peaceful and progressive. Brochures listing out these guidelines were given to the audience as well in case of questions and replies.
“Over the years, I’ve been involved with the University of Westminster College where we’ve worked with Interface Youth Corps to come up with guidelines for sharing,” Saeed said. “We added the guidelines for kindness and for a culture of sharing just in the last few years. These were created by students, faculty and staff who have taken and modified and added to it.”
One of the main takeaway points from the discussion was how interfaith initiatives can be supported by students. Learning how to have a casual yet curious approach to these discussions was covered in some of the panelists’ answers.
“It’s easy to have those surface level conversations, especially with people you just met, but try to push yourself just to have those small interactions with people like around your campus and be more comfortable talking about it in a more informal way,” Dahlia said.
Saeed said although some conversations may seem taboo or uncomfortable, they’re still important to have.
“Faith and politics are two things you’re just never supposed to bring up at the dinner table, but I think both of those are things on our conversations all the time,” Saeed said.
