Christian, Jewish and Muslim students take part in interreligious summer school

As young people from across the world gathered for a three-week Interreligious Summer School at the World Council of Churches Bossey Ecumenical Institute in Switzerland, they heard inspiring greetings about interreligious dialogue from people who encouraged them to contribute to issues of religious pluralism and intercultural acceptance in a society based on migration and globalisation.

Fr Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, director of the Ecumenical Institute and WCC deputy general secretary, wished the seminar participants success. “What is our common approach to the challenges of our time – to others who may have the same values, but from a non-faith perspective?” he asked. “May God, who is the God of creation, according to our Abrahamic religions, bless the beginning of the seminar.”

The young people are pursuing the Ecumenical Institute’s Certificate of Advanced Studies in Interreligious Studies, which is accredited by the University of Geneva under the Swiss Higher Education Programme for Continuing Education.

Revd Dr Benjamin Simon, Professor of Ecumenical Missiology, with responsibility for the Interreligious Summer School said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for 14 young Jewish, Muslim and Christian students from all over the world to live and study together in a safe atmosphere of conviviality and mutual respect.” Revd Benjamin added: “The aim is to find constructive solutions  and to discover how religions respond to challenges of our time and to equip our participants to become bridge builders and ambassadors for just peace.”

 

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