When we think of interfaith dialogue, we focus on its principles: empathy, understanding and communication. In doing so we can sometimes overlook the importance of sacred physical spaces in bringing people together to stimulate this dialogue in the first place.
Today, institutions such as universities, airports and hospitals all provide ‘multifaith spaces’ of prayer. These shared spaces of prayer are physical manifestations of interfaith dialogue, allowing people of different faiths to value their shared experiences of prayer.
MEETING POINT
However, this idea of shared sacred spaces is not new. The City of Jerusalem has united Abrahamic faiths (Christianity, Islam and Judaism) for centuries, becoming a meeting point and place of commonality and understanding.
Through sacred sites, it highlights some of the overlaps between religions. For example, the Temple Mount is sacred to both Jews and Muslims, housing the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, important Islamic sites, and what is considered by Jews to be the location of the First and Second Temples. The Western Wall, while primarily a Jewish holy site of prayer is also significant to Christians and Muslims as the remains of the Holy Temples of Jerusalem.
Even within faiths, Jerusalem becomes a point of unity, with the Church of the Holy Sepulchre uniting all Christian denominations in the belief that it is the site of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.
COMPLEX REALITIES
Despite its beauty, Jerusalem also reflects the complex realities of religious diversity and understanding. Its profound historical and religious significance has many times been the cause of conflict over the years. Nevertheless, as a physical space of shared beliefs, it offers opportunities to focus on, understand, respect and recognise both the diversity and overlap of religions. As physical representations of religion, interfaith spaces play a crucial role in keeping religion accessible and relatable in an increasingly progressive and secular age.
At Oxford University, I came across Sommerville College Chapel, which had been pointed out to me because of its ‘non-sectarian’ nature. A one-of-a-kind feature within a university long steeped in Anglican traditions.
Outside the chapel you could see the Greek motto, ‘A house of prayer for all people’ engraved on its stone. Taking a step inside, expecting to see more of the Gothic demeanour that characterises Oxford, I was surprised to see a minimalistic, simple interior.
NEUTRAL SPACE
The Chapel itself was built in 1935 as a neutral ‘non-sectarian’ space, with no crucifix, following in the footsteps of the college’s progressive and open-minded principles as one of the first only women’s colleges.
After facing heavy resistance from the university’s Anglican administration, the college complied with the request to install a fixed wooden cross, a stained-glass representation of Christ, and make sure the chapel would not dominate the grounds.
While the stained glass remains, the cross was replaced in 2011 by a smaller cross only to be used during Christian worship. Today, the chapel is used by students of all faiths and remains a physical demonstration of how attempts were made to give material expression to interfaith ideas, religious tolerance and theological inclusivity in early multifaith buildings and of how this continues today.
Between these two vivid examples of shared religious spaces, we can see how they play a fundamental role in igniting interfaith dialogue and how more of these spaces can help bridge the gaps, biases and prejudices between religions and their communities.
Amari Leiva-Urzua is a member of the Australian Catholics young writers community.
More than space sharing
While physical spaces might provide a spot for interfaith dialogue to occur, it should be remembered that interfaith dialogue is ultimately an attitude.
This means that there are important interpersonal skills that must be developed to ensure a successful dialogue. Through humility, empathy and hospitality you can begin to acknowledge that no one has all the answers and open the mind to welcoming and understanding others’ spiritual experiences.
Cultivating these qualities will foster meaningful dialogue that will help unite religions in the face of a world that has become divided on many fronts.
While interfaith dialogue may come across to some as a lack of commitment to one’s faith, it is the complete opposite, for it allows the individual to stay true and deepen their personal faith while respecting others.
Perhaps challenging and unfamiliar at first, it is ultimately rewarding for both the individual and community.
House for humanity
During his visit to Indonesia in September, Pope Francis met with Nasaruddin Umar, the grand imam of Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque.
After thanking the grand imam for his welcome and the reminder that the mosque, as well as being a place of worship and prayer was also ‘a great house for humanity’, where everyone could enter and take time for themselves, Pope Francis spoke a little about the mosque’s Christian connection.
He noted ‘. . . this Mosque was designed by the architect Friedrich Silaban, a Christian who won the design competition. This testifies to the fact that throughout the history of this nation and in the very fabric of its culture, the Mosque, like other places of worship, are spaces of dialogue, mutual respect and harmonious coexistence between religions and different spiritual sensibilities.’
REFLECTION QUESTIONS AND ACTIVITIES
Religious difference and friendship – questions and activities
These questions and activities consider how to reach out the hand of friendship, particularly in the context of religious differences by employing the metaphor of building bridges.
Investigating world religions from a Catholic perspective – questions and activities
These questions and activities help students explore and compare different world religions, emphasising their similarities and differences. The goal is to foster an appreciation for diverse faith traditions while reinforcing the Catholic understanding of religious respect and dialogue.