What is Interfaith Dialogue?

Interfaith Dialogue is the agreement to engage in difficult conversations with people that may think, believe, and live differently from you. However, there may also be points of similarity, agreement, and upliftment, and that is where this choice is beautiful.

Choosing to speak with convicted civility (speaking peacefully and respectfully) and holy envy (appreciating the good things from another belief) allow for individuals to learn, grow, and move forward in their set of beliefs considering how others live and applying the aspects that they can.

Utah Interfaith Dialogue Action Team

The focus of this trip, partnering with Standing Together, is to break down walls, barriers, and misunderstandings between Evangelical Christians and Latter-day Saints. We engaged in three different dialogues with students from BYU, Utah Valley University, and Weber State University.

The Responsible Revolution Podcast hosted by the Center for Student Action

Connor Lott is a recent graduate of Azusa Pacific University with a degree in Marketing, with an emphasis in Music Business and Music Production. Through studying marketing and music, ministry and the passion for making disciples was a natural outflow of his life following Jesus. Transferring to APU Spring 2017, he took his year of experience dialoguing with the Latter Day Saint community, and restarted the Utah Action Team over Spring Break, partnering with Standing Together, to engage in interfaith dialogue with students from different universities in Utah. He finds it vital for followers of Jesus to understand what they believe and why, and how to articulate that belief. Most importantly though, communicate those truths with love, gentleness, and respect; not losing sight of who people are because of differing beliefs or theologies, as they are dearly loved by God. Being responsible in this endeavor is important, so Connor believes further equipping within school and church contexts is something that needs to continue to happen. He is hoping to facilitate workshops and trainings, as well as support those already engaging in interfaith dialogue with a wide array of people. If you have any questions, need resources, or simply want to reach out, please don’t hesitate to email connor.m.lott@gmail.com

https://www.centerforstudentaction.org/podcast/

March 26, 2019

A Response to Christchurch: Eleven Evangelical Students Share a Message with their Muslim Neighbors

BY KEVIN SINGER AND CHRIS STACKARUK

On March 15th, a White supremacist carried out a horrific terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, killing 50 and injuring 50 others as they prayed. This included a three year old child. Words cannot describe the unfathomable evil carried out on that day, nor the incomprehensible grief that the families and friends of victims are now experiencing.

In a recent survey conducted by the Foundation of Ethnic Understanding, sixty-two percent of American Evangelicals reported anti-Muslim sentiment in their own communities. To combat the anti-Muslim attitudes and rhetoric that maintain a foothold in our tradition, we’re leading a cohort of evangelical college students from across the US to build bridges between their campuses and local Muslim communities.

We encouraged them and several other students to write down their thoughts on the events in Christchurch for their Muslim friends and neighbors to read. Here is what they wrote:

CONNOR LOTT (AZUSA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY, CA, ‘18)

I’m sure that no words can describe the mix of emotions that you are going through. These shootings in Christchurch are not only heartbreaking, but abominable and frustrating. Know that from my heart to yours that you are loved. I stand with you, support you, and pray for you. You have intrinsic value, beauty, and personhood; your complex and dynamic journey of life that makes you who you are should be celebrated. I will fight for the protection, and care of you, my Muslim neighbor, in this difficult time.

To read all the responses click here: http://www.sharedjustice.org/christianity-public-life/2019/3/26/after-christchurch-heres-what-eleven-evangelical-college-students-want-to-say-to-american-muslims