Icons & Images, Texts & Traditions: Towards the Development of an Interfaith Prayer Space at Illinois Wesleyan
Submission Type
Event
Expected Graduation Date
2015
Location
Room E104, Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
Start Date
4-18-2015 10:00 AM
End Date
4-18-2015 11:00 AM
Disciplines
Religion
Abstract
As the contours of American religious demography continue to develop and expand, there arises a need to engage its growing plurality in sincere and meaningful ways. Interfaith work has been instrumental in addressing this social transformation. Moving beyond the limits of tolerance – which, while necessary, cannot be the ultimate goal – pluralism uses the commonalities of all while celebrating the particularities that distinguish them from one another. On a college campus, this work manifests itself in the conversations we have, the programs we create, the communities we build, and the architectural spaces we provide. First, I study the religious history and spaces of Illinois Wesleyan. I then research worship across five faith groups in the US – Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Lastly, I research issues and challenges concerning multi-faith centers on other college campuses and make suggestions for our own space to be opened fall of 2015.
Icons & Images, Texts & Traditions: Towards the Development of an Interfaith Prayer Space at Illinois Wesleyan
Room E104, Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
As the contours of American religious demography continue to develop and expand, there arises a need to engage its growing plurality in sincere and meaningful ways. Interfaith work has been instrumental in addressing this social transformation. Moving beyond the limits of tolerance – which, while necessary, cannot be the ultimate goal – pluralism uses the commonalities of all while celebrating the particularities that distinguish them from one another. On a college campus, this work manifests itself in the conversations we have, the programs we create, the communities we build, and the architectural spaces we provide. First, I study the religious history and spaces of Illinois Wesleyan. I then research worship across five faith groups in the US – Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Lastly, I research issues and challenges concerning multi-faith centers on other college campuses and make suggestions for our own space to be opened fall of 2015.