Interreligious Dialogue

Participate in interreligious dialogues co-sponsored by the Center for Ethics and Spirituality and the Center for Student Involvement: Communication and Leadership.

We believe that interreligious dialogue:

• Implies speaking and listening, giving and receiving, mutual growth and enrichment;
• Is based on witness to one’s worldview as well as openness to the worldview of another; and
• Includes promoting respect, mutual understanding, and collaboration; encouraging the study of worldviews; and promoting the formation of persons dedicated to dialogue.

Interreligious dialogue occurs in four forms:

1. Dialogue of life - people strive to live in an open and neighborly spirit, to share their joys and sorrows, as well as their human problems and preoccupations
2. Dialogue of action - people collaborate for an integral human development through an application of each person’s particular worldview insight
3. Dialogue of theological exchange - specialists seek to deepen understanding of those religious heritages represented in conversation and to appreciate the spiritual values of each of the other
4. Dialogue of worldview experience - people share their spiritual riches being grounded in and convinced of their own worldview traditions

Co-sponsored with the Center for Student Involvement: Communication & Leadership, dialogues of worldview experience occur every academic quarter at the Cross-Cultural Center between members of the Student Interfaith Council and the broader UC San Diego community.

Participants in these dialogues demonstrate: firmness of worldview conviction; readiness to understand people of other worldviews without pretence, prejudice, or close-mindedness; genuine love, humility, prudence, honesty, and patience.

It is fundamental that there be reciprocal respect, not only theoretical but also practical, in recognition of the inherent dignity of the dialogue partners and, in particular, their freedom of conscience.