Growing up in a religiously diverse neighborhood first sparked my interest in learning about religions, worldviews, and traditions that were different from my own. While this interest has developed since entering college, participation in the Building Interfaith Leadership Initiative (BILI) has allowed me to better understand that a comprehensive definition of Interfaith has incredible depth, connection, empathy, and hope.
BILI has helped me appreciate a more meaningful definition of Interfaith through the people that I have gotten to meet and learn from. I am so grateful for what I have learned and the continued growth of relationships with the BILI other fellows. Through conversations at the BILI Orientation, the Interfaith Leadership Summit in Chicago, and our monthly fellowship meetings, my definition of Interfaith has very quickly begun to deepen, influenced through learning the many important attributes that make Interfaith what it is: genuine, collaborative, intentional, and empathetic.
One goal of an Interfaith conversation is to bring about genuine understanding between those contributing. Because of this, I have learned that it is important to approach these conversations with an open-mind and willingness to listen. When in inter-religious spaces, it is a gift to hear unique experiences and perspectives. To best learn from everyone within a space, I have understood the importance of being present and genuinely listening to what the other person has to say. Empathy and humility contribute to this openness as well – making sure to allow oneself to take a step back in order to more fully learn from others’ perspectives and experiences.
Being open to sharing your own point of view is also important in Interfaith spaces; doing so allows for others to better understand you for a genuine connection to be established. One of my favorite exercises we participated during the fellowship was the Object Sharing Activity where each person had the opportunity to share a specific object that is meaningful to them and their faith, worldview, or tradition. Each object was accompanied by stories of how it came into their possession, what it was, what it means to them, and why it is important. It was incredible to see how each person’s object influenced their individual journey of faith. After these conversations, it felt as though I had known everyone around me for a long time, even though we had just met.
As a group, we have discussed what exactly is necessary for meaningful interreligious and inter-ideological conversations to be fruitful. Entering these spaces with a sense of respect, a desire for connection, and acceptance goes hand-in-hand with openness, as does remembering that the goal is not to change the mind of the other person, but rather for each person to express what they individually believe based on their own life experiences and unique perspectives. Respecting each other and leaving any assumptions about those contributing at the door can help trust to be established and for genuine connection to occur (Swindler 2008).1
The spaces that we had the opportunity to join in at the conference and our BILI monthly meetings fostered important conversations and were filled with impactful readings and speakers. We learned how Interfaith connection and conversation needs to carry into our daily lives. We need to be willing and open for this to be a continuous journey, where we are consistently willing to listen and learn from those around us, whether they are friends, colleagues, or people we may meet through impromptu encounters. It is possible that the conversations we least expect to have are the ones that are the most meaningful and inspire the most change. Real change in perspective happens during these impromptu conversations (Rose, Mobley, and Vrajaprana 2014).2
Throughout the conference and our meetings, and after participating in readings and listening to and participating in these conversations, I can confidently say that I now have a new and improved definition of Interfaith: having honest interactions of differing religions and worldviews, made incredibly meaningful through human connection, the formation of relationships, fruitful dialogue, and a willingness to understand. This new definition of Interfaith has helped me to encourage and embrace these conversations, to learn, and to practice empathy, working to understand to the best of my ability. It has allowed me to approach conversations in my life with an open-mind, an open heart, and with gratitude.
I am excited to continue to have these important conversations, to continue getting to know the other fellows, and to learn even more tools and skills that will help me to actively engage in Interfaith spaces, while also learning the tools and skills necessary to create them where they may be lacking or are absent. I am grateful for the ways in which my definition of Interfaith has evolved already, and I know that it will continue to deepen not only throughout the rest of my participation in the fellowship, but throughout the rest of my life.
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Image: courtesy of Chloe Lestitian. From the February 2023 BILI Launchpad Fellowship’s annual Washington, D.C. trip.
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1: Swindler, Leonard. “Understanding Dialogue.” Journal of Ecumenical Studies, 2, 43 (2008): 9–24.
2: Rose, Or N., Gregory Mobley, and Pravrajika Vrajaprana. “Interfaith Incognito: What a Hindu Nun Learned from Evangelical Christians.” Essay. In My Neighbor’s Faith: Stories of Interreligious Encounter, Growth, and Transformation, 20–24. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2014.