To Each A Key: Unlocking the Door to Interfaith Harmony

In an attempt to discover what makes interfaith harmony possible, Carroll College presents an educational program which focuses on those historical periods and cultural conditions that offer keys to the successful coexistence and prospering of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Instead of the all too frequent negative search for what divides, in a positive fashion the program uniquely turns to periods and practices that display what unites.

In the past 1400 years historical periods of inter-religious harmony have been few, but in them may lay the keys to any future peace between the three Abrahamic faiths. Two eras, one long in the past, the other before us now, possibly hold the keys to the kingdom—not just any kingdom, but one divested of inequality and repression, and invested with justice and liberty. One period was the twelfth and thirteen centuries in Spain when Jews, Muslims, and Catholics, whether scholars or store owners, physicians or field hands, worked together as equals. The second period is not in the past at all, but present-day America where Christians, Jews, and growing numbers of people of the Islamic faith live and work in peace and with justice and liberty.

More than simply a program of speakers, the three-day event also features arts presentations, films, a “Middle Eastern Dinner,” cultural entertainment, and dramatic performances. The Carroll program will be coordinated with events at the Myrna Loy Center for the Performing Arts, the Carroll College Department of Fine Arts (including the college theater and art gallery), and Helena public schools. And being a search, a search for “Keys to the Kingdom,” the audience will play as important a role as any formal presenter (e.g. audience-directed roundtable sessions).

Carroll College’s three-day interfaith program is meant to involve participants in a quest for those keys that open the beliefs of Christians, Muslims, and Jews to inter-religious harmony. The program will be a multi-cultural educational experience for college and high school students, teachers, and other concerned Montanans, and as such provides the opportunity to explore interfaith issues both youth and adults in America are presently facing. At this time in world history, such opportunities for reflection and consideration are of utmost importance.

PROGRAM CO-DIRECTORS:

Barry Ferst, Ph.D.
Professor of Philosophy, Dept. of Philosophy

John Ries, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Theology and Dept. Chair, Theology

PROGRAM COMMITTEE:

Kay Satre, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Director of Freshman Seminar, Dept. of Languages and Literature

Chris Fuller, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Theology

Jeanette Fregulia, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Dept. of History

Mark Smillie, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Philosophy and Dept. Chair, Philosophy

James Cross, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Theology

Please explore the websites of other organizations presently working toward interfaith harmony.

The directors and committee would like to extend sincere thanks to the financial supporters of this program: