When Bishop John Carroll founded Georgetown University in 1789, he envisioned a Catholic and Jesuit institution that would reflect the emerging American tradition of religious tolerance. The institution would be open to every class of citizen from every religious background.

Nearly 220 years later, the university continues this tradition, fostering a diverse campus community with a deep commitment to spiritual inquiry and engagement through interreligious dialogue. This commitment took center stage at a recent panel discussion, “The Jesuit Commitment to Interreligious Dialogue,” held during Georgetown’s Jesuit Heritage Week celebrations.

Students gathered with campus religious leaders in Riverside Lounge on Feb. 6 to discuss the legacy of Carroll’s vision and Georgetown’s history of promoting the exchange of ideas between people of different faith traditions. 

Daniel Madigan, S.J., a theology professor and an expert on Muslim-Christian relations, led the discussion, which also included Wasim Rahman, a Muslim chaplain-in-residence and Rabbi Harold White, the senior Jewish chaplain and a fixture at Georgetown for more than 40 years.

“Our commitment to interreligious dialogue begins with St. Ignatius,” said Madigan, an Australian Jesuit who came to Georgetown in 2007 after seven years as the founding director of the Institute for the Study of Religions and Cultures at Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University. Madigan explored some of the foundations of the Society of Jesus’ work on interreligious relations. Part of that interreligious foundation, he said, stems from St. Ignatius’ belief that every person can have a personal relationship with God.

“That intuition, that conviction that each individual person, whatever their religious belonging may be, can have a relationship with God -- a direct relationship with God, (is) not simply through official channels and official ceremonies,” Madigan said. “…We take seriously the religious experience and religious faith of other people, even though those other people do not always fit in to the structures with which we are comfortable. “

Today, Georgetown continues the Jesuit tradition of respecting and engaging people of different faiths through a variety of programs, classes and academic centers such as the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs and the Prince Alwaleed Center for Muslim Christian Understanding and through what some have called the groundbreaking work of campus ministry.

“Georgetown was the first Catholic and first Jesuit university to appoint a full-time Rabbi to a teaching and chaplaincy position. It was also the first Jesuit and Catholic university to appoint a Protestant minister to a full-time position. And 10 years ago, it was the first Catholic and Jesuit university, in fact the only university, that had a full-time imam,” said White. “So you can see that Georgetown in its history, over the past 40 years, it’s really been at the forefront of interreligious dialogue and interreligious ministry.” 

Muslim chaplain Rahman agreed.

“Georgetown values people who are of different traditions, it recognizes that society is diverse,” he said, discussing some of the values that attracted him to working as a Muslim chaplain at a Catholic and Jesuit university.

A chaplain-in-residence in Harbin Hall -- a residence hall predominantly made up of first-year students, Rahman works as a counselor and mentor and has experience in interfaith settings.

When discussing his decision to come work with Georgetown students, he addressed them directly saying, “(Georgetown recognizes) you should be exposed to the ideas I have to bring; you should be able to dialogue with me.”

The event capped a week of scholarly activities observing Jesuit heritage. Each year, Jesuit Heritage Week attempts to engage the university community in both intellectual and social events. In addition to discussions about interreligious dialogue, events included a discussion of personal experiences with spiritual exercises at Georgetown and a lecture on how contemporary concerns may complicate the traditional boundaries between religion and research.

“During Jesuit Heritage Week, this learning continues through fireside chats, panels and invitations to speak at various worship services,” said Philip Boroughs, S.J., vice president of mission and ministry. “We are privileged as a university to have such a vibrant and supportive interreligious community that forms leaders within faith communities and also leaders who are competent to engage one another across religious traditions.”

Source: Office of Communications (February 11, 2009)