Interreligious Formation, Community-Based Learning, and Justice: The Case of Formerly Incarcerated Citizens

Abstract

Graduate schools of theology frequently offer interreligious studies classes and programs. But simply teaching about a religious tradition is not enough. For interreligious studies and dialogue to be effective, there needs to be a deeper understanding and appreciation that can be transformative. Interreligious community-based learning can serve as a critical educational bridge between the classroom and the real world and also help students live into the shared religious value of social justice. In this article, I utilize Catholic and Islamic theologies related to human dignity and interreligious engagement to demonstrate how a theological graduate school’s interreligious educational curriculum can be improved through a community-based learning program.