Annual Abrahamic Dinner at local mosque to encourage interfaith dialogue

By Meghan Bogema, Interfaith Intern at Calvin College

Have you ever been to one of our local mosques in Grand Rapids? January 21 is the perfect chance to do so. This Thursday, the Niagara Foundation and Kaufman Interfaith Institute are hosting the annual Abrahamic Dinner, which will be explore the topics of religion, conflict and violence. The dialogue likely won’t mimic the same narrative that the media tells; while appreciating religion can be wrongly used for violence, we will also explore how religion can instead be used for peace.

The speakers will come from the religions that trace their common origin to Abraham: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Len Robinson, President of Temple Emanuel; Rev. Jen Porter, associate pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church and Imam Morsy Salem, religious leader of the Islamic Mosque and Religious Institute will each share their perspectives on transcending religious tolerance in order to cultivate a greater interfaith understanding.

This important dinner is coming a week after Eboo Patel, the author of “Acts of Faith” and Founder of Interfaith Youth Core, spoke at the January Series held at Calvin College. His words offered challenging reflections, yet with a hopeful spirit he encouraged the audience that in a world with such rich religious history we need to continue seeking ways to extend a respectful and loving hand to our neighbor despite race or religion. His ideas emphasized that approaching community building with an interfaith perspective will only allow for greater local flourishing and reconciliation.

As violence continues to hit communities around the world, it is important to cross those religious and cultural barriers and boundaries that may be seen as uncomfortable in order to reach peace and mutual understanding. Rather than diversity being celebrated, fear is prevalent in the Grand Rapids community among those in minority religious traditions. The Grand Rapids community is filled with various religious traditions, a few being Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism, among others. Dismissing fear should no longer be tolerated, but instead a commitment to finding peace and commonality should be made. There are endless educational opportunities to learn more about our neighbors and ways to create a safe and productive space for all religious and secular people.

Although the idea of engaging with interfaith dialogue may be a distant thought, it is an important idea to foster for the sake of our communities. Events such as the Abrahamic Dinner give some foundational vocabulary and context to use in conversation and help better prepare individuals for future interreligious dialogue. Attending such events displays the willingness and desire to understand the diverse greater Grand Rapids community on a more intimate level and carve out space for people from all backgrounds to understand one another in a new way. 

For more information on the Abrahamic Dinner, visit the website and be sure to register by January 20 to ensure a spot at the table. If you are unable to attend but still are interested in being a part of interfaith dialogue in the future, visit the Kaufman Interfaith Institute website to learn more about other local efforts.