Hello Friends:
Shalom, Pax, Salam!
My name is Scott Alexander and I am an associate professor of Islamic studies and Christian-Muslim relations at Catholic Theological Union (CTU) in Chicago, IL (USA).
Well, we made it--all the way to Israel and Palestine and back. I think I speak for each of my three colleagues in the teaching staff--Prof. Rabbi David Fox Sandmel (CTU), Prof. Imam Inamul Haq (Elmhurst College and adj. CTU), and Prof. Fr. John Pawlikowski, O.S.M. (CTU)--and many, if not most of our 25 participants, that our 2013 experience "journeying with Abraham's Children" was a success, thanks be to God.
In a way, the phrase "journeying with Abraham's Children" has a double meaning.
On one level, Rabbi Sandmel, Prof. Haq, Fr. Pawlikowski and I identify ourselves as "Avraham/Abraham/Ibrahim's (as.) children." The same can be said of many of the 25 folks who make up a mixed group of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim fellow travelers (most of whom are graduate students in theology and ministry). What this exactly means is entirely too complex, and in some ways too controversial, to address here. Some of those who identify as "Abraham's children" claim actual genealogical descent from, as well as a deep spiritual connection with, this ancient figure of biblical and qur'anic sacred history. Others make no claims of a genealogical connection, and instead insist that the only meaningful relationship to the ancient patriarch/prophet is somehow to share in his experience of the God he strove to serve. How each of us articulates these claims depends very much on a combination of the specific faith traditions and various interpretations of those traditions which play such a major role in defining each of our lives.
On another, less esoteric level, to say that between January 15th and 25th of this year, each of us was "journeying with Abraham's Children" simply means that we were all involved with a traveling J-term course at Catholic Theological Union which goes by that very same name. To have a look at a brief description of the course and our latest itinerary, just click here.
This website is an opportunity for you to share with us in our journey. Some of us on this study trip have blogged and will continue to blog about our experiences each day, reflecting on the time we spent in the classroom, on site visits, and interacting with a variety of religious leaders, scholars, and peace activists. These people are Jews, Christians, and Muslims--in both Israel and Palestine--who are working in interreligious contexts to help transform the conflict that currently afflicts the lives of all who live in this storied region of the world.
On behalf of the entire group, I invite you to visit the various blog pages of our participants, to read what they have to say, and to post your comments as you see fit.
May God bless you,
Scott
Shalom, Pax, Salam!
My name is Scott Alexander and I am an associate professor of Islamic studies and Christian-Muslim relations at Catholic Theological Union (CTU) in Chicago, IL (USA).
Well, we made it--all the way to Israel and Palestine and back. I think I speak for each of my three colleagues in the teaching staff--Prof. Rabbi David Fox Sandmel (CTU), Prof. Imam Inamul Haq (Elmhurst College and adj. CTU), and Prof. Fr. John Pawlikowski, O.S.M. (CTU)--and many, if not most of our 25 participants, that our 2013 experience "journeying with Abraham's Children" was a success, thanks be to God.
In a way, the phrase "journeying with Abraham's Children" has a double meaning.
On one level, Rabbi Sandmel, Prof. Haq, Fr. Pawlikowski and I identify ourselves as "Avraham/Abraham/Ibrahim's (as.) children." The same can be said of many of the 25 folks who make up a mixed group of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim fellow travelers (most of whom are graduate students in theology and ministry). What this exactly means is entirely too complex, and in some ways too controversial, to address here. Some of those who identify as "Abraham's children" claim actual genealogical descent from, as well as a deep spiritual connection with, this ancient figure of biblical and qur'anic sacred history. Others make no claims of a genealogical connection, and instead insist that the only meaningful relationship to the ancient patriarch/prophet is somehow to share in his experience of the God he strove to serve. How each of us articulates these claims depends very much on a combination of the specific faith traditions and various interpretations of those traditions which play such a major role in defining each of our lives.
On another, less esoteric level, to say that between January 15th and 25th of this year, each of us was "journeying with Abraham's Children" simply means that we were all involved with a traveling J-term course at Catholic Theological Union which goes by that very same name. To have a look at a brief description of the course and our latest itinerary, just click here.
This website is an opportunity for you to share with us in our journey. Some of us on this study trip have blogged and will continue to blog about our experiences each day, reflecting on the time we spent in the classroom, on site visits, and interacting with a variety of religious leaders, scholars, and peace activists. These people are Jews, Christians, and Muslims--in both Israel and Palestine--who are working in interreligious contexts to help transform the conflict that currently afflicts the lives of all who live in this storied region of the world.
On behalf of the entire group, I invite you to visit the various blog pages of our participants, to read what they have to say, and to post your comments as you see fit.
May God bless you,
Scott
