In Claremont, California, USA, "A rabbi, a minister and an imam walk into a classroom, and it's no joke."

Nardine Saad, an Associated Press Writer reports,

"The venerable Claremont School of Theology has taught Methodist ministers and theologians for more than a century, but in the fall they'll try an unorthodox approach: cross-training the nation's future Muslim, Christian and Jewish religious leaders in classrooms scattered around Southern California as they work toward their respective degrees. The experimental approach launched Wednesday [June 9, 2010] is intended to create U.S. religious leaders who not only preach tolerance in an era of religious strife, but who have lived it themselves by rubbing shoulders with those in other Abrahamic faiths."

Additionally, Saad writes,

• "The collaborative effort among the seminary, Jewish academy and Islamic center is believed to be the first to integrate the three studies. Other Christian institutions, such as Connecticut's Hartford Seminary, offer an imam training program but don't incorporate rabbinical students."
   
• "Jewish organizers are excited that the project will allow future rabbis and imams to study together for the first time — something that's increasingly important in a world where Muslim-Jewish conflict makes headlines almost every day."
   
• "Students have expressed excitement about the project. Susan Goldberg, 36, a third-year rabbinical student from Echo Park, said she is "thrilled" about studying overlapping theologies and scriptures in the project. "I have a great desire to learn about others and in the learning it clarifies who I am and how I'm different and how we're connected," she said. "It can only serve to make us better leaders.""

 Links

Click to read the full article, "Theology School Melds Studies of Different Faiths" by Nardine Saad, writing for The Associated Press, June 9, 2010.

Click to read more about the Claremont School of Theology "University Project."

Spiritual Directors International is a global learning community of people from many faiths and many nations who share a common concern, passion and commitment to the art and contemplative practice of spiritual direction.  

Please add your thoughts and comments to this blog post.