The Vocation of Church-Related Colleges in a Multi-Faith World

Abstract

This chapter describes the myriad challenges that must be faced by academic institutions as they broaden their focus from a single religious perspective to a multi-faith approach. It begins by observing that academic discourse about religion is too often divorced from the actual experiences of real human beings, but careful attention to such experiences is essential in the undergraduate environment. It then tells the story of one institution that underwent a significant transition, from its original focus on a single faith tradition to become a genuinely multi-faith environment—for its students and for its faculty and staff. This process required wrestling with the privilege that was (often unconsciously) enjoyed by adherents to the institution’s founding faith tradition (Christianity). The chapter concludes with a discussion of the relationship between an institutional shift to a more interfaith perspective and classroom efforts to make sure that multiple traditions and lifestances are given voice.