Proposed by H.M. King Abdullah II of Jordan and adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2010, 2023 sees the 13th World Interfaith Harmony Week. Based on the pioneering initiative A Common Word calling for Christian and Muslim leaders to work together, it is intended to provide a focal point to recognise common values and build goodwill.
Scripture and violence - launch and workshop
At the Cambridge Interfaith Programme, we have chosen World Interfaith Harmony Week to launch Scripture and Violence, a collection of essays that takes a critical look at the equations sometimes made between violent-seeming texts and religious communities. The online launch event will hear from editors and contributors, and provides a chance to highlight some of the free companion resources created to support small group discussion. Those in Cambridge are encouraged to join a further workshop, and experience some of the small group resources. [More about the launch.]
Roundtable webinar
Our World Interfaith Harmony Week events also include a second webinar in our Language learning in/as religious education series. Building on earlier conversations between Dr Anastasia Badder (Cambridge) and Dr Jo-Ann Myers (Leo Baeck College), this roundtable will hear academics and practitioners discuss how the learning of sacred languages interfaces with other aspects of education and identity. [More about the webinar.]
Awake my soul!
Our World Interfaith Harmony Week activities conclude aptly on 8 February with a music-framed event hosted by Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge: Violinist Emma-Marie Kabanova and Dr Delvyn Case, director of Deus ex Musica, will combine live performance with interactive discussion between performers and audience. The stimulus comes from the book of Psalms, and four new compositions each inspired by a psalm text. [More about Awake my soul!]
All the events are free to attend. Registration is necessary for online events, and strongly recommended for the on site workshop as places are limited. Head over to Eventbrite to register.
Feature image combines photographs by Mihnea Maftei (Fitzwilliam College Chapel, 2018, CC BY 2.0) and Anastasia Badder (child's Hebrew exercise, taken during fieldwork; used with permission).