USC New Testament Intrafaith Dialogue Series 2023

We believe that interfaith understanding is a critical part of community-building. In considering how the Widtsoe Foundation might contribute to such important efforts, we engaged with Dr. Robert L. Millet, former Richard L. Evans Chair of Religious Understanding at Brigham Young University. Dr. Millet has long seen a need to expand the scope of the most common interfaith dialogues, which typically consider two religious traditions at a time.

Rather than beginning from a position of difference, we decided to create an interfaith Christian dialogue centered on the shared teachings of Jesus Christ. And so, on March 21, 2019, the New Testament Comparative Passages project was born. With support from USC’s Office of Religious Life, Chapman University’s Fish Interfaith Center, the Museum of the Bible, and multiple faith-based Universities, scholars from eight different Christian traditions have met regularly since 2019. From prepared papers on selected New Testament passages, they have engaged in discussion on interpretations of these sometimes contentious scriptures.

Through this interchange of papers, dialogue, and subsequent publication and video presentation, we hope that long held misunderstanding and misrepresentation of each others’ beliefs throughout the Christian community will eventually disappear. These eight scholars have become “no more strangers,” but are now goodwill ambassadors among their own religious communities for the beliefs and practices of one another, blessing all they reach.

For the first time ever, The John A. Widtsoe Foundation is opening this dialogue event up to the public at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. Attendees are welcome to come for any and all sessions, ask questions, and enjoy light refreshments in the meeting room. See USC website for schedule and speaker details. On-campus parking is available for this event, please contact Robin Stroud prior to Wednesday 3/22/23 for details.