“Welcome to Interfaith Dialogue”, the Employee of the Art Gallery Said and Started the Tour – Frames and Spaces of Interfaith Interaction

Abstract

Considering the presence of interfaith activities outside the religious sphere, this paper raises the question of a correlation between space and interfaith interaction, and proposes an analytical scheme for the analysis of the spatiality of (interfaith) interaction. Using the example of an interfaith tour in the Hamburg Art Gallery and based on a spatial and interaction theory framework, the paper focuses on three dimensions in which space is expressed and correlated with interaction. First, is space as an element of the social situation’s definition, this includes a synthesised picture of the gallery. Secondly, the activity structures affect the (spatial) positioning between the participants and space is reproduced in interaction. The third dimension refers to the material space, especially the artwork and its function in interaction.

“This Is a Head, Hearts, and Hands Enterprise”: Adult Learning in Interfaith Dialogue

“…At times, interfaith dialogue helped participants learn about religious conflict (Acar, 2013); consider new perspectives and explore complexities within their own beliefs (Small, 2009); develop stronger commitments to their own, self-authored worldview (Mayhew, Rockenbach, & Bowman, 2016); or better understand similar yet different teachings across traditions (Charaniya & Walsh, 2001; Haug, 2014). Often, learning in interfaith dialogue was collaborative, open, respectful, and mutual (Boys & Lee, 1996; Gonzalez, 2011; Helskog, 2014a; Kalender, 2016; Krebs, 2015; Williams, 2019). But when members of interfaith dialogue did not feel safe and supported in the dialogue space, learning was not mutual, and dialogue became a way to dominate those in the minority (Riitaoja & Dervin, 2014).…”