Join us for the first lecture in the 2024 Northey Lecture series, co-hosted with Trinity College Theological School as the Hughes-Cheong public lecture, to be presented by Dr Joshua Ralston, Reader in Christian-Muslim Relations at the School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh and visiting scholar at Trinity College Theological School.
Bearing Witness: An Approach to Christian-Muslim Dialogue discusses how two assumptions dominate approaches to Christian-Muslim theological dialogue. First, theological differences over God, Jesus, and Muhammad are viewed as the main problem facing Christian-Muslim relations. Based on this claim, the chief aim of interfaith dialogue becomes addressing the problem of difference through seeking out areas of commonality and theological consensus. This paper challenges both assumptions by presenting a vision of Christian theological engagement with Islamic thought where the primary aim is not agreement, but mutual learning through non-apologetic witness, honest contestation, and theological clarification. The profound questions that Islamic thought present to Christian theology about God, the Qur’an, and Jesus Christ are not viewed as a threat, but as an opportunity for fresh theological reflection on what it means to bear witness to the God who speaks.
Parking is not available on College grounds.
Date: Thursday 21 March 2024
Time: 7 – 9pm (Refreshments will be served in the Bernardo Family Atrium after the lecture).
Venue: Craig Auditorium, Gateway Building, Trinity College, 100 Royal Parade, Parkville VIC 3052
RSVP: By 5pm, Thursday 14 March 2024
Tickets: Free, but bookings essential. To book click here
Enquiries: Briony O’Halloran | [email protected] | 03 8341 0216