Items of Interest April 30, 2012 Issue

Honor everyone

Sentinel staff

Miroslav Volf, Yale theology professor, prolific author, and a leading voice for Christian/Muslim reconciliation, was the speaker in the Price lecture series at Trinity Church, Copley Square, on March 13, the night Boston’s Back Bay was plunged into darkness by a generator explosion. Undaunted, Volf delivered the last half hour of his talk in semi-darkness, quipping about the light we should all bring to this topic.

Under the title, “Honor Everyone,” Volf called on his audience to respect even those with whom they profoundly disagree. He asked how we relate to others of differing views, creeds, or convictions in a political world fraught with violent disagreement, which is among the issues he tackles in his latest book, Allah: A Christian Response (HarperOne).

“Most religions are dependent on revelation,” he observed in his Trinity talk, “but it’s difficult to reason with revelation.” To what extent are intolerance and violence inscribed in the very fabric of faith? he asked. Faith traditions are not disappearing. People are turning to Islam and Christianity. But if they are violent, intolerance will remain.

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