Young Christians, Muslims, Jews Explore Unity in Diversity

Young Christian, Jewish and Muslim adults have gathered from around the world to explore inter-faith relations and unity in diversity during a summer seminar at the World Council of Churches' (WCC) Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, Switzerland.

The July seminar has brought together 21 participants from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the Americas to take a closer look at the question, 'How can we affirm our identity as Muslims, Jews and Christians not in separation or against each other but in relation to one another?'

The participants will also speculate on what the future holds as the traditional "one nation, one culture and one religion" gives way to greater cultural and religious diversity.

The one-month programme "Building an Interfaith Community" is designed to "prepare the future generation of leaders in churches, other faith communities and society at large for the challenges of living peacefully in a world of religious plurality", the WCC said.

Each day starts with a moment of shared prayer and spirituality, prepared alternately by the Christian, the Jewish and the Muslim participants.

The experience of living under the same roof, eating and washing dishes together, is enriched by lectures offered by specialists from Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities as well as through participation in services at a local synagogue, mosque and churches in Geneva.