interfaith dialogue in education

In Australia, a multifaith country, the third largest religion is muslim. A study was done to show how many Australians have misperceptions about muslims and the muslim faith.

The study concluded that schools need to improve the education of their students about Australian society and the world.

what needs to be taught

• Preparing students for political and social discussions
• Having a knowledge of stereotypes and sources of religious and social conflict

The discourse on interfaith education addresses the difficulties of educators from the dominant culture essentializing an misrepresenting the perspectives of others.

It is self-reflection as part of the pedagogy of interfaith dialogue and a stepping outside the known without fear of losing faith.

For Mercy institutions, the challenge is how to engage with the evolving Mercy spirituality of Interfaith Dialogue so that it informs both teacher and student in this journey of knowledge, cooperative relationships, and personal transformation.