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Scriptural Reasoning: Why It Matters

Date: October 31, 2022

Today begins one of the most exciting academic weeks during our school year: the week of the Costan lectures, which are given this year by the theologian David Ford, Ph.D., OBE, on the Gospel of John. Dr. Ford’s presence on campus this year has presented us with a very happy coincidence. In addition to his renowned constructive theological work, Dr. Ford is also a well-known advocate for Scriptural Reasoning, a practice where Muslims, Jews, and Christians gather to read, listen, and reflect on sacred texts side-by-side in order to foster deeper understanding across faith traditions. This interfaith gathering of hospitality and study has been practiced this year at VTS through a partnership between the Center for Anglican Communion Studies and the Rumi Forum, and we hope that VTS can become a center for Scriptural Reasoning in the coming years.

We are delighted, then, that Dr. Ford will supplement his Costan lecture schedule with a CACS lunchtime forum on “Scriptural Reasoning: Why It Matters.”  The forum will be tomorrow, November 1, at 12:45 in the Lettie Pate Evans Room. Dr. Ford will share his experience as Co-Founder of the Society for Scriptural Reasoning and as the Founding Director of the Cambridge Interfaith Programme, discussing Scriptural Reasoning’s Jewish roots, its resonance with Anglican theology, and the importance of its continued practice – especially in countries such as ours where violence against Jews and Muslims is on the rise.

Whether or not you have already been participating in Scriptural Reasoning, you don’t want to miss this exciting opportunity to hear such a renowned Christian theologian discussing the importance of this crucial interfaith work.

For more information, you can visit the CACS Eventbrite page here for further details and the CACS Facebook page for a live-streaming link.

The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President 

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