by Alfred Bornea Taboada
(Philippines) SUSI 2019
Religious Freedom and Pluralism
Dialogue Institute, Temple University
“Nobody knows everything about anything, therefore dialogue,” a powerful line shared by the Founder of the Dialogue Institute at Temple University, Prof. Leonard Swidler. He shared it in the morning of the first day session and it was like a last song syndrome (LSS) that keeps repeating in my mind until today. Hearing it from the author himself was a respite from a load of doubt and delight while on my way to the United States for SUSI 2019. Prior to coming, I had mixed feelings of who are the people I would be meeting, what the program would be. On the flip side, I was excited at the thought that I would be representing the Philippines to an international discourse. Such an opportunity for me to impart and share my country’s best to everyone and at the same time learn about peoples, places, passions, cultures, and spaces made me happy.
Religion for me is not an issue. I grew up in an ecumenical family. My father is a Roman Catholic, my Mom is a Protestant Presbyterian, and my other siblings are catholic and protestant as well. My relatives are Baptist, Methodist, Jehova’s Witness, Seventh Day Adventist and others, too, are Islam. I can go to churches, temples, and mosques without any reservations. There was no single instance that I was deprived of or told by my parents not to attend other church services. Now, I just realized that it was a form of religious freedom and pluralism my upbringing gave me.
My Ph.D. is in Peace and Development and one of the courses of this program is Religion and Peace. I taught the subject once in a trimester and the curriculum was far different from the context of religious freedom and pluralism. I have been an advocate of Interreligious Dialogue (IRD) considering I live in the Southern part of the Philippines, particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), where rich diverse cultures, traditions, and religions are highly evident. In fact, some areas of the region were war-torn for several decades now. Many people believe that conflict and wars in this place were attributed to religion but actually NOT, politics and economics were the culprit. It just happened that the conflicting parties are Christians and Muslims. This SUSI program indeed was an opportunity for me to nourish my knowledge, attitude, and skills in terms of dialogue amidst pluralism, including understanding more fully my own region.
The advent of SUSI’s series of lectures, exposures, visits to churches, synagogues, temples, mosques, Amish and Bahai communities, and even meeting up those at a prison facility widened my interest in pluralism. It inspired me to replicate the sessions and engagements outlined. Our eating sessions involved exchanging pleasantries with all those beautiful people we met, all of whom were amazing. Good food really follows good conversation and vice versa. Such a journey brought me several reflections of learning for life. I coined it D.I.A.L.O.G.U.E for easy recall.
Deep Dialogue
Intensify Inter-intra Religious/ Ideological Dialogue
Appreciate the value of one’s individuality and uniqueness
Learning is Changing (in reference to Decalogue number 1)
Observe an I-Statement / Message and Emotional Intelligence all the time
Guided by the attributes of Faith, Love, Integrity, Excellence, Respect, and Service (FLIERS)
Unity amidst Diversity
Engage in an environment of freedom and pluralism towards a Blessed Community
I really had robust learnings from the program. The theories and experiences I got have been translated into a concrete reality. The moment I got back at the Graduate School I made a courtesy call to our Dean (SUSI Alumna of a different program). She was delighted to hear about the program and the plans that I am going to implement. I was assigned as chair of the course for the Outcome Based Education Curriculum Enhancement and was able to develop a graduate level program outcome, particularly in Religion and Peace with the support of my collegial team and the Dean.
During the third trimester, I taught Interreligious Dialogue. I designed the syllabus according to the context of religious freedom and pluralism. One of the most memorable experiences and complimentary reviews I got from my graduate students was the Shia and Sunni Encounter. In my country, Shias are not so popular and such groups opt not be known in public for fear of condemnation. In the spirit of religious freedom and pluralism, I invited to my class a team of Shia to engage in dialogue with my Sunni students. There were exchanges of thoughts and several questions were raised. Some apprehensions, discriminations, and doubts were then cleared. It was very delightful to see at the end of the session that these two denominations were gathered together and caught each other’s drift.
It was only unfortunate that the Covid-19 curtailed our Interreligious Immersion and Church visitations. However, despite the lockdown, my students were able to write papers on any Inter Religious Dialogue, Religious Freedom and Pluralism related-issues and topics. The pandemic also has been an eye opener to everyone regardless of faith or religion to join together in supplication and share blessings to everyone in need. This is just the beginning and the gospel of dialogue will live on.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity again to thank the American People for part of their taxes were spent in this highly relevant and truly rewarding cause. I want to thank as well the U.S. Department of State, the Dialogue Institute: Prof. Leonard Swidler, Prof. Rebecca Mays, Dr. David Krueger, and staff, The D.I. Board: Sergio Mazza, wife Lora, Atty. Kay Kyungsun Yu, Dr. Larry Fultz, and to all their partners.
To conclude, experiencing the truest essence of pluralism is having an opportunity of connecting with these wonderful classmates, that I call “Best Angels,” from the different sides of the world. They are my extended networks in dialogue and peace. Maria of Argentina, Amena of Austria, Malahat of Azerbaijan, Jian of China, Takalign of Ethiopia, Juha of Finland, Ilias of India, Isnur of Indonesia, Yasmeen of Jordan, Mirkhat of Kazakhstan, Fr. Martin of Kenya, Ghassan (Jason) of Lebanon, Lau of Malaysia, Wei of Myanmar, and Sakir of Turkey. From the Philippines, thank you very much for sharing your country, religion, beliefs, foods, and culture with me. I really had a wonderful time with you and you made my SUSI journey memorable. You are all tattooed in my heart and mind. All the best to you and your family. Till we meet again.
Godspeed.
