Faith at Crossroads: Jordan

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Jordan lies at the crossroads of historical and contemporary interfaith encounters between Muslims and Christians, often serving as a regional bridge between and among religious traditions and modern geopolitical identities. This seminar explores how Muslims and Christians in Jordan navigate living and working alongside each other in a variety of sectors: education and youth, healthcare, humanitarian, tourism, and civil society. We will briefly explore the main tenets of Christianity and Islam before providing an overview of the different Christian and Muslim communities in Jordan, especially considering their relationships with Palestinian refugees in Jordan, and their history of interfaith dialogue. We will explore elements of civil society as well as new religious, political, and practical challenges to and pathways toward regional peace. Though obstacles and avenues to peace are not solely religious, we will ask religious communities on the ground how they sit at the crossroads to peace and imagine creating lasting peace.