Program & Event Highlights: 2007

Princeton Students Take Course in Oman
Not to be daunted by rising summer temperatures, a group of graduate students from Princeton Theological Seminary, along with their professor, visited Oman between May 22 and June 5. They represent the first participants from Princeton in a newly formed course on Christian-Muslim relations that is offered through the AAC. The seminar consists of lectures, student led colloquies, and opportunities to engage the people of Oman at a variety of levels. One of the highlights was when the women from Princeton met with female students from the Institute of Shariah Science, a Bachelor's program in Islamic studies. The Institute had announced to their students that anyone interested could meet the Princeton students. Three hundred showed up! It was a great evening of exchange.

In reflecting on her time in Oman, one student summarised it well: "Engaging in dialogue with Muslims is important for us as Christians because of the international political climate we live in, the society of religious diversity that surrounds us, the Lord's command to love our neighbours, and the reality that the alternative to dialogue is misunderstanding, conflict, and hatred." These students represented well the positive possibilities in interfaith relations.

Innovation in Congregational Education
At the beginning of May, the Rev. Dr. William Sachs, Director of the Center for Reconciliation and Mission at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Richmond, VA, made a trip to Oman to lay the groundwork for a cross-cultural education program for congregational members. In October of this year, Dr. Sachs will return with a group that will visit Oman, Jordan, and Qatar to learn more about the Middle East and interfaith possibilities. This is a pilot project that is hoped will be offered for congregations throughout the U.S.

Sultan Qaboos University and Religious Education
For the second time, the Centre has had the privilege of hosting a group of students from Sultan Qaboos University. The students are majoring in education and will be teaching Islamic culture in the public schools. The field trip to the Centre is to help them learn more about religious diversity in Oman. As one comes to know the students, it is clear that they value civil society and the place of religious diversity within it. The courses in Islamic culture that they will one day teach emphasise the general principles shared by all Muslims as well as developing an appreciation for the shared values of humanity. This helps students see the importance of cooperating with others in a global society.

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