
Scriptural Reasoning
One of CTI’s greatest gifts to the world was a mode of inter-faith engagement called Scriptural Reasoning, pioneered here under our first Director, Professor Daniel W. Hardy. Scriptural Reasoning aims at creating spaces for hospitality and dialogue without any impingement on the particularities and exclusive claims of faith. Our aim is not to agree but to learn to disagree better and virtuously. Using our Scriptural texts as the very basis of our means for dialogue, Scriptural Reasoning encourages healing in a world in which cheap faith presumes the only options are either an oppositional fundamentalism or a lowest common denominator spirituality. Through deep engagement with each other’s Scriptures, we seek to foster new ways of thinking which reach beyond tolerance, and which acknowledge the fundamental differences which exist between our faiths without presuming that these need to lead to violence. Scriptural Reasoning has had global ramifications for the good throughout the world since its inception at CTI. Bringing together some of the founders and leading thinkers in this mode of inter-faith work, this investigation will seek to delve deeper into how our different Scriptures with their exclusive claims can be sources of healing and reconciliation in a divided world.