Pluralistic, Inter-traditional Collaboration: Field Assignment 2

GEA FIELD ASSIGNMENT #2

In lieu of a final exam, you shall write a minimum of 2 pages (no maximum), double-spaced, and using 12pt Times New Roman font, wherein you define, in your own words, pluralism, and outline a vision for pluralistic, or inter-traditional, collaboration.

In addition to drawing on our class conversations, your primary resource for this assignment will be Interfaith Leadership: A Primer, by Eboo Patel (2016) and the Introduction to God is Not One, by Stephen Prothero (2010), which you will find in the Files section of our course on Canvas. You should also find and cite two additional scholarly sources from Lib.USF.Edu to support your answers to the questions below. (Note: For this assignment, you may use whichever citation style you prefer – MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.).

Within your paper, please be sure to substantively answer the following 4 questions:

1. What problems, if any, do you see with the ways that pluralism and tolerance are defined today? (i.e., is anyone left out, can you identify any double standards, etc.?)
2. In the Introduction to God is Not One, Prothero addresses what he calls the ‘mythical ideal of pluralism’ that dominates contemporary discourse on the subject. By this what does he mean, and what problems does he find with it? Do you think Patel’s ideal of pluralism is at any point susceptible to Prothero’s critique? Why or why not?
3. In your own words, taking into account Prothero’s critique and the positive vision imagined by Patel, establish an appropriate definition of pluralism in your own words and outline some ground rules for pluralistic, or
   inter-faith, collaboration (i.e., What are the requirements for participation? For those involved in such a conversation, what does respect, tolerance, etc. look like?)
4. Organize a 1-hour event with 3 or more of your peers (either within the class or outside of the class, and either in-person or virtually) wherein you a empt to engage in pluralistic collaboration. Discuss how each of your religious/spiritual perspectives leads you to a certain understanding of finding peace, meaning, and experiencing human flourishing. Discuss what it is like to be a person of your religious (or non-religious) background, and spend some time seeking to understand your peers who are on a different religious journey than you. What did you take away from this exercise, and how has it shaped your vision of engaging in public dialogue about religion with others? (Note: For this exercise, it will be important to partner with peers from at least one or more different religious traditions than you).