Nashville Religion Communicators Council Hears the Challenges of Interfaith Dialogue
The Nashville Religion Communicators Council held their July meeting in the Wisdom House at Scarritt Bennett Center, where they heard from Interfaith Dialogian Chance Dillon on the perils and perks of interfaith communication.
Online, July 21, 2011 (Newswire.com) - The Nashville Religion Communicators Council held their July meeting in the Wisdom House at Scarritt Bennett Center, where they heard from Interfaith Dialogian Chance Dillon on the perils and perks of interfaith communication.
Chance Dillon, who was raised in a fundamental Christian environment, says his calling to the world of interfaith work was shaped by friendships garnered during his school years. It was those relationships with individuals of other faiths yet founded on mutual interests and affinity that led him to tolerance and respect as a way of life.
Seeing that the society was riddled with discrimination and distrust, Dillon took a step further and began conducting interfaith dialogue sessions. He did this for two years while studying at the Vanderbilt University's School of Divinity and interning at Scarritt Bennett Center, bringing together everyone from Baha'is to Buddhists, Scientologists to Sikhs. He put an emphasis on speaking not only what the religious texts said, but digging deeper to one's own beliefs and speaking from the heart.
Dillon says that such personal investigation of the beliefs and practices of other faiths is a vital part of living, and a key lesson is that one must learn about other religions from their adherents rather than outsiders speaking about it. This aligns with the purpose of the Religion Communicators Council, which exists to promote excellence in religious communications and understanding amongst religious and faith groups.
The Nashville Chapter Religion Communicators Council meets monthly on the third Wednesday from 11:30 - 1:00pm over lunch. For more information on the Council or to attend a meeting, visit www.religioncommunicators.org.
The Religion Communicators Council, founded in 1929, is an interfaith association of religion communicators at work in print and electronic communication, advertising and public relations. RCC provides opportunities for religion communicators to learn from each other. Together, RCC members promote excellence in the communication of religious faith and values in the public arena and encourage understanding among religious and faith groups.