Last week these pages included coverage of the “Contending Modernities” research initiative and its opening conference in New York. But the conversation that “began” there is hardly new to Notre Dame. The address given by Fr. Jenkins was part of a longer contribution to interreligious scholarship and dialogue led by another Notre Dame theologian, Fr. David Burrell. A self-described “Mediterranean person,” Fr. Burrell is an emeritus Professor in Theology and Philosophy, and he served at the Tantur Ecumenical Institute in Jerusalem for over 25 years. He was recently the central figure of a small colloquium held in the Catholic center at Northwestern University, in Evanston, IL.
Over a year ago, before I came to Notre Dame, I had been told to meet Fr. Burrell. My flight into Chicago from home made the quick jaunt to Evanston easy, so I dropped by the colloquium. It was organized by Garrett Methodist seminary, and it allowed any interested to listen as Burrell shared his thoughts on the foundations of interfaith dialogue. In conversation with him were a professor of Jewish philosophy from Northwestern and an Islamicist from Loyola Chicago. Their discussion was thoughtful and serious, but the terrain was well-trod — medieval discussions of creation, differing conceptions of the Messiah and views of post-secularity (post-Christianity?)
