Yesterday's Heads of Faith Meeting

Shalom Alechem (greetings/peace to all of you),

Yesterday at Colorado College, Professors David Gardiner and David Weddle, spoke to the Heads of Faith group about the concept of forgiveness in Buddhism and Christianity over dinner at our Interfaith House. Each professor explicated a handout of relevant texts from the tradition they had elected to speak about and then discussion/debate was opened to the group.

Discussion included (but was not limited to) a debate about whether Buddhism acknowledges a unique Self; differences between forgiveness, tolerance, and acceptance; how one interacts with a "foolish" individual; the significance of body as a physical separation of The Soul; the importance of forgiveness; metaphysical energy; negative emotions such as anger and the act of degradation; the difference between receiving forgiveness and forgiving yourself; reincarnation and transgressions from past lives; individually motivated forgiveness and doctrine-based forgiveness; and the roll of compassion.

Looking back on the event, I wonder if the informal nature of the evening contributed some crucial dynamic between attendees that accounts for its high level of positive feedback and success. It was clear that the organizer wished it to be informal; students and professors sat together on sofas in the living room and before officially beginning, each individual in the room shared one blessing and challenge in their life. Though I've experienced intimate settings to be "safer spaces," I find it potentially controversial that the event organizer only invited a select group of students to participate. From what I've heard, it seems the student body highly regards the professors who spoke and I wonder if it would have been possible to maintain a personal, intelligent, and polite dialogue if the meeting had been opened to others.

Do others have input regarding preferences for group size, venue/setting, and the degree of solicitation for events such as this one?

-Esther