MONMOUTH, Ill. – In a world often divided by religious differences, Monmouth College once took a bold step towards unity. On April 25, the college hosted a remarkable event aimed at helping to create understanding and building community through interfaith dialogue.

Why Wasn’t This Widely Propagated?

Picture this: three esteemed religious leaders from the area gathered at 7 p.m. in the historic Dahl Chapel and Auditorium for an evening of profound discussion. The event was free and open to the public, yet its significance seemed to fly under the radar.

The Rev. John Huxtable, a proud alumnus from the class of 2004 and the college chaplain, stood alongside Rabbi Jennie Bunde, the spiritual leader of Temple Shalom, a Reform synagogue in Galesburg. Completing this distinguished trio was Imam Bachir Djehiche, the religious director of the Quad Cities Islamic Center in Moline. Together, they embarked on a journey to bridge the gaps between their faiths.

Moderated by Joshua Gentzke, a Monmouth professor of philosophy and religious studies, the event promised to be an enlightening experience. The inspiration for this gathering could be traced back to a profound quote by Catholic theologian Hans Küng: “No peace among the nations without peace among the religions. No peace among the religions without dialogue between the religions.”

Rev. Huxtable recalled reading this quote just days before the event, lamenting, “That would’ve been great to have on our poster.” Yet, the essence of Küng’s wisdom permeated the evening’s discourse. The goal was to introduce people to those of other faiths and illuminate the commonalities they shared. As Huxtable poignantly noted, “We have more similarities than differences.”

Why wasn’t this event more widely celebrated? Perhaps it was overshadowed by the relentless march of daily news. However, for those who attended, it was a spectacular, thought-provoking evening that left a lasting impression. The event underscored the power of dialogue in achieving peace and understanding among diverse communities.

In the annals of Monmouth College, April 25, 2023, will be remembered as a day when barriers were broken, and hearts were opened. A day when the seeds of interfaith harmony were sown, reminding us all that in our quest for peace, dialogue is our most potent tool.