By Casey Tom
Student panel from left to right: Cale Hall, Tala AlRaheb, Brittani Magee, Kemal Budak (photo by George Conklin)
Students from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology joined the Rev. Dr. Deanna Womack, Assistant Professor of History of Religion and Multifaith Religions at Candler, to discuss experiences and the importance of interfaith engagement and communication. The student panel consisted of Kemal Budak, a PhD student in Sociology of Religion; Brittani Magee, a third-year Master of Divinity student; Tala AlRaheb, a Master of Theological Studies student; and Cale Hall, a Master of Theological Studies student.
The panel discussed what they have learned through academic studies, and how the practice of interfaith engagement has enhanced their learning. Magee shared that through academics came an understanding of belief and faith functions in different faith groups, however interfaith dialogue gives a true understanding of those faith traditions. Hall stated, “academic exposure shattered my preconceptions of different faith groups.” He then discussed a recent trip to India where he had the opportunity to experience how the people there live their own religion.