Lesson Four: Cultivating Appreciative Knowledge
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Lesson Four
Developing religious literacy is one of the most daunting aspects of interfaith leadership. This lesson shares methods for cultivating appreciative knowledge of other religious beliefs, practices, and worldviews. Additionally, it demonstrates how increased appreciative knowledge drives positive relationships and attitudes.
4.1: Becoming Aware of Religious Diversity
In this module, students are introduced to the three primary areas of knowledge necessary for interfaith leadership, and are given a chance to hone their awareness of the religious diversity all around them.
4.2: What is Appreciative Knowledge?
We define appreciative knowledge of other religious traditions as substantive knowledge and positive inclinations. In this lesson we distinguish between appreciative knowledge and religious literacy, and provide ways for students to develop their appreciative knowledge about other religious and ethical traditions.
4.3: Appreciative Knowledge in the Field
Through a series of short interviews, students will hear from young professionals in different fields about how they were able to build their own appreciative knowledge of other religious and ethical traditions, and how that knowledge has aided them in their life and work.
4.4: The Interfaith Triangle
This module explores how attitudes about other religious and ethical traditions, knowledge of those traditions, and relationships with others of those traditions interact and influence one another. This three-way influence is known as the interfaith triangle and is exemplified in the principle known as My Pal Al.
4.5 Appreciative Knowledge Summary
Following a brief review of this lesson, Eboo Patel reflects on developing a radar screen for religious diversity and cultivating appreciative knowledge about other religious traditions as two critical components of interfaith leadership.
