In 2016, Dr. Olga Solovieva participated in a Teaching Interfaith Understanding faculty development seminar, run in partnership between the Council of Independent Colleges and Interfaith America, and generously funded by the Henry Luce Foundation. For information on future seminars, and to access more resources created by seminar alumni, visit The Council of Independent Colleges.

Course Overview

This course focuses on the ways in which diverse religions traditions conceive of and practically respond to the critical issues in the building of a just society. The topics to be covered include civil rights movement, peace and anti-violence initiatives, responses to poverty, racial and gender justice, and interfaith efforts towards building positive relationships across religious, racial, and ethnic lines. These topics have an intrinsic interest for any responsible member of our society; moreover, the global situation today makes it all the more imperative that we acquire a nuanced insight into the social ramifications of religion. In order to develop such an insight, we will engage sources from Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, and other religious traditions, ranging from selections from their foundational texts to the writings by contemporary religious activists and thinkers such as MLK, The Dalai Lama, Dorothy Day, Eboo Patel, and other figures who have shaped the social and spiritual landscapes of our country and the entire world.