Twenty young adults from seven different religions gathered over a meal to discuss questions raised in the book, ‘For God’s Sake: an Atheist, a Jew, a Christian and a Muslim Debate Religion’. The dinner was hosted by the Columban Mission Institute’s Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations on the 5th February 2014.
Questions such as, ‘Where do you find hope?’ ‘What role does God play in suffering?’ and ‘What is a good life?’ were slowly unpacked during the course of the evening. The experience of suffering, the desire for happiness and the importance of hope are matters that each of our religious traditions deal with in a profound way, making them apt topics for a multifaith discussion.
As different perspectives were offered and experiences were shared, shallow 
stereotypes were supplanted by a deep respect for the humanity of every person in attendance.
Comments made at the end of the night highlighted the importance of dialogue and such events. One guest expressed, "All our religions teach the importance of community, the trouble with consumerism and the need to have hope in something beyond this world. In this day and age, it shouldn’t be Muslims vs. Jews or Catholics vs. Protestants, it should be people of faith vs. consumerism, greed and war."
Another guest shared, "It is not often that I go home after a full day feeling more energised than before I left home."
The evening ended with a musical piece played by Baha’i representative, Nadeem Navidi. Nadeem played a Baha’i prayer on guitar and was accompanied by Natalie Afshar who sang about empowering youth to make a difference in the world.
Ashleigh Green works with the Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations at the Columban Mission Institute in Sydney.
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