The purpose of this Seminar is to provide a broad forum in which the important but under-studied relationship of friendship can be studied, discussed, challenged, and ultimately enriched – from a variety of religious perspectives. Friendship is a human relationship that is essential for human flourishing. In times ripe with division and conflict, we assert that the study of friendship contributes towards furthering religious understanding and dialogue. Friendship as a religious topic, broadly and creatively defined, touches on matters of faith, ecclesiology, anthropology, history, politics, philosophy, ethics, race, gender, sex, class, and economics among others.
We welcome papers that explore friendship from different disciplines and theological/religious perspectives, and are open to a variety of methodological approaches. Papers from the Seminar are eligible to be considered for inclusion in two published volumes, the first focused on multireligious reflections and the second based on interreligious reflections. The volumes are expected to be published in the Religion and Borders Series (Fortress/Lexington Books).