About
I first began practicing Scriptural Reasoning in 1994 with a small group of Jewish, Christian and Muslim scholars of scripture, of the traditions of scriptural interpretation, of theology, and of philosophy. Since that time the group has grown and developed; our largest centers of activity are now in North America and the United Kingdom, with additional study groups forming in several other countries. We tend to work in groups of about twenty members, meeting together several times a year and joining together for study and discussion, and for various writing projects. Our project began as a scholarly endeavor, but we discovered that it bore fruit appropriate as well to the broader society. As our vision turned from the academy to the public sphere, we began to share our practice with students, with religious leaders, and with members of local congregations. What you are doing in the groups that meet in London and are developing across Britain, is a part of that vital development. It is a delight to watch as you help SR embody its deepest purpose: to offer the broader public a way of practicing peace at a time of inter-religious tension and conflict.
For SR, the source of peace is not too difficult to find. In the words of the Biblical Book of Deuteronomy, "It is nigh unto you;" in the words of the Qu'ran, "It is closer to you than your jugular vein." For SR, the source lies within each tradition's scriptural texts when their pages are opened to members of all three faiths, for shared study and for heart-felt dialogue about what these texts say to each reader.
I and my colleagues look forward to accompanying you on this journey.
Peter Ochs,
Edgar Bronfman Professor of Modern Judaic Studies,
University of Virginia.
