The scriptural reasoning movement

• The term "Scriptural Reasoning" was coined by Peter Ochs to distinguish the interfaith practice from other forms of interfaith dialogue. Peter Ochs along with David Ford are considered the founders of the scriptural reasoning movement.
• Muslims were also invited to join the group because of the common roots shared by Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. All three religions are known as the 'religions of the book' because they all have holy scriptures that they consider to be revelatory and authoritative.
• Scriptural Reasoning has become part of the Cambridge inter-faith program (as one example). Participants from Christianity, Islam, and Judaism meet together to read passages from their sacred texts that address different themes such as education, clothing modesty, and, what it means to be a created human.

Its methods and aims

The guiding principles of Scriptural reasoning are as follows: Wisdom: The aim is not to convert but to explore an idea or theme through texts from different religions. Can be both a highly technical study and a more personal spiritual response. They aim to exchange ideas so that we can promote a better understanding of different faiths Collegiality: Participants try to understand each other's beliefs even if they do not agree with each other, as the aim is not agreement. Participants usually work in a small groups of no more than twelve people. Over some time, as groups get to know each other, they develop trust and openness and believe that by reading it collaboratively and in the spirit of collegiality, everyone wins. Hospitality: The purpose is to come to a deeper understanding of your own faith while learning about someone else which is done by being open and welcoming to the ideas of others, everyone must accept that there's no one definitive interpretation. Having a meal together is integral to hospitality and symbolizes sharing idea.

The methods used in sessions are based:

The internal reasoning of a text (structure, use of language, themes, context in scripture and history). The external reasoning of the reader as interpreter (reflecting on their contemporary situation within their religious tradition). And done in the following way:

• Participants from Christianity, Islam, and Judaism meet together to read passages from their sacred texts that address different themes such as education, clothing modesty, and, what it means to be a created human.
• They read the passages from the Bible and Qur'an and discuss the wording of the texts, discussing how they think they should be applied in contemporary society.
• Participants are discouraged from speaking on behalf of the entire religion and instead of phrases like "Christians believe..." they should instead say "I believe..." therefore contributing as individuals.
• Hospitality is one of the key features of Scriptural Reasoning and different faiths take it in turns to host the meetings, or, they are held in a neutral place. Which in turn leads to an attempt to ensure social cohesion How the mutual study and interpretation of different religions' sacred literature can help understanding of different and conflicting religious truth claims Scriptural Reasoning meetings should not be places where people feel under pressure to change their beliefs. Religious Response to Scriptural Reasoning:

• Early church would often go to the temple and engage in discussions about their faith with the Jewish community (Acts 4).
• However, the early church very definitely had the aim to convert others.
• This can also be seen when Paul engaged in a similar dialogue with the Greek philosophers during his mission work (Unknown god Acts 17).
• So this is a method that Christians would support for cohesion, but they would want to use it as a conversion tool as the early church did. Redemptoris Missio :
• Encourages dialogue including scriptural reasoning
• However, Catholics are called to remember that other faiths have some truth but also have "gaps, insufficiencies and errors." and dialogue does not dispense from evangelization.
• Catholics should remember that when they engage in scriptural reasoning other faiths cannot give complete knowledge of God and so they must still aim to covert others!
• Through dialogue the Church seeks to uncover the "seeds of the Word", and "ray of that truth" are found in individuals and in the religious traditions.

Catholics are reminded that dialogue is a path toward the kingdom and will certainly bear fruit, even if the times and seasons are known only to the Father (cf. Acts 1:7).

'Sharing the Gospel of Salvation' encourages Christians to engage in scriptural reasoning

Scriptural Reasoning-Strengths

• Develops social cohesion and abandons othering, as each faith shows respect to the another's beliefs including differences
• Enables Christian truth claims to stay intact, each belief is considered as valid as the others
• Christians have been able to embrace SCRIPTURAL REASONING while maintaining their soteriological aims, as all Christians can still be Christocentric they hold that SCRIPTUAL REASONING will be one tool that they will use to help convert others.
• Develops the faith and understanding of Christians who engage with it, as they gain a deeper understanding of their faith and that of others.

Scriptural Reasoning- Weakness:

• Questions the authority of scripture and truth claims within them, as if all faiths are valid and have value then all faiths truth claims a relativized as they are only true to those believers, for the Christians this moves away from a Christocentric faith which is not acceptable.
• Excludes non-Abrahamic Faiths, which undermines social cohesion for all
• Lack of Judgments as there is no measurement of valid claims, anyone is welcome to SCRIPTURAL REASONING and welcome to their own internal and external reasoning, whether informed by study or knowledge or just from own opinion all are considered valid.