The Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies presents a special lecture exploring what it means to be human from three major religious perspectives. Rabbi Dr. Rachel S.
Mikva examines how Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions understand human nature differently - Christians focus on original sin from Genesis, Jews teach about our competing desires for good and evil, and Muslims believe in fitra, our natural ability to recognize goodness and God. The lecture uses religious texts to compare ideas about creation, sin, free will, and the relationship between body and soul across these three faiths. This comparative approach helps people understand religious differences in today's diverse world.
The lecture is available to watch online anytime, and includes discussion questions for classrooms or religious groups. There was also a follow-up conversation event at Goucher College in Baltimore. This is part of the Silber-Obrecht Lecture series, which happens every two years and brings together senior scholars to advance the study of how different religions interact and understand each other.