Bridges of Understanding: Interfaith Dialogue in the Modern University

Assessing the Impact of Campus Chaplaincy on Pluralistic Cohesion

Abstract

This article evaluates the role of interfaith dialogue programs in fostering social cohesion within diverse higher education institutions. As universities become increasingly globalized, the campus serves as a microcosm of broader societal tensions between religious and secular identities. The research utilizes qualitative case studies to analyze how structured interfaith initiatives—facilitated by campus chaplaincies and student organizations—affect peer empathy and religious tolerance. The study argues that interfaith literacy is a core competency for modern graduates and proposes a "pluralistic engagement" model for university administration. This final contribution to the first issue of JREE reinforces the journal’s commitment to education as a tool for ethical and religious reconciliation.