Overview

The Witherspoon Institute co-sponsored an international conference in Jerusalem on February 6-7, 2011 with the Institute for Theological Inquiry and the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute. The conference celebrated the recent research of the ITI scholars in the 2008-2010 project in which Witherspoon is a partner. It explored three critical questions: Is there a place for Christianity and Christians in the covenant between God and the Jewish people? Is conversion from Christianity to Judaism and the reverse desirable? On what basis can Jews and Christians hope for a better future between them and for the world? The sessions were a major success, each drawing between 100 and 150 people. As the capital of the Jewish people, the birthplace of Christianity, and the locus of so much international religious conflict, Jerusalem is the ideal venue for discussions of conversion, interreligious relations, and hope for the future of civilization. Discussions centered around the original research project of ITI scholars on the topics of "Covenant, Mission, and Relation to the Other" and "Hope and Responsibility for the Human Future."

Other sponsors included The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute and the Institute for Theological Inquiry (ITI) of the Center for Jewish-Christian Cooperation in Efrat.

The Conference Topics

Covenant, Mission, and Conversion
Both Jewish and Christian religious life is grounded in the concept of a sacred covenant as it has unfolded throughout human history. The covenant mediates daily religious life for Christians and Jews, and their theological and moral aspirations and eschatological perceptions. Are the borders of the covenant sealed or is it desirable to convert outsiders to the covenant? What is the covenant's purpose in history and how does it govern relations between members of the covenant and those outside it? Jewish and Christian scholars will discuss the implications of covenantal theology for relations with the other, and whether conversion of the other is a desirable policy today.

Hope and the Human Future
Belief in the promise of the messianic era commits both Jews and Christians to the betterment of humanity and moral progress over history; the prophetic vision of the messianic redemption obligates Jews and Christians to take responsibility for the human future; but can we rationally hope for a better future, a sober belief in progress, and an ethic to promote it? The multiple tragedies of the 20th century and the new 21st century, including Israel's struggle for survival, discourage rational belief in human progress. Is miraculous messianism the only hope for the future, or can we ground our hope in a reasonable ethic? If so, what are our responsibilities to bring about a future of improved human life and culture?


The Witherspoon Institute is an independent research center that works to enhance public understanding of the moral foundations of free and democratic societies. Located in Princeton, New Jersey, the Institute promotes the application of fundamental principles of republican government and ordered liberty to contemporary problems through a variety of research and educational ventures. To support the Witherspoon Institute, please follow the contribution instructions or donate online via PayPal.