HEST Group on Christian-Muslim Relations

The Higher Education for Social Transformation (HEST) program aims to bring Higher Education institutions and Social Centres of the Society of Jesus in Europe together so that they can develop sound research that contributes to the real changes our societies need. The topic of Christian-Muslim Relations gathers a cluster of Jesuit Higher Education Institutions working on the study of Islam itself, Christian-Muslim interreligious dialogue and dialogue with Islam on social issues with a goal of connecting their research with other networks of the Jesuit apostolate in Europe.

The IAJU Task Force works in close collaboration with the group, and seeks to collaborate with other research groups working on topics related across IAJU member institutions.

The goals of this program combine fostering transformative social influence in areas like education, migrant integration, and religious freedom, while also producing rigorous, source-based academic scholarship on Christian-Muslim relations. The cluster emphasizes building real relationships and direct contact with Muslim communities as essential to genuine dialogue. Ultimately, members see themselves as serving the Society of Jesus's broader mission in Europe and the Near East, where Christian-Muslim relations are a key priority.

The program has an upcoming seminar and several past programs and initiatives, including symposiums and study training weeks.

• Seminar on Comparative Methods in Studying Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations: This seminar will take place from October 29 to 31, 2026 at the Faculty of Theology University of Innsbruck, Austria. They will address topics in philosophy, religious literacy, interreligious peacebuilding, and case studies on Christian-Muslim encounters.
• Symposium on Christian and Muslim Relations: During this symposium, scholars discussed topics of tension between Christianity and Islam. They specifically focused on universalism and communitarianism in contemporary plural democracies.
• Study week in Granada: The University of Loyola coordinated an Erasmus BIP Student Training. During this program, graduate and postgraduate students were invited to attend the online program that aimed to "serve as an introduction to the theological dialogue between Islam and Christianity." This included a general overview, followed by a deep dive into how each religion views itself and the other.