After posting about the Wild Goose Festival last week, I was wondering how it went. It was really hot in North Carolina over the weekend, I know that, but I was curious about the turnout, reaction to the speakers, and thoughts about another Festival next year.

The National Catholic Reporter has a nice story online about Day 3. The opening of the story sets the tone:

After their interfaith panel discussion Saturday afternoon, Rabbi Or Rose and Muslim chaplain Abdullah Antepli walked side-by-side talking quietly. It was quite a site in the South — long known as the “Bible Belt.” The pair, Rose wearing a yarmulke, had just spent an hour together in a tent with former Catholic priest and scholar Paul Knitter discussing interreligious dialogue, and what it is they admire — even love — about each other’s faith traditions.

So it went on Day 3 of The Wild Goose Festival at Shakori Hills Farm, a rural section of Chatham County, not far from the bigger places — Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh. While Wild Goose is predominantly Christian, ecumenism and interfaith dialogue have been major themes of the four-day festival that may be the first of its kind in the U.S.

Smiling, sharing, babies in bathtubs, “Love Your Enemies” t-shirts, even “light and humorous” discussions on death. Sounds like some new connections were made.

Tags: Abdullah Antepli, Paul Knitter, Rabbi Or Rose, Wild Goose Festival