Outside the Walls of Museum of the Bible: Interreligious Dialogue, Library Initiatives and Societal Solidarity

Abstract

Museum of the Bible (MOTB) is a non-profit organization established in 2010 by the Green Family containing considerable accessioned and library collections of artefacts and rare books. MOTB’s efforts are consistently focused outside its walls and around the world with initiatives that invite dialogue between all back backgrounds and faith traditions.

MOTB exists to invite all people to engage with the Bible. Museum of the Bible acts as a catalyst to engage with the Bible by being inclusive and respectful to all, regardless of religion, cultural background or faith tradition. MOTB carries out its mission through curatorial exhibits, MOTB Radio Minute, scholarly endeavours, presentations, performances, artefact exchanges for exhibitions and events and initiatives that spark engagement and open discussion. Venues for these initiatives include museums, academic libraries, MOTB’s performing arts center and religious and political institutions, including American Presidential Libraries. Museum of the Bible engages with an ever-growing number of diverse communities by way of its accessioned and library collections to intentionally create biblical engagement and interreligious dialogue. Various requests and contexts allow for an abundance of open discussions pertaining to the world’s sacred and historical texts through initiatives of interreligious dialogue. This paper outlines some of these relevant library initiatives that Museum of the Bible actively engages in.