HARTFORD, CT. — In a quiet hall at Hartford International University on Tuesday, October 7, 2026, an interfaith gathering unfolded with a sense of calm curiosity. Students from multiple religious backgrounds sat together as five guest speakers were invited to reflect on what “worship” means within their respective traditions. Among them was Dion Ginanto, an assistant professor from UIN Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi, Indonesia, participating in a visiting‑scholar program sponsored by the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs.
The event, known as Community Prayer, is a regular feature at HIU, an institution long recognized for its commitment to interreligious dialogue. President Sherry L. Turner was present, listening attentively as each speaker offered a personal and theological window into their faith.
A Story of Faith and Family Across Traditions
When it was his turn to speak, Ginanto began not with doctrine, but with a family story. He described growing up in a household shaped by two traditions: a Catholic lineage from his father’s side and Islam practiced by his mother. Religious holidays, he recalled, were moments of visiting one another, sharing meals, and learning to see devotion through more than one lens.
He then turned to a well‑known Islamic teaching: the Prophet Muhammad’s saying, “innamal a’malu binniyah” — actions are judged by intention. For Ginanto, the idea that worship begins with sincerity offered a bridge between traditions. “If one’s intention is directed toward God,” he explained, “then every act, every gesture, can carry the value of worship.”
During the program, each speaker not only described the meaning of worship in their tradition but also demonstrated or symbolically represented it before the audience. The atmosphere, attendees noted, was one of mutual respect rather than comparison.
A Scholar’s Role in a Larger Exchange
Ginanto’s participation is part of a broader initiative by the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs, which sends scholars abroad to engage with international academic communities. At HIU, visiting scholars often serve as guest lecturers or speakers, contributing perspectives from Southeast Asia to the university’s longstanding interfaith mission.
A Moment of Gratitude
After the event, Ginanto reflected on the experience. “I am deeply honored to share in an interfaith gathering at HIU,” he said. “Opportunities like this; where people exchange knowledge across religious traditions, strengthen our shared commitment to tolerance.”
