BYU NewsNet - Salt Lake Tabernacle opens doors to other faiths

By AMBER GILES

World-renowned Christian philosopher, Ravi Zacharias, spoke at the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City Wednesday morning.

At a press conference at the Standing Together Ministries in Salt Lake City, Pastor Greg Johnson, president of Standing Together, along with Robert Millet, Richard L. Evans Chair of Religious Understanding at Brigham Young University and other local Christian leaders, announced a three-part lectureship to be given by Dr. Ravi Zacharias Nov. 13-15 at the Tabernacle on Temple Square.

There are more than 50 churches and educational institutions inside and outside of Utah supporting this event.

This will be the last event held in the historic Tabernacle on Temple Square before its scheduled reconstruction.

Ravi, who has been referred to as "the C.S. Lewis of our time," will address the significance of Jesus Christ in light of current events and modern culture.

Ravi was born in India and was raised in the Hindu culture. He became a Christian as a teen and has become one of the most renown Christian scholars of our time.

In total, there have been over 10,000 tickets dispersed for the lectures that will be held at the Tabernacle, Kingsbury Hall, and the Weber State Ball Room. All tickets have been distributed but there will be a stand-by line.

Pastor Greg Johnson said that local community response has been overwhelming.

"We have had over 1,000 ticket requests just from our office that we cannot honor," Johnson said.

Robert Millet spoke of the historical significance of the lecture.

"We have two strong faith traditions who traditionally are prone to conflict working together," Millet said. "This is a great occasion where people who share common moral values can come together and address the significance of Jesus Christ."

Tobin Dixon, Campus Crusade for Christ at the University of Utah, encouraged people of all faiths to come with an open mind and willingness to learn.

"We pride ourselves as being a marketplace of ideas," Dixon said. "I hope 'truth seekers' will take the opportunity to learn from someone of the caliber of those they are studying in class."

Johnson spoke about some of the opposition that has been voiced.

"There is a conservative element who feel it is inappropriate to have this well-known speaker speak in the Tabernacle," said Johnson. "They are afraid there will have to be a compromising of ideals. I reject that completely. "

Johnson says that this is one more step to forging relationships between people of other faiths.

"It is possible to have meaningful relationships with people of other faiths," Johnson said. " We share common moral values and can learn from one another's beliefs and teachings."