Food, Faith & Responsibility: Scriptural Reasoning Brings Faith Traditions Together
On August 25, 2026, Atlantic Institute’s Scriptural Reasoning series brought participants together in Jacksonville, Florida, to explore Food, Faith & Responsibility through readings from the Qur’an, the New Testament, and the Hebrew Bible. Hosted by The Point @ San Marco Presbyterian Church, the gathering offered an evening of learning, reflection, and interfaith dialogue in partnership with OneJax.
The conversation explored how sacred texts connect food with gratitude, freedom, and our obligations to others. Each reading offered a distinct perspective: the Qur’an invited reflection on food and creation as signs of God’s provision and wisdom; the New Testament prompted discussion about freedom and responsibility toward the conscience of others; and the Hebrew Bible opened a conversation about boundaries, responsibility, and the sacredness of life.
Together, these reflections raised a question that crossed religious traditions: How can we use the gifts we have been given—and the freedom we have—in ways that honor God and respect others?
Scriptural Reasoning gives participants an opportunity to read sacred texts together, ask questions, and listen to how others understand their traditions. The aim is to deepen understanding while allowing both shared values and meaningful differences to emerge through respectful conversation.
For Atlantic Institute, gatherings like this put our commitment to interfaith dialogue and intercultural understanding into practice. Exploring a familiar subject such as food through different religious perspectives creates opportunities for connection and thoughtful reflection on everyday choices.
We extend our sincere thanks to The Point @ San Marco Presbyterian Church for its warm hospitality, to OneJax for its partnership, and to everyone who contributed to the evening’s conversation
