The Faith Club: A Muslim, A Christian, A Jew--Three Women Search for Understanding

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The Faith Club: A Muslim, A Christian, A Jew--Three Women Search for Understanding

by Ranya Idliby, Priscilla Warner (Goodreads Author), Suzanne Oliver

3.72 of 5 stars 3.72 · rating details · 2,666 ratings · 649 reviews

""Welcome to the Faith Club. We're three mothers from three faiths -- Islam, Christianity, and Judaism -- who got together to write a picture book for our children that would highlight the connections between our religions. But no sooner had we started talking about our beliefs and how to explain them to our children than our differences led to misunderstandings. Our proje...more ""Welcome to the Faith Club. We're three mothers from three faiths -- Islam, Christianity, and Judaism -- who got together to write a picture book for our children that would highlight the connections between our religions. But no sooner had we started talking about our beliefs and how to explain them to our children than our differences led to misunderstandings. Our project nearly fell apart.""After September 11th, Ranya Idliby, an American Muslim of Palestinian descent, faced constant questions about Islam, God, and death from her children, the only Muslims in their classrooms. Inspired by a story about Muhammad, Ranya reached out to two other mothers -- a Christian and a Jew -- to try to understand and answer these questions for her children. After just a few meetings, however, it became clear that the women themselves needed an honest and open environment where they could admit -- and discuss -- their concerns, stereotypes, and misunderstandings about one another. After hours of soul-searching about the issues that divided them, Ranya, Suzanne, and Priscilla grew close enough to discover and explore what united them.

"The Faith Club" is a memoir of spiritual reflections in three voices that will make readers feel as if they are eavesdropping on the authors' private conversations, provocative discussions, and often controversial opinions and conclusions. The authors wrestle with the issues of anti-Semitism, prejudice against Muslims, and preconceptions of Christians at a time when fundamentalists dominate the public face of Christianity. They write beautifully and affectingly of their families, their losses and grief, their fears and hopes for themselves and their loved ones. And as the authors reveal their deepest beliefs, readers watch the blossoming of a profound interfaith friendship and the birth of a new way of relating to others.

In a final chapter, they provide detailed advice on how to start a faith club: the questions to ask, the books to read, and most important, the open-minded attitude to maintain in order to come through the experience with an enriched personal faith and understanding of others.

Pioneering, timely, and deeply thoughtful, "The Faith Club"'s caring message will resonate with people of all faiths.

For more information or to start your own faith club visit www.thefaithclub.com (less)

Hardcover, 320 pages

Published October 3rd 2006 by Free Press (first published 2006)

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Community Reviews

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Apr 12, 2008 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm struggling with the stars for this one....3 or 4, 4 or 3? I'm going with 4 because I simply could not put the book down and read it in one sitting last night. If that's not the sign of a good book, I don't know what is.

In the wake of 9/11, three women of three different faiths come together to discuss their religions, peel away the differences, and celebrate the commonalities. I think what made this book so readable and enjoyable for me is that all three women represent the liberal, non-fund...more

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May 25, 2008 Yosafbridg rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own-and-read

"A Muslim, a Christian, and a Jew walk into a room..."

Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver, and Pricilla Warner were virtual strangers brought together by their mutual desire to write a picture book for their children which would highlight the connections between the three Abrahamic faiths. Their talks soon led to more misunderstandings than connections so they decided to further investigate their own stereotypes and preconceptions. They continued their meetings recording each one and keeping individua...more

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Oct 20, 2012 Jeanne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I began reading this book after spending a semester exploring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with my students. I am currently a bit over half way through the book. It has provided the personal continuation and exploration that I needed following our studies. The book is written as a shifting three-person memoir based on the women's meetings, offering individual perspectives on their encounters and explorations of their faith. In some ways, I fear I am reading the book too quickly; many questio...more

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Aug 06, 2008 Lisa Beyeler rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: thought-provoking

Not a crushing heavy read captivating so far.

Finished this journey. I firmly believe that we all need to be having interfaith conversations with others to irradicate prejudice and learn to live in harmony. I was itching to call a faith club meeting by the end of the book and drive up and chat with these ladies, but the whole idea was that you have to own a discussion like that and grow with it. I love that all three were challenged to learn more about their own faiths in order to explain and sha...more

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Feb 11, 2008 Graham Harrelson rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was a gift to me from my mother. She has read it. My sister has read it. And now me.

Religion is an interesting and tricky thing in New York City, especially when you're from the South where everyone goes to church and pretty much considers themselves Christian (Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, etc...). I consider myself very open-minded when it comes to religion and people's spiritual preferences, but The Faith Club certainly made me unearth some of the subconscious ste...more

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May 08, 2007 Andrea Rockel rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have put off writing about this book, not because it wasn’t interesting to read, but I just don’t know what to say about it. It’s bascially set up as a conversation between three women of different faiths (Islam, Christianity and Judaism, respectively to their position as authors), as they break down prejudices and develop friendships in spite of their differences. It was definitely informative, especially on issues surrounding the Israeli/Palestinian conflict (about which I’ve realized I know...more

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Jul 31, 2008 Bonniemk rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved this type of religious/spiritual dialogue. I do not agree with the position that it was a diluting or watering down of respective religions. We all come from the Abrahamic line so why not explore the relationships and bridge the misunderstandings? Yes our beliefs may differ, especially with regards to Christ's divinity, but an understanding of another's belief and culture is enriching and need not be devisive to our own faith. There is so much to learn and understand in eachother. It is...more

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Nov 24, 2008 Gwenda rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

As I read through this book, I was quite frequently upset with these three women and the way they approached their religions. None of them were particularly converted to their faith in the first place; the Jewish woman really only knew the social aspects of being a Jew and not the religious ones; the Muslim woman did not accept many aspects of her religion; the Christian woman seemed most converted (she had changed from being a Catholic to being an Episcopalian because she felt the Catholic chur...more

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May 05, 2008 Chadijah Mastura rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: alreadyread

As a Muslim living in the Western world, I could totally relate to Ranya Idliby, the Palestinian Muslim woman representing the Muslim voice in this book. And, amazingly, she could utter a calm, reasonable, and relaxing voice, even though as a displaced Palestinian she had experienced the biggest impact of the harsh religious-political conflicts. And as she made the spiritual journey through this interfaith dialogue, I felt also enlightened by the outlook of her Christian and Judaism friends. As...more

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Jul 13, 2008 Anne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: trying-to-be-a-better-person

This book is very interesting, but it's not a quick, easy read as there is no plot. You are basically just reading the thoughts and conversations of three women as they work to discover what their religion means to them and what they think about others' religions.
I would really like to be involved in a book discussion with some other people while reading this book as there is a lot of things (history) that I don't understand. (Yeah, I wasn't into Social Studies and History when in school and now...more

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Aug 23, 2008 Sandy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: religion, non-fiction

Sounding a bit like a bad joke--a Jew, a Muslim and a Christian sit down to talk about faith--this book was actually pretty good. Three women of different faiths wanted to write a children's book in the wake of 9/11. But it turns out that they didn't understand each other's faiths and didn't really trust each other. Probably not the best start for a book project.

So they spent the next couple of years talking about different questions of faith--learning, growing, and, yes, ocassionally getting ma...more

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Oct 02, 2007 Aimee rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: EVERYONE

Shelves: philosophy

See, the thing is... I loved this book because the three of them were able to discuss the differences in their religions, in their cultures and ways of thinking and approaches to life which were very DIFFERENT, but fundamentally based on similar teachings as 'people of the book,' and to face their prejudice and their fear and their criticism of themselves and others and STILL REMAIN FRIENDS!!!!!!!! Isn't that awesome? Those who know me may balk at the idea, but the book was truly beautiful to me...more

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Nov 24, 2008 Karma rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Karma by: Ashley - thanks!

What an experience reading this book was. This book is the journey three women took in creatin a Faith Club; adddressing the differences and similarities in their three faiths. Feeling like I was intimately involved in the religious journey of these three women; yet experiencing my own simultaneously. Mostly this book reaffirmed a belief I have held most of my adult life - all major religions have God's word and that God is my Father who loves me and all of his children. This book forced me to l...more What an experience reading this book was. This book is the journey three women took in creatin a Faith Club; adddressing the differences and similarities in their three faiths. Feeling like I was intimately involved in the religious journey of these three women; yet experiencing my own simultaneously. Mostly this book reaffirmed a belief I have held most of my adult life - all major religions have God's word and that God is my Father who loves me and all of his children. This book forced me to look more intensely at my own stereotypes and misconceptions. I have to admit, my view of Islam was mostly a negative one involving extremists and terrorists. I was very interested in just how interconnected Christianity, Judiasm, and Islam are at the core of their beliefs. The beginings of all three religions are rooted in the same things. I have always tried to teach my children that although we believe we have the gospel fullness, restored to the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith; other religions have truth and the Holy Ghost gives all people comfort and reinforces truth.

I was very sad for all three women at different times in the book. Priscilla lives with a fear of death and the lack of an afterlife. How grateful I am that I really do know what comes after death. I have never been so completely grateful for the plan of salvation and my knowledge of what came before we were born, the purpose in life on earth, and what comes when we die. I do not fear death - I know I will be with those I love and we will be very very busy, no sitting on clouds for me. I was also privlidged to teach a lesson on the three degrees of glory a few weeks before reading this book. The prophet Joseph Smith is quite clear regarding who will go to each Kingdom. I spent most of my youth and early adult years fearing the day of Judgement. This lesson was the greatest lesson of Hope - when I clearly saw who will go to each Kingdom, all fear left for good.

I was also very sad for Ranya and her need for and dislike of organized religion and the ceremony of it all. I felt a real gratitude for the ceremonies I am blessed enough to have in my life. How grateful I am that I am able to partake of the sacrament each week and renew my promises to our Savior. How grateful I am for my ability to attend the Temple and renew my commitments and be reminded of the importance of the journey we are all living.

I found this a very real, relatable religious experience and interesting look into the beliefs of others. I have a new respect for those of the Jewish and Islamic faiths. I also felt very blessed that I do not suffer the doubts and concerns these women delt with. It has been many many years since I have doubted the truthfullness of the gospel. I am grateful for a living prophet who recieves revelation for us today. Yesterday, as I read the conference talk Pres. Monson gave last Conference my heart was filled with warmth and love. What a beatiful message of love, joy and peace, given at a time when many are filled with fear. Heavenly Father loves us; it is as simple as that. (less)

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Jun 26, 2012 Jennybug rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-club, books-read-in-2012

I really liked this book it was very thought provoking. It is a the perfect book to discuss at book club. Some people liked it, some didn't finish it, and others really enjoyed it. I think that it was a really good book that allowed everyone to share their opinions and ideas.

It really got me to thinking. I actually marked it up with quite a few post its.

Pg 8 "Where was God on September 11th?" Some people could feel God comforting them others felt alone.

Pg 41 "This has always been a powerful m...more

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Oct 19, 2011 Therese rated it 4 of 5 stars

Read for book club (5/2011). With this one the title says it "A Muslim, A Christian, A Jew--Three Women Search for Understanding." That is the book in a nutshell. I found it very interesting and definitely both learned a good deal and could identify with each woman in different ways. I think in absence of women of different faiths that one can chat candidly with, the book is a fun substitute. They talk about their doubts, the strengths and weaknesses they perceive in each others religions and th...more

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Jul 19, 2011 Erika rated it 3 of 5 stars

An interesting and pleasant read. The authors are likeable, although some readers might be a little annoyed by the fact that they seem to have very comfortable wealthy New York lives and plenty of leisure time to pursue the hobby of faith exploration. Great section at the back of the book with guidance for starting a faith club for those interested, and questions that would come in handy to guide a book club discussion.

People coming to the book with strong religious convictions of their own mig...more

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Apr 01, 2011 pianogal rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian, non-fiction, sb-book-club

This book left me with a bad taste in my mouth. It seemed like a very strong Christian woman got together with a searching Muslim and a lapsed Jew. Instead of her pulling them stronger into their faiths (not converting just supporting), and showing them see how to be (in their respective faiths) by example, they seemed to pull her out of hers.

It shocked me that the Jewish woman didn't know the phrase "chosen people." Seriously, you went to Hebrew Day School and never heard that you were the "cho...more

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Mar 02, 2011 Jennifer Willis rated it 4 of 5 stars

It took me a few years, but I finally made time to read The Faith Club written by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver and Priscilla Warner. Just a few pages in, I found myself wondering why I’d put this off for so long.

In the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, three women — a Muslim, a Christian, and a Jew — began meeting in hopes of writing a children’s book that would explain the intersection of their faiths, but they first had to honestly understand and appreciate each other’s points of view....more It took me a few years, but I finally made time to read The Faith Club written by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver and Priscilla Warner. Just a few pages in, I found myself wondering why I’d put this off for so long.

In the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, three women — a Muslim, a Christian, and a Jew — began meeting in hopes of writing a children’s book that would explain the intersection of their faiths, but they first had to honestly understand and appreciate each other’s points of view. These gatherings rotated between their homes as they started to ask each other some really tough questions, delving into all the stereotypes, misunderstandings and more that have existed between the “Big Three” Abrahamic faiths for generations. The women began to refer to their three-person group as the “Faith Club,” and accompanied each other to religious services and along some of life’s more difficult journeys.

I’d checked this book out of the library several times over the years, but it always ended up being returned, unread.

Then, earlier this year, I got an email from my boyfriend’s sister, Doreen, who has been living in Nigeria the past couple of years while her husband is on work assignment there. She is a woman if faith herself, and she had reached out to me — a new Jew — to launch an interfaith dialogue. She wrote to me excitedly about a Muslim woman who had come to her Bible study group, looking to better understand Christianity and dispel misconceptions about her own faith. Wanting to form a women-specific interfaith group around the Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, Doreen asked me to join as the Jewish member.

I declined — I figured such a group would be better served by someone who could meet with them face-to-face, rather than always corresponding via email or the occasional telephone call — but I was immediately reminded of this still unread book that I kept checking out of the library. I recommended The Faith Club to Doreen — and knew that I’d better read it, too.

As a religious studies scholar and seminary-trained interfaith minister, I’m always a fan on honest and open dialogue between members of different religions. There’s a lot of sensitivity and compassion that are required for such conversations to succeed, and I know that for many, interfaith discussions can all too often end up feeling like walking on eggshells as participants navigate around sure-fire pitfalls and steer the conversation away from areas of controversy.

What struck me most about this book was the fact that these women agreed on a no-holds-bar approach to their conversations. They gave themselves — and each other — permission to admit their fears, vent their frustrations, and ask any and every question about each other’s faith that happened to occur to them. A lot of these in-your-face, challenging questions wouldn’t have gone over so well at a congenial interfaith breakfast, let me tell you. But these three women stuck with each other, arguing, laughing and struggling their way through to real understanding, and real friendship.

It’s an incredibly inspirational book, and not in a candy-coated, feel-good kind of way. Instead, it was the brutal honesty that drew me into this book, as these women laid their conversations and personal life details on the line. Keep in mind that they were having these conversations in New York City very soon after the terrorist attacks. They were dealing not only with their own emotional fallout, but with the reactions of their children, their family and friends, and all the crises of life that arise even when you’re not in the midst of a national crisis.

My only disappointment was that I’d not cracked this book open earlier.(less)

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May 26, 2010 Nancy rated it 3 of 5 stars

My daughter is out of town for the summer and I am housing her many, many books. Luckily for me, we have similar (but not identical) interests, so the storage fee I am charging is...well, I get to read all her books. The Faith Club is one of hers - a journal of three women (Christian Suzanne, Jewish Priscilla and Muslim Ranya) who form a "faith club" to understand each others' faiths better, and to see if they can discover ways in which those faiths intersect and teach truths that seem universal...more My daughter is out of town for the summer and I am housing her many, many books. Luckily for me, we have similar (but not identical) interests, so the storage fee I am charging is...well, I get to read all her books. The Faith Club is one of hers - a journal of three women (Christian Suzanne, Jewish Priscilla and Muslim Ranya) who form a "faith club" to understand each others' faiths better, and to see if they can discover ways in which those faiths intersect and teach truths that seem universal to all three.

So, I am interested in all things spiritual, and I love the idea of this kind of group - but I was a little bit disappointed in this book. In retrospect, I think I started with some preconceptions of who these women were - I imagined them well-versed in their own faiths, even if they were somewhat ignorant about the others. Nope. Not the case. Throughout the book, they kept bringing up issues that divided them and I kept wanting to yell, "No, stop it! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT." Because seriously - they really didn't. Because I am a Christian (and, full disclosure: Catholic), I was particularly put off by Suzanne's take on her Christian faith, which I found simplistic and concrete.

But I am glad I didn't write this review before finishing the book. Because kudos to them! They started reading! And by the end of the book I felt much more engaged with them, and thought that their insights were far deeper, far more mature. But you know that Suzanne woman? She's a former Catholic and she REALLY needs to stop slapping the Catholics upside the head every chance she gets. Her ignorance of Catholic theology, despite her reported 12 years of Catholic education, is abysmal. In addition to learning about Judaism and Islam, it wouldn't hurt her to confront her own ignorance about her former faith - and do a little bit more reading about it. But I love Ranya! And I'm so glad that they offered a reading list for Islam - I am looking forward to sampling it.(less)

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May 15, 2010 Charlotte rated it 4 of 5 stars

After visiting the web site for The Faith Club at http://www.thefaithclub.com/ I clicked on the hyperlink on that site to take me to an interview on the Diane Rehm Show. I was glad to hear that I had been pronouncing Ranya's first name correctly - or at least the way Diane pronounces it. I had been pronouncing Muslim very much like muslin (the cloth people used to use on the back of quilts) until I bumped into a tv show where I heard it pronounced Mooslum. I then tried to switch to that way of...more

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Dec 15, 2009 Kristie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Mom, thanks for sending me the book. :)

When I taught high school English, I tried to have class discussions about the books we read. The boys would have a hot debate by arguing and sometimes even yelling to make their points. They wanted to "win." The girls, on the other hand, were eager to agree. They would rarely challenge another girl on a point and they would try as hard as they could to find "common ground."

I think a similar problem occurs in this book. The three women are so eager to agre...more

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Jun 11, 2009 EJ Johnson rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: adults

Recommended to EJ by: Good reads Discussion Group The Complete Idiots Guide to the Ult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The book is easy to read because it is arranged in short sections written expertly by each of the three professional writers. When Ranya became worried that her children would have trouble growing up Muslim in a post 9/11 America, she decided to write a children's book showing the similarities between Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. To achieve that, she found two other women to work with her. As a result, they formed a Faith Club where they met regularly to discuss religion, faith, life and Go...more The book is easy to read because it is arranged in short sections written expertly by each of the three professional writers. When Ranya became worried that her children would have trouble growing up Muslim in a post 9/11 America, she decided to write a children's book showing the similarities between Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. To achieve that, she found two other women to work with her. As a result, they formed a Faith Club where they met regularly to discuss religion, faith, life and God. They developed a strong friendship that enriched all their lives as well as their families and associates. As you read the book you feel like you are on their journey with them. They have an ability to write well of deep spiritual feelings. The whole book is not positive however and I would classify it as a tragedy. I didn't like the three women in the beginning. All identified themselves with a particular religion but seemed to think their religion should mold itself to their wants no matter what truth might be. It made me think of a math student who decides 2 + 2 = 5 and refuses to stay in a math class unless the teacher teaches what he/she wants to hear. The book starts out with an introductory statement by each of the writers. When they write of their first meeting, we see the state of religion in America when Suzanne apologizes because she was raised in a nice, Christian, praying, midwestern family. Priscilla's statements offended me often in the beginning. She was determined to be a victim and to blame the whole of Christianity for historical Jewish problems. However, her experiences developing faith in God were some of the most touching and I saw a real peacefulness enter her writing as she developed. In the end Ranya and Priscilla win by Ranya finding an Islamic community consistent with her beliefs and Priscilla finding humility and God. But the tragedy was Suzanne. Throughout the book as she became more tolerant of Islam and Judaism, she became more prejudiced against Catholism and eventually Christianity. Because her two friends were loving and kind but did not believe in Jesus Christ's divinity, Suzanne eventually lost her faith in Him as God's Son and in His redeeming death and resurrection. Though sad in the end, it was a very good book that taught me much about Islam, Judiasm, and Christianity throught the eyes of these women and their Faith Club.(less)

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Dec 31, 2011 Lisa (Harmonybites) rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

Recommended to Lisa (Harmonybites) by: The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Ultimate Reading List

Shelves: biography, chick-lit, contemporary, memoir, non-fiction, religion, reference, spirituality, ultimate-reading-list

In the wake of 9/11, Ranya Idliby, a Muslim American of Palestinian descent was inspired by a passage in the Koran about Muhammad's Night Flight to write a children's interfaith book about the commonalities between Judaism, Christianity and Islam. She recruits two other mothers in the New York City area to help her write the book, Priscilla, a Reform Jew, and Suzanne, a Episcopalian Christian who was raised a Catholic. They find that before they can find common ground, they have to work through...more In the wake of 9/11, Ranya Idliby, a Muslim American of Palestinian descent was inspired by a passage in the Koran about Muhammad's Night Flight to write a children's interfaith book about the commonalities between Judaism, Christianity and Islam. She recruits two other mothers in the New York City area to help her write the book, Priscilla, a Reform Jew, and Suzanne, a Episcopalian Christian who was raised a Catholic. They find that before they can find common ground, they have to work through their differences. The book consists of their three intertwined first person narratives and snatches of transcripts of their conversations as they come together and clash and try to understand each other. I was raised as a Catholic and as an American I'm steeped in an overwhelmingly Christian culture. As a native New Yorker Judaism is also a religion that has represented something familiar and respected to me--I've had close Jewish friends and mentors, and I admit by and large I'm a fan of Israel. Nothing imparted about Christianity or Judaism or the views expressed by Priscilla or Suzanne surprised or challenged me.

That leaves Islam, which I'm a lot less familiar with. I can't say I've ever personally known a Muslim. Ranya Idliby says "When Americans think of Islam, they think of terrorism, fanatics, abused women, spoiled rich Arabs, a religion of the sword spread by the sword." Guilty. I admit I have a lot to learn about Islam. I had read the Koran, well before 9/11, but I didn't get much out of it. Unlike Judaism and Christianity, I just didn't have the cultural context to. I admit of the three women, I found myself most resistant to Ranya's representations of her faith. When Ranya speaks of her unhappiness with how many Americans see Muhammad as a fraud who plagiarized Jewish and Christian texts, I have to admit that isn't far from what I believe. And Muhammad from what I've read was a warlord--a man who did impose his religion by force--Ranya herself alludes to that military aspect elliptically a few times while at the same time calling Muhammad "a man of peace." Ranya claims Islam is a tolerant religion from which you can "come and go"--yet I've heard that in countries following Shari'a law that you can be executed for converting people from Islam. Ranya does go into the distinction between the Wahabi Islam that has promoted fundamentalism and militarist Jihad and a more peaceful, moderate tradition, but I admit I ended the book still skeptical--but at least curious and wishing to put a biography of Muhammad on my reading list. Perhaps the one by Armstrong recommended in the bibliography.

Yet at the same time it was easy to identify with Ranya and feel sympathy for the prejudice she had encountered. I was moved by the tale of how her family was driven out of Palestine and were unable to return, and yet unable to settle in Jordan and Kuwait but were made to feel like outsiders. She made me think about Israeli policy and feel for the displaced Palestinians. And she made at least her way of being Muslim sound very appealing. Ranya spoke of Islam's simplicity--about there being no Bar Mitzvah or Baptism making you a Muslim, but simply stating you recognize only one God, and that Muhammad is his prophet. That especially if you're a Sunni Muslim, that there is nothing standing between you and how you interpret the word of God and how you decide to worship. That as long as you acknowledge God, it doesn't really matter to your salvation whether you're a Jew, a Christian, or a Muslim nor can you be labeled an "infidel"--all three faiths are "people of the book." How a Muslim finds the proof of God in the beauty and order of the universe. And when Ranya spoke of her difficulties in finding a mosque that speaks to her needs to be part of a Muslim community in tune with her beliefs, I felt more than a bit of shame for my fellow New Yorkers' resistance against having a mosque go up near Ground Zero. All the more because her pastor, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, is involved. So Ranya's musings definitely was the portion of the book I found most valuable, where I found not just the most answers but questions.

It's probably no accident given their search for common ground that each was a rather liberal representative of her religion. Priscilla following Reform Judaism but unsure of her God, Ranya sure of her faith in God but Mosque-less, and Suzanne a convert to one of the most socially and theologically liberal Christian denominations. Each women definitely touched me, spoke to me. I identified with their emotions in the wake of 9/11, and the challenges of their lives as they grappled with questions about dying, good and evil, dealing with tradition and stereotypes and pressures to conform. I was moved by how their collaboration became a friendship that changed each of them. These women could be my neighbors and their journey together is more meaningful to me than some doctrinaire book by a imam, minister and rabbi. Now, this book isn't going to give you an in-depth grounding in Judaism, Christianity or Islam. No question. But this makes a good beginning at least in imparting what the three religions have in common and what divides them. It should pique your interest to learn more, and the bibliography at the end of the book is a good place to start.(less)

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Oct 16, 2010 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, read-in-2010

This was a really interesting read...

Three women from three different faiths get together to talk about their respective beliefs. It was informative, because I learned things about some of them that I didn't know. The overall message; that they all pray to the same god, and all have the same BASIC beliefs was a good one, but one I already knew. As an atheist, it's really annoying to watch religions bicker with one another, so that part of the book was refreshing. I especially liked that they all...more

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Aug 30, 2010 Laura rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction, world-religions, biography

I left this book thinking...I'm glad for these three women that they developed a friendship founded on interesting, courageous conversations. I appreciate the honesty of these authors in attempting to self-examine the stereotypes they individually hold and apply to others.

However, as a reader, the premise of the book would be more interesting if the three conversationalists held strong, traditional beliefs in their respective religions. These authors promote instead a 'universalist' approach of...more

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Jan 02, 2012 Linda rated it 3 of 5 stars

After 9/11, Idliby, an American Muslim, searched for ways to answer her children’s questions about Islam. She conceived the idea of writing a children’s book about the differences and similarities between Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, and found two other mothers who were interested in the project. As the women of the three different faiths began to meet and talk, it became clear that each had prejudices and misconceptions about the other faiths, and the Faith Club was born. For over a year...more

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Jul 11, 2011 Dana rated it 5 of 5 stars

I just finished reading this book and it has really made me think. A lot. I personally am a Jew - raised in the Reform Jewish religion, and I became a born again Christian 20 years ago when I was 27 years old. So, I know about the Jewish and Christian points of view that are presented in the book. I know very little, however, about the Muslim religion. I read the books "Three Cups of Tea" and "Stones Into Schools" this year and they gave me more insight into the Muslim religion than I had before...more I just finished reading this book and it has really made me think. A lot. I personally am a Jew - raised in the Reform Jewish religion, and I became a born again Christian 20 years ago when I was 27 years old. So, I know about the Jewish and Christian points of view that are presented in the book. I know very little, however, about the Muslim religion. I read the books "Three Cups of Tea" and "Stones Into Schools" this year and they gave me more insight into the Muslim religion than I had before and this book has taught me even more.
After 911, Rayna, the Muslim mother in this book had decided to try to write a book for children about the connections between the Muslim, Jewish, and Christian religions, so she mentioned that idea to a Christian friend of hers - Suzanne, who then contacted Pricilla, a friend of a friend who happened to be a Jewish mother who was an author. I guess they never wrote a children's book, but this book is about their "Faith Club" as they call themselves and their discussions of the three major world religions that they had together and how their relationship changed all of their views of the three religions as they got to know one another over a few years.

Interestingly, none of these three women are or were very fundamentalist in their religions. Had they been, I doubt they could have had the relationship that they do. To me, Suzanne an Pricilla seem to be pretty typical representatives of the Christian and Jewish religions as I know them. I am not sure about Rayna since I really don't have any friends who are Muslim. She talks a lot in the book about her difficulty in finding like-minded Muslims who are not fundamentalist and radical in their views which makes me think, sadly, that she may be more atypical than typical as a representative of her religion.

I identify very much with Priscilla, because my Jewish background has highly influenced my understanding of God even though I am a born again Christian. Like Priscilla, I am unsure if there is an afterlife, because the Jewish religion does not focus on or teach about that. I have long wondered how the Christian religion can claim to be the "fulfillment" of the Jewish religion when they focus so much on the afterlife which is not even a major part of the Jewish religion, nor is there a concensus on it as part of the Jewish religious beliefs. Like Priscilla, I also have high blood pressure and expect to have my medication for that changed soon.
I understand the feeling of being a minority and the influence of the Holocaust.

I enjoy the explanation of the Muslim religion that Rayna shares and Suzanne's journey to accept the other two religions.

I think that this is a very good book and I highly recommend it.(less)

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Mar 05, 2013 Kent District Library added it

Shelves: adult-nonfiction, staff-picks-2013

: The Faith Club: A Muslim, a Christian, a Jew – Three Women Search for Understanding by Ranya Idliby, Priscilla Warner and Suzanne Oliver – “After September 11th, Ranya Idliby, an American Muslim of Palestinian descent, faced constant questions about Islam, God, and death from her children, the only Muslims in their classrooms. Inspired by a story about Muhammad, Ranya reached out to two other mothers -- a Christian and a Jew -- to try to understand and answer these questions for her children....more

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Apr 06, 2008 Dana rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book makes me optimistic about peace - at least in this country. Other books make it clear that the issues are so complex, we may never achieve peace in the middle east or in other regions. However, these 3 women work hard and dig deep to discover what we, humankind, have in common. There is a chance that through continued dialogue and understanding, our children here in the US may coexist peacefully regardless of their faith.

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Feb 20, 2011 Marty rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read this book for the Book Discussion Group at our winter residence, Sun 'n Fun RV Resort. The club reads one book a month, Jan - April, when the park is most fully occupied. The group has been in existence for over 20 years. I would never have picked up this book on my own, so I will be eternally grateful that it was selected by this group for February. I almost didn't finish it because we were very busy this month and I was slow getting it from the library. The Faith Club is a very personal...more

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“this sounds a little simple, but I think if we didnt know illness we wouldnt really feel the exhiliration of good health. and if we never cried, we wouldnt be able to recognize joy. in a way, the good only gains value when it is contrasted with the bad” — 11 people liked it

“I thank you, God, who lives always, and Who, as i awaken, has in mercy returned my soul to me; we can ever trust in you.” — 6 people liked it

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