Interfaith Dialogue at the Grass Roots

by Leonard Swidler (Preface), Rebecca Kratz Mays (Editor)

When diverse faiths come together the encounter can be intense, awkward, even violent, but creating a dialogue can help reconcile differences. We can sustain respect and create peace with "the other" without doing harm to the sincerity of our own particular religious tradition. In the process, everyone learns and grows, experiencing greater religious tolerance and understanding. The contributors to Interfaith Dialogue at the Grass Roots consider the patience and passion involved in promoting such interfaith activities. The essays seek to empower rabbis, imams, pastors, and their congregants to take up the work of interreligious dialogue as a peacemaking activity. The book provides guidelines for conducting interfaith encounters, showing how storytelling and conversations can make these meetings productive and constructive. Additional chapters reveal how to establish and inspire peace. Lastly, Joseph Stoutzenberger writes questions for reflection and suggestions for action at the end of each chapter. Contributors S. Mark Heim, Maria Hornung, Edith Howe, Michael S. Kogan, April Kunze, Khaleel Mohammed, Achmad Munjid, Eboo Patel, Marcia Prager, Noah Silverman, Joseph Stoutzenberger, Leonard Swidler, Racelle Weiman, Miriam Therese Winter, and the editor.

142 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Dr. Leonard Swidler is a global theologian who has pioneered and contributed to the field of interfaith dialogue for more than 50 years. He is Professor Emeritus of Religion at Temple University, founder of the Journal of Ecumenical Studies, and now teaches at the University of Sulaimani. The Dialogue Decalogue, his proposed interfaith dialogue, has been described as the most convincing theoretical basis for conducting Dialogue.