Interfaith Advice

Here are some things that readers have sent me over the last few days. First, the Reggie-inspired theme song for World Religion Day called One World, on YouTube. Then, if you are looking for somewhere to go while humming that tune, "Why I Believe: Journeys of Faith," a series of discussions responding to the New Atheists, taking place in Hamilton. Then, a new book on how to conduct yourself while at that meeting, called "What the World Needs to Know about Interfaith Dialogue," put out by my old buddy and eminent television personality, Dick Landau. If you cannot afford to spring for that, Ed sent me some rough and ready advice on interfaith interaction principles, taken from "Islam for Dummies."

 

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 World Religion Day Song, One World

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgYabZpne3A

 

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 Why I Believe: Journeys of Faith

 

  A two-part series sponsored by the Hamilton Interfaith Group,

  WED. MARCH 5 AND WED. APRIL 2, 2008, 7-9 PM,

  HAMILTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, 55 York Blvd

  (auditorium, first floor).

  Entrance is free. Refreshments provided.

  In an age when faith in God is being ridiculed, portrayed as a delusion, and religion in general is regarded with suspicion, why do people persevere in believing? What does religion or Faith offer to people? Why does it matter? This series invites individuals of various faith communities in Hamilton to discuss why they believe and why religion matters to them.

 

  SERIES PARTICIPANTS:

  March 5: Moderator: ANNE M. PEARSON

  RICHARD PRESTON, QUAKER

  YAHYA FADLALA, MUSLIM

  MAHENDRA DEONARAIN, HINDU

  JOY WARNER, CATHOLIC

 

  APRIL 2: Moderator: CHRISTOPHER CUTLER

  JOSEPH WOODS, BAHA'I

  SISTER TINH QUANG, BUDDHIST

  RABBI JORDAN COHEN, JEWISH

  For more information: email A. Pearson pearsonam@sympatico.ca or Chris Cutler christophercutt@gmail.com

 

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 "What the World Needs to Know about Interfaith Dialogue"

 

  by Richard M. Landau, MA

  Comprehensive ebook shows you how to build bridges between conflicting religions.

  Yes, it's true that many wars and conflicts have started over religion. Now here's an electronic book that shows you how purposeful inter-religious dialogue can actually bring about peace. The product of 25 years of research and practice, What the World Needs to Know about Interfaith Dialogue, is a comprehensive ebook that covers virtually every aspect of dialogue between diverse religious groups.

  blurb: "Finally someone has shown how the world religions can  work together for the common good. It's about time!"

  by Richard M. Landau, MA Toronto, Canada

  http://www.how-to-succeed-at-interfaith-dialogue.com/

 

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 Moving toward Religious Dialogue  Adapted From: Islam For Dummies

  Principles of dialogue

 Participation in a local interfaith organization is one of the better ways to get to know people of other religions, because you not only find out more about other religions, you also get to know people of differing faiths at the personal level. In this time of dialogue, keep in mind the following guidelines:

  Practicing fairness: Each side must represent the beliefs of the other side in a way that members of the other religion can affirm as accurate.

  Expressing empathy: Each side must make an honest effort to appreciate the appeal of the other religion to those who are attracted to it and to understand how the religion functions for its believers and makes sense to them.

  Avoiding misuse of scripture: In dialogue, you can't apply your own scripture to determine what's valid or invalid about beliefs of other side. If you do this, no dialogue takes place and each side quotes its own proof texts.

  Staying open to change and challenge: Participants don't want to simply repeat the party line of their religions without grappling with what the other side says. Otherwise, no dialogue occurs and two monologues that pass each other in the night.

  Steering clear of denunciations or debates: No dialogue takes place when one side wants only to denounce the positions of the other side. Dialogue isn't a debate in which one side tries to get the upper hand.

  Showing reciprocity: Apply the same standards to yourself, your own religion, and the scriptures that you apply to the religion of others.

  Avoiding preconditions: Preconditions declare the most crucial issues as settled or out of bounds before the discussion begins.

  Being cautious of sweeping generalizations (positive or negative): These obscure ambiguities and differences within either religion.

  Facing frankly areas of disagreement: Have a thick skin and don't get insulted too easily.

  Avoiding selective use of scripture, tradition, and history when discussing issues: An example is citing only those passages in the Qur'an that talk about violence and comparing them to only those passages in the Bible that talk about love and peace, or vice versa.