interfaith

The term interfaith or interfaith dialogue refers to cooperative and positive interaction between people of different religious traditions, (ie. "faiths") at both the individual and institutional level with the aim of deriving a common ground in belief through a concentration on similarities between faiths.

It is distinct from syncretism or alternative religion, in that dialogue often involves promoting understanding between different religions to increase "tolerance" towards others, rather than to synthesize new beliefs. The history of religion shows that conflict has been more the state of affairs than dialogue.

The term interreligious relations refers to relationships between religions, (rel. comparative religion).

History of Interfaith dialogue

• Early 20th Century - dialogue started to take place between the Abrahamic faiths - Christianity, Judaism and Islam (see Hanif) ^{[citation needed]}
• The 1960s - Interfaith movement gathered interest. ^{[citation needed]}
  • 1965 - the Roman Catholic Church issued the Vatican II document Nostra Aetate, instituting major policy changes in the Catholic Church's policy towards non-Christian religions.
  • Late 1960s Interfaith groups joined around Civil Rights issues for African-Americans and later were often vocal in their opposition to the Vietnam War ^{[citation needed]}.

Interfaith and different religions

Dialogue between Judaism, Christianity and Islam

Michael Wyschogrod, an American professor of philosophy, has claimed that there are just as many theoretical or creedal reasons for Muslims and Jews drawing closer to one another as there are for Jews and Christians coming together.

Judaism

Despite the claims made by the organisations that claim to represent Jewry as a whole, the vast majority of Orthodox Jews and their rabbinic leaders have consistently refused to participate in such activities, and such participation has been almost exclusively the province of the factions known as Reform Judaism and Conservative Judaism, which are regarded by Orthodox Jews as deviating from Jewish tradition. Orthodox Jews regard those who do take part in these groups as violating the principle of the absolute truth of the Torah, the Jewish tradition, for the premise of interfaith dialogue is that all religions are equally legitimate and none possesses absolute truth. Relevant links: First part of letter from the Lubavitcher Rebbe continued in part two.

Bahá'í Faith

Main article: Bahá'í Faith and the unity of religion

Interfaith and multi-faith interactivity is integral to the teachings of the Bahá'í Faith. Its founder Bahá'u'lláh enjoined his followers to "consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship."^[1] Bahá'ís are often at the forefront of local inter-faith activities and efforts. Through the Bahá'í International Community agency, the Bahá'ís also participate at a global level in inter-religious dialogue both through and outside of the United Nations processes.

In 2002 the Universal House of Justice, the global governing body of the Bahá'ís issued a letter^[2] to the religious leadership of all faiths in which it identified religious prejudice as one of the last remaining "isms" to be overcome, enjoining such leaders to unite in an effort to root out extreme and divisive religious intolerance.

Interfaith organisations

Among the several organizations interested in interfaith dialog, The Institute of Interfaith Dialog has been very active in the different states of the US. With about 15 branches in several states including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Kansas; IID (The Institute of Interfaith Dialog) organizes interfaith dinners, intercultura trips, conferences, panel discussions in these states.

While there are many basically religious organizations geared to working on interfaith issues (see Interreligious organisations) there is also a less common attempt by some governmental institutions to specifically address the diversity of religions (see Australasian Police Multicultural Advisory Bureau for one award winning example.)

In India, many organizations have been involved in interfaith activities because of that India is a country in which there may all religions and faiths of the world. Indialogue Foundation is also very influental interfaith and intercultural dialogue and peace foundation of India.

In Turkey, Writers and Journalists Foundation of Turkey is also very active in interfaith activities.

See also

• Christianity and politics
• Christian-Jewish reconciliation
• Daughters of Abraham
• Ecumenism (Christian)
• Jewish views of religious pluralism
• Parliament of the World's Religions
• Interfaith Alliance UK
• Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue
• Relations between Catholicism and Judaism
• Scriptural Reasoning
• World Council of Churches
• United Religions Initiative
• Saltley Gate Peace Group
• Fethullah Gulen
• Roland de Corneille

References

1. ^ Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, page 22, Bahá'u'lláh, From the "Bishárát" (Glad-Tidings).
2. ^ *Universal House of Justice (2002). Letter to the World's Religious Leaders. Bahá'í World Centre. 

External links

• Lehigh Dialogue Center

• The Institute of Interfaith Dialog

• Interfaith Voices: A public radio show promoting religious harmony and interfaith understanding

• The Canadian Institute of Interfaith Dialogue

• The Inter Faith Network for the UK

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