Interreligious Friendship After Nostra Aetate - (Interreligious Studies in Theory and Practice) by J Fredericks & T Tiemeier (Paperback)

About the Book

"Bringing together top Catholic theologians in the fields of interreligious dialogue and comparative theology, the book explores the ways in which personal relationships and the 'dialogue of life' are essential for theology. Here, Catholic theologians tell the personal stories of their interreligious friendships and explore the significance of their friendships for their own life and work, filling a major hole in theological endeavors. Comparative and interreligious theologies have positioned themselves as more concrete and engaged alternatives to the theology of religions, a field that articulates a theological system for understanding religions other than one's own. Yet, comparative theology has been reserved for a select few specialists, while academic interreligious dialogue all too often focuses on the theologies and practices of religions without engaging people concretely in their lives. "--

Book Synopsis

Interreligious Friendships after Nostra Aetate explores the ways in which personal relationships are essential for theology. Catholic theologians tell the personal stories of their interreligious friendships and explore the significance of their friendships for their own life and work.

Review Quotes

"This book is a substantial addition to growing body of literature on interreligious studies. Readers who are interested in interreligious dialogue and relations may benefit from these personal accounts. And hopefully, these stories will inspire further interreligious exchange and dialogues of life and collaboration." (S. J. Anh Q. Tran, Theological Studies, Vol. 77 (1), 2016)

"Interreligious Friendship after Nostra Aetate appears at an especially propitious moment, and it adds to the literature in the area of interreligious dialogue in significant ways. At a time in which interreligious misunderstanding on a global scale is heightening tensions among faith groups and leading to polarization and violence, contributions like this book will help foster greater understanding. This is an important and valuable project that will be useful ina variety of contexts and for a broad range of readers. This volume will also be useful in interreligious dialogue at the level of grassroots communities, congregations, and other faith groups." - Jean-Pierre Ruiz, S.T.D., Associate Professor and Senior Research Fellow, Vincentian Center for Church and Society, Department of Theology & Religious Studies St. John's University, USA

"This is a truly extraordinary book. The authors describe in detail, with insight, gratitude, and discretion, close friendships they have experienced with believers in other religions. Written with love, these stories prove that deep friendships do not require agreement so much as reverence, genuine affection, and even a shared silence before the sacred." - Fr. James L. Heft, S.M., Alton Brooks Professor of Religion, University of Southern California, USA, and President of the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies

"When discussions plumb the depths of our deepest convictions, the virtuesand graces of friendship open us to ever-deepening understanding. Read, enjoy, and be inspired.' - John Borelli, Georgetown University, USA

'If I were to use an image to characterize this book, I would compare it to a multicolored textile. Reading the pages of this volume is like letting one's heart be moved by a series of stories that have been woven together to produce a colorful fabric.

The conviction that lies behind the book is that interreligious friendship spiritual friendship, in particular is a form of Christian spiritual practice and should therefore be considered a (new) theological virtue for the twenty-first-century Church. All the contributions to this volume could be regarded as evidence for or confirmation of this conviction.' - Matteo Nicholini-Zani, Monastic Interreligious Dialogue

About the Author

Mary Boys, Union Theological Seminary, USA John Cavadini, University of Notre Dame, USA Elena Procario-Foley, Iona College, USA David Burrell, University of Notre Dame, USA Marianne Farina, Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology, USA Massarat Khan, Holy Cross School and College, Bangladesh Rita George-Tvrtkovi?, Benedictine University, USA Bradley Malkovsky, University of Notre Dame, USA Francis X. Clooney, Harvard Divinity School, USA Reid B. Locklin, University of Toronto, Canada Mugdha Yeolekar, Loyola Marymount University, USA Karen Enriquez, Xavier University, USA Peter C. Phan, Georgetown University, USA SimonMary Asese Aihiokhai, Loyola Marymount University, USA Marinus Iwuchukwu, Duquesne University, USA Mary Margagret Funk, Our Lady of Grace Monastery, USA Rosemary Radford Ruether, Graduate Theological Union, USA