WB Companion Interreligious Di - (Wiley Blackwell Companions to Religion) by Catherine Cornille (Paperback)

About the Book

"This comprehensive volume brings together a distinguished editorial team, including some of the field's pioneers, to explore the aims, practice, and historical context of interfaith collaboration. Explores in full the background, history, objectives, and discourse between the leaders and practitioners of the world's major religions Examines relations between religions from around the world, moving well beyond the common focus on Christianity, to also cover over 12 major religions Features a wealth of case studies on contemporary interreligious dialogue Charts a long-term shift away from a competitive rivalry between belief systems, and a change in focus towards the more respectful, cooperative approach reflected in institutions such as the World Council of Churches Includes up-to-date commentary on the growing dialogue of recent years, written by some of the leading figures working in the field of interfaith discourse "--

Book Synopsis

This comprehensive volume brings together a distinguished editorial team, including some of the field's pioneers, to explore the aims, practice, and historical context of interfaith collaboration.

• Explores in full the background, history, objectives, and discourse between the leaders and practitioners of the world's major religions
• Examines relations between religions from around the world, moving well beyond the common focus on Christianity, to also cover over 12 major religions
• Features a wealth of case studies on contemporary interreligious dialogue
• Charts a long-term shift away from a competitive rivalry between belief systems, and a change in focus towards the more respectful, cooperative approach reflected in institutions such as the World Council of Churches
• Includes up-to-date commentary on the growing dialogue of recent years, written by some of the leading figures working in the field of interfaith discourse

From the Back Cover

"The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Inter-Religious Dialogue is a landmark accomplishment that offers a definitive map of the terrain of a robust field and its growing literature. But the internationally recognized experts gathered herein do far more than report on the already known. This treasure trove of essays opens on to new vistas and poses vital questions that must be answered as scholars venture into terra incognita. Comprehensive, authoritative, creative and cutting-edge - this is a must-read collection for beginners and experts alike."
John J. Thatamanil, Union Theological Seminary

In recent decades, the notion of dialogue has become increasingly common in describing the proper relationship between religions. Rather than competing with one another over territories, converts, or claims, religions have generally come to adopt a more conciliatory and constructive attitude toward one another, collaborating in social projects and exchanging views on common religious questions. This uniquely comprehensive volume brings together a distinguished group of scholars, including some of the field's pioneers, to explore the aims, practice, and historical context of inter-religious dialogue. It explores the engagement between a multitude of faiths around the world, from Shinto to Mormonism, separated either by geography or by their disparate ideas and practices.

The Companion examines a range of broad developments and issues including the history of dialogue, its pre-conditions, the relationship between dialogue and social action, and peace building. It combines this with a range of specific case studies exploring interactions between faiths. These include dialogues between Christians and Confucians, Muslims and the adherents of Africa's diverse faiths, and Jews and Hindus, amongst many others. Including up-to-date commentary on the growing engagement in recent years, it explores the important channels of communication now open between the scholars and practitioners of the world's religions.

Review Quotes

"These chapters show that the Companion is not just a status quaestionis of the established theory and practice of interreligious dialogue: it actually tries to contribute to its theoretical and practical development." (Journal of Empirical Theology, 2014)

"In summation, Cornille has served up what must surely establish itself as one of the core reference texts in any serious library on interreligious dialogue, encounters, and relations." (Journal of Religious History, 3 September 2014)

"Instructively, the volume's impressive breadth and scholarship serve to orient readers to the future and its possibilities rather than to an alleged final word on a given dialogue. Every library and student in this and related disciplines should hold a copy." (Religious Studies Review, 16 June 2014)

"Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals/practitioners." (Choice, 1 February 2014)

About the Author

CATHERINE CORNILLE is the Newton College Alumnae Chair and Professor of Comparative Theology at Boston College. Professor Cornille is a widely published authority in this field, whose books include Many Mansions? Multiple Religious Belonging and Christian Identity (2002), The Im-Possibility of Interreligious Dialogue (2008), Interreligious Hermeneutics (2010), and Meaning and Method in Comparative Theology (2020). She is also editor of the series "Christian Commentaries on non-Christian Sacred Texts."