Interfaith
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The term '''interfaith''' or '''interfaith dialogue''' refers to cooperative and positive interaction between people of different religious traditions (ie. "faiths") and [[spiritual]] or [[humanistic]] beliefs, at both the individual and institutional level with the aim of deriving a common ground in belief through a concentration on similarities between faiths, understanding of values, and commitment to the world.
It is distinct from [[syncretism]] or alternative religion, in that dialogue often involves promoting understanding between different religions to increase [[acceptance]] of 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 [[religion]]s (rel. [[comparative religion]]).
==History of Interfaith dialogue==
* Interfaith dialogue and action has taken place for many centuries. The Emperor [[Akbar the Great]] for example, encouraged [[tolerance]] in [[Mughal India]], a diverse nation with peope of various faith backgrounds, including [[Islam]], [[Hinduism]], [[Sikhism]], and [[Christianity]].<ref>http://progressivescottishmuslims.blogspot.com/2008/04/learning-interfaith-from-mughals-akbar.html</ref> [[Muslim Spain]] is an additional historical example of great religious pluralism.
* Early 20th Century - dialogue started to take place between the [[Abrahamic faiths]] - [[Christianity]], [[Judaism]], [[Islam]] and [[Baha'i]] {{Fact|date=April 2007}}
** The 1960s - Interfaith movement gathered interest. {{Fact|date=April 2007}}
** 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]]. {{Fact|date=April 2007}}
==Interfaith and different religions==
===Bahá'í Faith===
{{Main|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."<ref name-"tab_baha_1">[http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/TB/tb-4.html#pg22 Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, page 22], Bahá'u'lláh, From the "Bishárát" (Glad-Tidings).</ref> 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 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.<ref>*{{cite book
|author = Universal House of Justice
|authorlink = Universal House of Justice
|year = 2002
|title = Letter to the World's Religious Leaders
|publisher = Bahá'í World Centre
|url = http://bahai-library.com/?file=uhj_religious_leaders_2002
}}</ref>
===Judaism===
{{Main|Jewish views of religious pluralism}}
[[Reform Judaism]], [[Reconstructionist Judaism]] and [[Conservative Judaism]] encourage interfaith dialogue. Interfaith dialogue is a controversial issue within the [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox Jewish]] community. Some Orthodox Jews refuse to participate in interfaith dialogues because they believe that Judaism's prohibition of proselytism, combined with other religions' "missionary zeal",<ref>[http://www.lchaimweekly.org/lchaim/5761/672.htm]</ref> creates an unbalanced power dynamic such that the "dialogue" effectively becomes a monologue.<ref>[http://www.lchaimweekly.org/lchaim/5761/673.htm]</ref> However, some [[Modern Orthodox Judaism|Modern Orthodox Jews]] participate in interfaith dialogue.
===Islam===
[[Islam]] has long encouraged Interfaith dialogue and action, with historical examples coming from [[Muslim Spain]], [[Mughal India]], and even starting as far back as the [[Prophet Muhammad]]'s time, where people of the Abrahamic Faiths loved in harmony.
Many traditional and religious texts and customs of the faith have encouraged this, including specific verses in the [[Quran]], such as: "O people! Behold, we have created you from a male and a female and have made you into nations and tribes so that you might come to know one another. Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of God is the one who is most deeply conscious of Him. Behold, God is all-knowing, all-aware." [Qur'an 49:13]
==Interfaith organizations==
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, the IID organizes interfaith dinners, inter-cultural trips, conferences and panel discussions.
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 example.)
In India, many organizations have been involved in interfaith activities because of the diversity of religion in the nation.
[[Minhaj-ul-Quran|''Minhaj-ul-Quran'' International]] is a non-sectarian and a [[non-governmental organization]] (NGO) working in over 81 countries around the globe. Its main aims and objectives are to promote interfaith dialogue and to live peacefully within society. <ref>[http://www.minhaj.org/org/index.php?contents=text&tid=427&lang=en Merry Christmas Interfaith Festival]</ref> ''Minhaj ul Quran'' was founded by [[Tahir-ul-Qadri| Shaykh ul Islam Prof. Dr. Muhammed Tahir ul Qadri]]
==See also==
* [[Centre for Dialogue]]
* [[Christian-Jewish reconciliation]]
* [[Daughters of Abraham]]
* [[Ecumenism]] (Christian)
* [[Fethullah Gülen]]
* [[Interfaith Alliance UK]]
* [[Jewish views of religious pluralism]]
* [[Parliament of the World's Religions]]
* [[Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue]]
* [[Relations between Catholicism and Judaism]]
* [[Roland de Corneille]]
* [[Saltley Gate Peace Group]]
* [[Scriptural Reasoning]]
* [[Seventh-day Adventist interfaith relations]]
* [[Temple of Understanding]]
* [[United Religions Initiative]]
* [[World Council of Churches]]
==References==
<references/>
== External links ==
* [http://www.ctbi.org.uk/interfaith Churches Together in Britain and Ireland - 'ecumenical space' for exploring interfaith issues]
* [http://www.lehighdialogue.org Lehigh Dialogue Center]
* [http://www.interfaithdialog.org The Institute of Interfaith Dialog]
* [http://interfaithradio.org Interfaith Voices: A public radio show promoting religious harmony and interfaith understanding]
* [http://www.ciid.ca The Canadian Institute of Interfaith Dialogue]
* [http://www.interfaith.org.uk The Inter Faith Network for the UK]
* [http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=39775 President Ronald Reagan speaks on interfaith cooperation of military chaplains during combat]
[[Category:Interfaith| ]]
[[Category:Religious pluralism]]
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[[it:Dialogo interreligioso]]
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[[pl:Dialog międzyreligijny]]