You seem to be saying interfaith work can be done badly. This is obvious. But I really don't see how that justifies the claim that “interfaith work” and “experiences with friends from other religious backgrounds” is not necessarily the same thing.

I attended a “Dialogue Dinner” sponsored by the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington. Several of the participants used the occasion to bash other religious groups, especially Southern Baptists, and self-righteously boast about being “liberal” in contrast to those other folks who take their faith seriously. It seemed most participants wanted it to be about “us” and “them”, and to bash “them.” Does their willingness to have the “us” be people from different faith traditions justify their behavior?

I don't know how often “interfaith work” degenerates to this level, but it certainly left a bad taste in my mouth.

1) Much of the pettiness and misplaced hostility between religions can be exposed as counterproductive to the common good and uncharitable toward our fellow humans beings created in God’s image. From there, maybe it won’t be such a big deal for Protestants and Catholics to volunteer at the same soup kitchen.

2) The difficult work of cultivating intentional and respectful relationships with living, breathing human beings who ascribe to other faiths can serve to strengthen and refine one’s own beliefs. (Try explaining your faith in Christ to someone without the use of Christianese.)

In today’s increasingly pluralistic and globalized context, Christians must develop the ability to collaborate for the common good with those outside the Body of Christ while holding their ground theologically when necessary. It's a delicate dance, but I’d say it’s worth the attempt because the cost of escalating inter-religious tension is too great.

Sojourners' strengths clearly lie in the realm of collaboration for the common good. As far as maintaining a commitment to historic Christian theology (authority of Scripture, supremacy of Christ as the only Savior etc.), I get the sense this is more of a means to an end (promoting peace & justice) rather than a defining core value.

What I find disturbing is the continued desire for control over strangers. Despite claims of preservation, I think the desire to control others is at the heart of disdain for relativism. (Again, just an opinion gleened from personal experience.) I've yet to read any studies on why so many folks find relativism (not in its formal “there is no truth” sense, of course, but in how we commonly refer to it, “it's all good”) so very offensive or assume that collective effort equates homogeny.

Sometimes, I think we religious folks spend far too much time in our heads instead of our there in the world, sharing with our communities. As the author states, it's hard to have misconceptions about our neighbors when we're genuinely engaged with them.

I think I get hung up on “I had grown to God from getting to know how God is God in them.” Sounds relative..

Interfaith work is not necessarily considered “less authentic” but it does commit to advancing an alternative agenda–one that is not exclusively centered on Jesus Christ. One that is not Christian.

It is one's prerogative if they decided to engage in this work. I think this work is very valuable. But, there is a difference between partnering for a more peaceful/just community, society, world, vs. working to create a general level of homogeneity (aside from traditions/rituals) among faith-based groups. It's very easy for a person of faith (please note that I do not use the word “Christian”) to say, “As long as we all believe in something it's 'all good'.” Well, is it?

Religious pluralism is a secular concept. I am concerned for students in “Divinity” schools and “Seminary” these days. As a young adults, I watch my peers head off to seminary to gain “wisdom” and they end up growing more distant from the Lord, more ashamed of their theologically conservative past–less likely and willing to stand for something concrete.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written:
'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.'” -1 Cor. 1:18, 19-

whether folks recognize it or not, we are all one in the One, beloved children of our great and grand Father. of course we all believe our theory-ology to be the 'right' one or we wouldn't embrace it. yet, Love is the 'rightness' that exceeds the 'rightness' of the scribes and pharisees, borne not of 'correct' doctrine, but of Spirit. selah.

There's also the issue of what to do when two claims seem to contradict each other. Do you cop-out by claiming a paradox or try to reconcile them? If you were to cop-out, well, I'd personally consider you an agnostic rather than a Christian.

Implicitly, she believes they're wrong but doesn't mind agreeing to disagree. This is opposed to the Riga Veda.

Just sayin'.