Interreligious Dialogue and Cultural Change

Synopsis:
The challenges and changes that take place when religions move from one cultural context to another present unique opportunities for interreligious dialogue. In new cultural environments religions are not only propelled to enter into dialogue with the traditional or dominant religion of a particular culture; religions are also invited to enter into dialogue with one another about cultural changes. In this volume, scholars from different religious traditions discuss the various types of dialogue that have emerged from the process of acculturation. While the phenomenon of religious acculturation has generally focused on Western religions in non-Western contexts, this volume deals predominantly with the acculturation in the United States. It thus offers a fresh look at the phenomenon of acculturation while also lifting up an often implicit or ignored dimension of interreligious dialogue.

Endorsements:
"In a world becoming increasingly pluralistic, culturally and religiously, this book provides a generous assembly of leading scholars addressing the invariable need for effective and enduring interreligious and intercultural dialogue. This book is a rich resource for students and scholars . . . both in the academy and in different religious circles."
-Marinus C. Iwuchukwu, Duquesne University

"This fourth volume in Cornille's impressive series on interreligious dialogue demonstrates the extent to which religious identity is not only conditioned by cultural realities, but how very often it is self-consciously responsive to them. This relationship . . . drives the reader to interrogate the most basic categories we use and reify despite the ample historical and contemporary evidence of cultural change, adaptation, and growth in identity."
-John N. Sheveland, Gonzaga University

"Timely and informative, this book discusses interreligious dialogue in the contexts of the search for cultural identity, assimilation and acculturation, and religious pluralism in the United States. Written by experts in the field, [it] is valuable for both scholars and general readers. I highly recommend it."
-Kwok Pui-lan, Episcopal Divinity School


Author Biography:
Catherine Cornille is Professor of Comparative Theology at Boston College. She is author of The Im-Possibility of Interreligious Dialogue (2008) and managing editor of the series Christian Commentaries on Non-Christian Sacred Texts. She is editor of Song Divine (2006), Many Mansions? (2002), and A Universal Faith? (1992).

Stephanie Corigliano is a doctoral candidate in Comparative Theology at Boston College, working in the area of Hindu-Christian dialogue.