Here is a tantalizing banquet spread out before us, a choice of outstanding articles. This book serves a rich array of thirty essays, including an Epilogue and two Appendices. Different viewpoints of breadth and depth are all selected from the 1993 World’s Parliament of Religion held in Chicago. Diversity is the emphasis of this book. “It is this quality of difference embracing the harmony of community that (the editors) want to capture in this work”

This review will bring into focus the different aspects of dialogue. The writers will speak for themselves on this subject as concisely as possible. Early in the introduction, the editors present a terse statement about dialogue and sets the tone for our theme: “The miracle of dialogue is first that happens, but then leads to major changes in interaction among persons, societies, culture and religion. This significant process holds the promise of lasting peace for the earth.”

Keith Cunningham is lecturer as was a close friend of Joseph Campbell. He believes that: “The faith traditions today are in a position to foster a new religious harmony. Entering the creative dialogue now will mean adopting an essentially mythological viewpoint in relation to all experience whatsoever by our religious traditions. It is either this or be marginalized as a quaint cultural relic.”

Archbishop Francesco Gioia, OFM Cap., serves in the Vatican as a member of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. His view deals with the dialogue of life. He affirms that: “It is life that allows us to know and to understand others. Life lived together. The ‘word’ is only a door that introduces us into the profoundly mysterious and deeply fascinating world of the other. Friendship will help us to accept with serenity the inevitable pain that all forms of dialogue bring, especially interreligious dialogue.”

Chicago. He explains that one purpose of the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions “was to use the event as a catalyst, to promote greater interreligious dialogue and co–operation locally. Today the whole world lives in metropolitan Chicago.” Statistics show there are more Buddhists (120,000) than Episcopalians (50,000) in Chicago. All the major and minor religions and the host of ecumenical interfaith and nonsectarian organizations are found in Chicago. Derk Ficca thinks we should be “seeking after religious and spiritual harmony rather than unity. Harmony is a different matter.”

Dr. Paul Knitter teaches theology at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. His latest book is entitled Mission As Dialogue. Paul is concerned that “Christians today, together with persons of all religious communities, must respond to the realities of pluralism and oppression. This means a dialogue of the many religions and the many poor.”

“In our present world, however, it is evident that for a vast number of people, their most ‘common’ experience is that of suffering and poverty due to oppression. Therefore, in our dialogue we must give primacy to those suffering voices. Otherwise, our dialogue is not responsive to the world as it is.”

Archbishop Paulus Mar Gregorios is the retired Orthodox Metropolitan of Delhi, India. He is Dean of the interfaith movement and is the past president of the World Council of Churches. Mar Gregorios is intensely aware that many religious leaders need to encourage renewal in their religions. He declares: “Nearly every religion I know stands desperately in need of renewal among its own leadership. I, therefore, regard the renewal of all religions and their leadership as a first priority in any agenda for interreligious cooperation. We need to promote dialogue; we need a mechanism for conflict resolution, but above all we need the renewal of religions; we need the upsurge of spiritual energy generated by prayer; we need to lay the foundations for less godless, less soul-destroying civilizations. It is the Transcendent who calls us to this noble mission. Let us begin our pilgrimage in that direction where the Transcendent beacons us.”

Dr. Robert Fastiggi teaches religious studies at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas. He asks this question: “How can one overcome negative feelings toward other religions?” He found two thoughts borrowed from two wise men of old. “Love gives new eyes (St. Augustine)” and “where there is no love put love, and you will find love Himself (St. John of the Cross).” We must become this example of “love’s central role in authentic interreligious dialogue. Let us love so we may have new eyes...that see into the hearts of our brothers and sisters with love and eyes that can see into the future a civilization of love and not hate.”

The entree of various kinds of dialogue have been nibbled and chewed. The main course of the writers is yet to be enjoyed. I enjoyed all 252 pages of the book. It portrays so well the quality of differences embracing the harmony of community.