Interfaith Dialogue for Walking Together

Contents: Foreword/G.V.G. Krishnamurty. Preface. Acknowledgement. About the author. Introduction. 1. Understanding religion: meaning and purpose. 2. Dimensions of understanding religious phenomenon. 3. The quest of transcending barriers. Appendices. Index.

"This is a pioneering study of the ongoing movement of interfaith dialogues between world religions coming out of their excluvist shell to play a positive role as quintessential religion in improving the quality of human life. Like modern science and technology having contributed enormously to the betterment of the quality of material life, religion, as a science of soul, is called upon to play its role to promote true happiness of mankind. The book underlines the potential role of religion provided it does not remain bogged down in dogmas, rituals and cumbersome and traditional paraphernalia which divide rather than unite mankind. The book focuses attention on the concept, purpose, functions and those higher aspects of religion which account for its hold world over and the trends of growing scientific interest in religion as the repository of wisdom notwithstanding its intermittent misuse and abuse. It goes on to throw light on various dimensions of religious phenomenon, its diversity, emerging synthetic trends, and various efforts, undertaken in several conclaves of leaders of thought, and of religious faiths and socio-political life, for interfaith dialogue with the goal of promoting understanding, respect and cooperation between world religions.

The author lays stress upon the current forces propelling a tide of transcending all traditional barriers of mutual exclusiveness and on the prospects of world religions joining hands together for the good of mankind." (jacket)