People who live in the mental world of Modernity cherish freedom at the core of being human, critical thinking as the arbiter of what to affirm or not. History-evolution becomes the heart of human life, society, and all reality, and many ascribe to the benefits of cultural/religious pluralism. These stances require dialogue with those who do not share the same ones. In that dialogue all seek a depth and spiritual dimension in our everyday experiences. Club Modernity for Reluctant Christians provides reflections on the ultimate meaning of life that begin with our human experiences. Leonard Swidler rigorously pursues the questions raised within the context of freedom, critical-thinking, historical sensibility, and dialogue with the would ultimately leading to an inner encounter with the Transcendent. This book will resonate for Christians, or reluctant Christians, who are having difficulty reconciling these core characteristics of Modernity with their religious faith.

We live in the era of dialogue, an era Leonard Swidler helped birth. The son of a Jewish Ukrainian immigrant and an Irish Catholic, he set out as a boy to become an intellectual and a saint. There Must Be YOU explores how and why this aspiring Norbertine priest emerged to become the Professor Swidler of today: a teacher, a reformer of the church, a preeminent feminist, and one of the fathers of interreligious dialogue. He argues passionately that dialogue is a matter of more than peacemaking, but of living an authentically human life. Len's journey begins at the start of the Great Depression, and represents the very turmoil and growth of American modernity: our search for faith, our struggle with diversity, and our fight for social justice. Written by Len's colleague and friend, this book offers the reader education, inspiration, and challenge through the remarkable stories of Len's life, conversations with him, and excursions into the history of the world that made him who he is. We turn the last page having laughed with Len and argued with him, and having dialogued more deeply with our own lives.

When diverse faiths come together the encounter can be intense, awkward, even violent, but creating a dialogue can help reconcile differences. We can sustain respect and create peace with "the other" without doing harm to the sincerity of our own particular religious tradition. In the process, everyone learns and grows, experiencing greater religious tolerance and understanding.

The contributors to Interfaith Dialogue at the Grass Roots consider the patience and passion involved in promoting such interfaith activities. The essays seek to empower rabbis, imams, pastors, and their congregants to take up the work of interreligious dialogue as a peacemaking activity. The book provides guidelines for conducting interfaith encounters, showing how storytelling and conversations can make these meetings productive and constructive. Additional chapters reveal how to establish and inspire peace. Lastly, Joseph Stoutzenberger writes questions for reflection and suggestions for action at the end of each chapter.

Contributors include: S. Mark Heim, Maria Hornung, Edith Howe, Michael S. Kogan, April Kunze, Khaleel Mohammed, Achmad Munjid, Eboo Patel, Marcia Prager, Noah Silverman, Joseph Stoutzenberger, Leonard Swidler, Racelle Weiman, Miriam Therese Winter, and the editor.

Author Leonard Swidler himself is one of the American originators of the term trialogue and here he raises it to a new level as he shares the podium with professors Reuven Firestone and Khalid Duran. These three professors, beginning with Firestone and Judaism, present their faith traditions and the challenges as well as possibilities for genuine trialogue. Each offers invaluable insights into the ways they share Hebraic roots and Abrahamic traditions and how their beliefs and practices have evolved through the centuries up to and including the present. Throughout the text, readers are encouraged to pause for reflection and or discussion of the key points presented by the authors. This is a fascinating, enlightening, and highly recommended introduction to these three great faith traditions and how they evolved and are practiced today.