The Faith Next Door : American Christians and Their New Religious Neighbors

The religious landscape of the United States has changed dramatically in recent decades. How are Christians relating to their Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and other new religious neighbors? Using local examples, The Faith Next Door covers the gamut of Christian responses to America's multireligious reality. We read about the debate over a new Hindu temple in town, the Episcopal church that has hosted a mosque since 1987, the cooperative efforts between African American pastors and Muslim leaders, immigrant Christians seeking to save their non-Christian fellow immigrants, evangelicals resettling immigrants and refugees through "friendship evangelism," Catholics learning about other religions in the spirit of Vatican II, Greek Orthodox Christians and Turkish Muslims gaining a new appreciation of their shared history, and more. The book also examines how the events of September 11, 2001 have shaped Christian approaches to believers from other faiths, from engaging in dialogue to hoping for conversion. Here Christian theology meets the multireligious real world, with multiple results suggestive of national trends. The Faith Next Door will appeal to Christians from all denominations and perspectives who seek models for relationships in the diverse contemporary context. It will also inform non-Christian readers and general observers of trends in American religion about the variety of local Christian responses to other religions. In order to meet the growing scientific requirements of an increasingly complex society, it is essential for us to have an appreciation of the power and breadth of science. Science and the Written Word is a collection of interviews featuring some of the world's greatest scientists and Nobel Prize winners. The interviews examine topics related to the nature of science and technology, making them more accessible to the general reader, and emphasize the relationship of various scientific disciplines to one another. Through this book, readers learn from the "inside" how science is done, what motivates it, and why it is of importance to society as a whole. The book offers insights into scientific personalities and dispels common misconceptions regarding the popular image of scientists.The interviews in this book examine standards of behavior and ethics and demonstrate the relationships between science and social values. They delve into topics such as the utility of science in application to war, the importance of science in the educational curriculum, cost benefits of fundamental research in consideration of the national budget, and the public controversy of evolution versus intelligent design. Cumulatively, the discussions in this book give rise to an awareness of both the reality of science and technology and its profound impact upon the well being of society. In order to meet the growing scientific requirements of an increasingly complex society, it is essential for us to have an appreciation of the power and breadth of science. Science and the Written Word is a collection of interviews featuring some of the world's greatest scientists and Nobel Prize winners. The interviews examine topics related to the nature of science and technology, making them more accessible to the general reader, and emphasize the relationship of various scientific disciplines to one another. Through this book, readers learn from the "inside" how science is done, what motivates it, and why it is of importance to society as a whole. The book offers insights into scientific personalities and dispels common misconceptions regarding the popular image of scientists. The interviews in this book examine standards of behavior and ethics and demonstrate the relationships between science and social values. They delve into topics such as the utility of science in application to war, the importance of science in the educational curriculum, cost benefits of fundamental research in consideration of the national budget, and the public controversy of evolution versus intelligent design. Cumulatively, the discussions in this book give rise to an awareness of both the reality of science and technology and its profound impact upon the well being of society Introduction : America's new religious diversity A Hindu temple comes to town Evangelizing fellow immigrants : South Asian Christians Resettling for Christ : evangelical churches of DuPage County Hosting Muslim neighbors : Calvary Episcopal Church Struggling to reach out : St. Silas Lutheran Church Gathering around the table of fellowship : Lake Street Church Bridges to understanding : St. Lambert Roman Catholic Church Unity in spirituality : the Focolare Movement Solidarity in the African American experience : churches and the Nation of Islam Looking back, ahead, and into the eyes of others : the Orthodox Christian experience More Hindus and others come to town Conclusion : local Christians face America's new religious diversity. How do local Christians respond when they discover that the religions of the world now reside in their town? Paul Numrich presents eleven case studies of local Chicago-area Christian responses to America's changing religious landscape. Included are Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Christian cases