Interfaith Directory

The cause of interfaith dialogue, understanding and what is sometimesdescribed as "the wider ecumenismn has gained considerable momentum inrecent years. While interfaith conflicts and sectarian tensions continue to hitthe headlines, efforts to build bridges and arrive at some degree of mutualunderstanding are also underway. Recent years have witnessed the emergenceof many groups, agencies and organizations around the globe that are workingin the field of interreligious dialogue and understanding. These groupingshave held numerous interfaith seminars, cqnferences and workshops and havecontributed significantly in opening up new channels of communication andwider avenues of concord among the hitherto contending religious communityleaders. One such organization is The Council for the World's Religions (CWR).a New York based organization which aims to bring believers of all faithsinto mutual friendship and collaboration in the service of God and humanity.The Interfaith Directory sponsored by the CWR is one important step towarddisseminating information about other organizations and agencies workingfor interreligious harmony and concord.The Directory lists names, addresses and activities of about seven hundredinterfaith organizations throughout the world. These organizations have beenlisted in five different categories: 1) organizations with multifaith membership;2) organizations relating to two or three religions; 3) organizations basedon one religion. but with outreach to other religions; 4) universalist movementsfor spiritual unity; and 5) academic institutions which are also centers ofinterfaith dialogue and encounter. Some organizations receive multiple entriesbecause of the varied nature of their activities and programs. The Directoryalso includes two very useful indeces, one alphabetical and the othergeographical. As has been noted by the editor, these organizations may varyconsiderably in size, resources and effectiveness but all of them share thecommon goal of interreligious harmony. Francis Clark has contributed a verythoughtful introduction to the volume in which he discusses present trendsin the world-wide interfaith movement. He rightly points out that the interfaithmovement "is a deeper religious expression of the new sense of oneness ofthe human family and the new awareness of our coounon responsibilities,dangers and destiny in our one shared habitat." However, he is not oblivious ...