Getting to the Heart of Interfaith: The Eye-Opening, Hope-Filled Friendship of a Pastor, a Rabbi & an Imam

A worthwhile - and brief - introduction to three friends and interfaith concerns in the Judeo-Christian-Muslim world. Shorter than the classic, The Faith Club, about three women's journey together in New York, this one hails from Seattle and tells the story of three men. I considered it as a possible textbook for a course in interfaith relations. MacKenzie's book, though, begins where I hoped such a course would end - with basic appreciation and acceptance of one another. The story related by Ranya Idilby, Suzanne Oliver and Priscilla Warner leaves out none of the struggles each woman experienced with the others and with her own faith, and so is a more helpful story for those of us who are just beginning the journey into interfaith. So - Getting to the Heart of Interfaith is a good read, and may inspire you to want to go deeper.

This book is lovely and fills me with hope and joy. I've read a lot of interfaith stuff, and this is different. It goes beyond understanding and tolerance to love and unity. These three men follow carefully defined steps to share their faiths with each other and discover spiritual parallels in each of their lives in faith. Everyone in our interfaith book group shared this appreciation, regardless of religious orientation. I've have been leading a workshop in my church using the steps laid out here to explore our faith and Judaism together--and following the steps seem to be bringing us to new and meaningful expressions and even understanding of what we believe and why, and of each other. I highly recommend this book for individuals and groups, as a workbook for coming to a greater understanding and appreciation of Interfaith unity.

Do not be deceived by the light-hearted, easy-going appearance of this slim paperback book. Inside its covers you will find a surprising depth of experience that will evoke a full range of emotional responses. A Christian pastor, a Jewish Rabbi and a Muslim Sheikh share their courageous journey that began on 9/11 and continues to deepen and broaden every day. They take us beyond the safe zones of interfaith dialogue, down the slippery slope of confronting the "truths and untruths" in each of their respective traditions. This is not a journey for the faint of heart. Nor is this a theoretical account of what "could be" or "should be," but it is rather an honest, practical guide to what can be, and even what must be if we are to achieve peace and reconciliation in our time. As Jamal says, "Only that which comes from the heart can open the heart." Read this book, take it to heart, and share it with others, and you will experience the truth in these words.

The friendship of the Three Amigos (since Sept. 11, 2001), has broken fresh ground in the world of interfaith dialogue. Recounting how they each opened the door to welcome the other, voicing the challenging tenets of each faith, and expressing hope through their personal story and vulnerability, Don, Ted and Jamal widen the path into a world not only of tolerance, but of understanding past and present violence, deepening mutual respect, and new ways to encounter the Other. A shared voice narrates this slim volume which includes personal reflections on four different topics. We hear each voice, and we hear the whole. Because of their friendship, this book is not didactic, but real. Not merely instructive, but affecting. This view will give you fresh hope for a new beginning to venture onto the shared path.

I love this book and have read it several times. It's an honest and insightful exploration of three clergy who separately and together explore their different faiths deeply. Chapters like What I love about my religion, What makes me uncomfortable about my religion, How my religion sees Israel and Palestine. A key element is the danger of exclusivity in each of the religions - the fear that no other belief than mine can be as good in the eyes of God, Allah, Buddha ... These guys have caused me to expand my own spiritual beliefs.

I would recommend this book to anyone seeking to broaden their understanding of how the Abrahamic faiths can operate in a real-world, open-hearted, spiritual context. Although the work is integrative in many respects, the content and approach serve to enrich the reader's understanding of each tradition in its own right. The content ranges from engaging personal stories, to exploration of specific content from religious teachings, to guides on how to initiate and support dialogue among people of different religious and spiritual backgrounds. The authors explore what they find beautiful as well as what they find uncomfortable in their traditions, and do so in a manner that invites inquiry and evokes hope.

In addition to being very entertaining, this book is a beautiful testimony to the interfaith journey of three men - a Jewish rabbi, a Muslim leader, and a Christian minister. I've met all three men in person, both as a trio and individually. They carry a great message in their hearts and we can all benefit from reading and hearing that message. If you ever have a chance to attend one of their presentations in person, DON'T PASS IT UP! IT'S THE CHANCE OF A LIFETIME!

In an era rife with inter-religious suspicion and fear, this book is good tonic! The three writers take a distinctly "bottom up" approach to reconciliation between faiths, starting from that solid place of rigorous, personal honesty. They don't gloss over the challenges. They DO hold to a deep hope: that their shared humanity will reveal the bridges to not only others' faiths, but to a deeper experience of their own. The book, and the journeys that created it, raise the bar for religious dialogue. Drink deeply of this gem.