CAIRS resources

Young British and Muslim
By Philip Lewis.  Obtainable for £8.57 from amazon.co.uk and other outlets.

All four of the bombers involved in 7/7, the deadly attack on London's transport system in July 2005, were aged 30 or under. The spectre of extremist Islam looms large and Muslim youth in the UK are increasingly linked to radical Islamic movements. A clear, balanced examination of this complex issue is long overdue. Philip Lewis sets out to address this by looking at the lives and beliefs of young Muslims aged 18 to 30, against a backdrop of the problems any migrant community face. Beginning with an overview of British Muslim communities, he goes on to explore the nature of the intergenerational gap in the Muslim community, showing how normal tensions are exaggerated as children are educated in a language and culture different to that of their parents.Patriarchal 'clan politics' and a breakdown in communication between young Muslims and traditional Muslim leaders are dispossessing Islamic youth, leading a small but significant minority to turn to radical groups for somewhere to belong and something to believe in.

Lewis concludes by identifying a generational shift from 'clan politics' to what he calls a 'new professionalism' and demonstrates how new organizations and networks of Muslim thinkers are springing up all the time - allowing young Muslims to find positive identities and outlets for their concerns and energies.

Top Tips on Welcoming Children of Other Faiths - practical pointers for anyone working with children and young people
By Gill Marchant and Andrew Smith. available either from Christian bookshops or directly from Scripture Union for £2.99.

This new publication from Scripture Union is a practical guide for churches working, or wanting to work, with children of other faiths. The booklet is written by Andrew Smith and Gill Marchant from Scripture Union. Gill and Andrew have over 20 years experience of working with Muslim, Sikh and Hindu children and this booklet comes out of that experience. Covering topics such as 'Understanding the Children You Meet', 'School Assemblies', 'Using Stories' and 'What the Bible Says About Living Amongst People of Other Faiths', this booklet is an excellent, and very readable, help for Christians wanting to share their faith through words and actions.

Distinctly Welcoming - Christian presense in a multifaith society
By Richard Sudworth. Available either from Christian bookshops or directly from Scripture Union for £8.99

This is a clear, practical guide to the core issues and challenges facing churches in their engagement with those of other faiths.
The resource does not seek to cover all the issues in-depth but provides a broad sweep touching on key issues so that churches can gain confidence and be guided towards practical, relational engagements and projects informed by a distinctly Christian ethos.

Contents:
1. Introduction
2. Theology of other religions
3. Unpacking a Trinitarian faith
4. What does this mean for evangelism?
5. Community action
6. Youth and children's work
7. Diversity and unity in society
8. Churches of diversity and inclusion
9. Post-Christendom
10. Spirituality for interfaith work

Celebrating Difference, Staying Faithful - How to live in a Multi-Faith World
By Andrew Wingate.  Obtainable for £8.54 from amazon.co.uk and other outlets.

This book is an invaluable guide to living in our multi-religious society.  It is packed with case studies, examples of good practice, and practical advice coming from the author's own unique experience as a teacher and minister in the UK and abroad.  It covers mission and inter-faith dialogue, theology and life, prayer and worship, health, education and community issues, and pastoral issues such as inter-faith weddings and conversion.  It also includes useful lists of references.

Andrew Wingate is the Bishop of Leicester's Adviser in inter-faith relations, canon theologian and director of the St Philip's Centre for Theology and Ministry in a Multi-Faith Society.

Interfaith Encounter: The Twin Tracks of Theology and Dialogue
By Alan Race.  Obtainable for £9.86 from amazon.co.uk and other outlets.

Theology and dialogue represent the wtwin tracks for Christian engagement with the rich religious diversity of a shrinking globe.  Yet for much of the time they exist in profound tension.  This tension arises because the largely negative history of Christian approaches towards the religious Other is now being questioned by the new information, experiences and relationships which stem from the growing dialogue between religions.  Track one argues for a basically pluralistic and therefore controversial view in the theology of religions, while Track Two advances an equally controversial view that dialogue really does instigate a paradigm shift in religious thinking and being. for alan Race, the twin tracks cannot afford to maintain their separateness for much longer.

This book offers a summary introduction to its subject for those coming to the issues for the first time, whilst drawing its readers beyond the purely descriptive.  It will be of interest to students of theology, philosophy of religion, and interfaith studies, and to the general reader or practitioner in interfaith relations.
 

The Uniqueness of Jesus
By Chris Wright.  Obtainable for £5.59 from amazon.co.uk and other outlets.

What do we think about Jesus? In what sense is he "unique" in comparison with other religions? Is Jesus really the Son of god? Is faith in Jesus really the only way that people can be saved from eternal damnation?

In today's religious supermarket, is this not arrogant, intolerant and deeply offensive?  Surely all religions offer salvation, so why should we not be free to choose?  what is so unique about Jesus anyway?

"This has become an issue of critical importance," says Chris Wright.  "It will affect our view of tradition and doctrine, and is bound to affect the shape of Christian identity and belief in coming generations.  the uniqueness of Jesus is not something Christianity invented," he insists. "It is a truth which has been entrusted to us as stewards and witnesses."

Rev Dr Chris Wright, a noted OT scholar, is International Ministry Director of the Langham Partnership International, based inLondon.  He was previously principal of All Nations Christian College.

Till Faith Us Do Part: Couples who fall in love across the religious divide
By Rabbi Jonathan Romain.  Obtainable for £5.99 from amazon.co.uk and other outlets.

“A fish and a bird can fall in love, but where will they build their home?” from Fiddler on the Roof.

It may be a light-hearted question, but it draws attention to the dilemma facing thousands of mixed-faith couples who fall in love across the religious divide.  For Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists, there are major questions to be asked over where to marry and how to bring up the children. Sometimes the mix can be positive and enriching; at other times it is explosive and ends in tears. This perceptive book looks at the factors that have led to a sharp rise in mixed-faith marriages in recent years and examines the issues couples have to confront, from the problem of pacifying relatives, to the joys of mixed-faith sex.  It is illustrated by the accounts of over a hundred mixed-faith couples, gleaned from the author’s extensive counseling experience.   

Jesus in the World’s Faiths: Leading Thinkers from Five Religions Reflect on His Meaning
Edited by Gregory A Barker.  Obtainable for £9.99 from amazon.co.uk etc

Twenty leading theologians from five religions explore what Jesus means to them in their faith traditions and their personal faith experiences.  This book is a powerful demonstration of how much Christians have to gain from dialogue with people of other faiths.

Listening to People of Other Faiths
By Claire Disbrey. Obtainable from amazon.co.uk etc for £6.39

This book gives Christians the opportunity to listen to members of other faiths, something we may not have the chance to do face to face.  Hopefully it will encourage us to seize such face to face opportunities that come our way.  The key word in the title is ‘listening’.  If we wish to be heard then we must earn the right by listening to others.  The ‘listening’ then becomes a two way experience.  By listening through the pages of Claire’s book, we can discover how people understand prayer, worship and ethical living as they reflect personally on experiences in their own religions. (This review adapted from that by Felicity Cleaves in the September 2006 issue of “The Congregationalist”)

Interfaith Dialogue: A Catholic View
By Michael Fitzgerald and John Borelli. Amazon.co.uk sell this from £11.80 (RRP £14.99)

This is a very authoritative work in a key subject area. Inter-faith relations, especially between Christianity and Islam, will affect the future peace of the world. It is readable by people of all religious backgrounds. The top authorities in the Catholic Church get together to give an account of relations between faiths, especially Christianity and Islam. After giving the background to their own work, the authors look at Dialogue in General, and then in more detail at Christian Muslim relations in Britain, Europe and the USA. They then look at the monotheistic religions, modern religious fundamentalism, ecumenism and religious dialogue, Buddhist-Christian dialogue in the US, Christ in the religions, and Forgiveness.

Transcendence: Prayer of People of Faith (Revised 2005)
Edited by Daniel Faivre and Tony McCaffry.  Available for £7 (+ £1.25 P&P;) from the Quaker Bookshop, Friends House, 173-177 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ, Tel: 020 7663 1030, Email: [email protected]
 
A collection of over 100 prayers and meditations from world religions gathered together in eleven broad groupings including Lord of All, The Lord Be Praised, Lord of Compassion, Lord of Peace, and The Lord’s Good Earth.  Br Faivre SG describes the book as being of use to mediators, people involved in inter faith, teachers in multi-faith situations and leaders of multi-faith celebrations.

British Muslims: Media Guide, by Ehsan Masood
Published by Counterpoint, May 2006. ISBN: 0-86355-569-1. £5 from British Council Scotland, The Tun (3rd Floor), 4 Jackson’s Entry, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8PJ. Tel: 0131 524 5700. Email [email protected]. Or download as a pdf.
Review by Andrew Sarle.

The Local Inter Faith Guide: Faith Community Co-operation in Action
Published by the Inter Faith Network for the UK in association with the Inner Cities Religious Council. Includes addresses of national inter faith organizations, as well as practical guidance about inter faith activity. The Network staff can also give details of local inter faith groups and offer advice.
Inter Faith Network for the UK, 8A Lower Grosvenor Place, London SW1W 0EN,
Tel: 020 7931 7766
Fax: 020 7931 7722
Email: [email protected]

Faith Meeting Faith: ways forward in Inter Faith Relations
Prepared by the Methodist Church Inter Faith Relations Committee in cooperation with the Methodist Church Faith and Order Committee. Published by the Methodist Church in June 2004. Price £8.99, ISBN 1-85852-266-8.
Available from MPH, 4 John Wesley Road, Werrington, Peterborough, PE4 6ZP

My Neighbour's Faith and Mine: Theological discoveries through interfaith dialogue
This study guide was published, by the WCC in 1986, in the hope that Christians would be challenged to seek new dimensions of their own faith and also to see their neighbours in a new light and learn to live with them in closer community. It is meant for Christians who live in religiously plural situations - and that's everywhere, in our day. It urges them to reflect on the theological significance of the faith and witness of their neighbours who are not Christians.
The text of the study guide has been made available online in the hope that it will be even more widely used. The publication in its book form can be ordered from WCC Publications, price £4.95.

Where Rivers Meet: The Search for Peace and Justice
This book's approach is attractive and easy to read. It can be used by individuals, school classes and discussion groups of a wide age range. It is wide ranging and imaginative in its coverage of all the major world faiths. By means of drama scripts and quizzes it attempts to involve the readers in thinking about what it means to be a follower of different faiths.
By Wallace Allen Shaw. Published in 1997. Price £9.99. ISBN 1-898218-83-8.
Available from Scottish Cultural Press, Unit 13d, Newbattle Abbey Business Park, Newbattle Road, Dalkeith EH22 3LJ.
Tel:0131 660 4666.
Fax: 0131 660 6414
Email: [email protected]

Hospitality of the Heart
Hospitality of the Heart is a small booklet comprising four Bible studies, two from the Old Testament and two from the New. In these studies Michael Ipgrave, formerly of CCIFR, explores the Biblical basis for the practicalities of welcoming people of other faiths, and being comfortable being welcomed by them.  It encourages the reader to contrast the experience of host and guest, and of friend and stranger. Copies are available from the ACTS office, phone 01259 222 363, at 50p plus p&p; each.  A single evaluation copy may be requested free-of-charge.  You can also download a pdf version here.

In Good and Generous Faith: Christian Responses to Religious Pluralism
By Kenneth Cracknell.  Published by Epworth Press, in 2005.  £17.99.
This is a most enlightening and heartening book to read. Countering accusations of disloyalty levelled at those willing to engage in a dialogue of equals with people of other faiths, Cracknell argues that there is much to be learned from other religious traditions. He also focusses on the concept of Jesus as ‘the Word’ at work in and through faiths other than Christianity. He includes analysis of the dialogue process in ethical, spiritual and missiological terms. His conclusion is that engagement in dialogue is acting in good and generous faith. I can thoroughly recommend this book. (At the time of writing, Wesley Owen are selling it at £15.99.)

A Handbook of Faiths
Contemporary society is increasingly diverse and there is now public recognition of the presence of many faiths within our country. Each of these faiths has its own diversity and individuals within each faith relate to their traditions and interpret their sacred texts in different ways. They will also have cultural variations. It may be convenient to group people together under a faith label and it is sometimes appropriate to do so, but this can also be distorting and can lead to stereotyping and misunderstandings. We need to treat people as individuals, while recognising their religious and cultural contexts.

We also need to understand the significance of diverse traditions and to explore how faiths and cultures impact on our lives and affect our society as a whole. Within most faiths and cultures there are special rituals to mark the various stages of life. We may be invited to participate in these. Some people have set times and places for prayer, others do not. The workplace may need to make provision for this. Particular attention must always be paid to dietary requirements and to all aspects of food preparation. If we make the effort to understand the meaning of different religious and cultural practices, we may find our own lives enriched when we discover the principles and values that lie behind the differences.

This book is a handbook for everyone. It is meant to raise awareness of the diversity of our faiths and cultures, and to remind us to engage with each other as human beings not merely as patients, students, clients or customers.

The fourth edition of this invaluable guide, published in 2005, is available to read on the internet or can be purchased in book form: ISBN: 1 902360 10 9, price £5.95 (plus 50p p&p;) from SIFRE, c/o Suffolk College, Rope Walk, Ipswich. IP4 1LT
Tel: 01379 678615
Email: [email protected]

It is also available from The Festival Shop Ltd, 56 Poplar Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B14 7AG
Tel: 0121 444 0444
Fax:0121 444 5404
Email: [email protected]