Gustav Niebuhr on Interfaith Conversation

I just had the pleasure of watching Gustav Niebuhr talking on interfaith dialogue on ABC Fora (ABC2) this afternoon. Gustav Niebuhr is an author, journalist and commentator who writes mainly about issues of religion. In this passionate talk, delivered at the Chautauqua Institute in August, he argues that a better society will come from more interaction between faiths, races and creeds. In particular, Niebuhr reflects on the meaningful conversations that have been possible in the United States since September 11, 2001.

Gustav Niehbuhr in interview with Michael Pappas

Gustav Niebuhr’s writings include the book “Beyond Tolerance: Searching for Interfaith Understanding in America” and articles for “The New York Times Magazine”, “The Christian Century” and “The Buddhist Review”. He is associate professor of religion the media at Syracuse University in New York State. Gustav is the grandson of Reinhold Niebuhr, and grandnephew of Helmut Reinhold Niebuhr.

Looking at the US Fora site I also found the Mike Pappas interview with Niebuhr at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, from August 2008.

Gustav Niehbuhr lecturing at Chautauqua

Gustav talks about being inspired to write his book, “Beyond Tolerance”, by his experience at the New York Times in the late 1990s writing about religious conflict in which he encountered people who were engaged in inter-faith dialogue and projects. His interest in the topic was spurred into action when he found people of faith who deliberately reached out to the Muslim community in the wake of 9/11.

Michael Pappas in his interview suggests that crisis might be what is required to stimulate the building of inter-faith relationships. Niebuhr points out that relationships are built over time in response to a growing awareness of pluralism. He refers to the changes that have happened in the United States since the immigration laws were overhauled in 1965.

I found it interesting the idea the most effective relationship building is done not by intellectual dialogue (usually carried out by academics) but through shared projects. Niebuhr refers to the Interfaith Youth Core in Chicago, founded by Eboo Patel, as a great example of how that might happen. Niebuhr talks about using humour, interviews and stories to break down stereotypes.

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