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My Engagements With World Religions: What Others Can Do

My Engagements With World Religions: What Others Can Do

Last updated on: March 25, 2026 at 2:11 am by Henry Karlson

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My Engagements With World Religions: What Others Can Do 2026-03-25T02:11:34-05:00 Henry Karlson

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Standing with others. Photo: Aryeh Ronay: Rabbi Yonatan Neril with other spiritual leaders / Wikimedia Commons

It probably is clear from what I have written that my primary (but not only) encounter with other religions has been as a scholar reading theological and historical texts coming from various faith traditions. And while other can do so as well, it is always better to do more than read, but rather, to interact with people from other faiths, listening to them, finding out how they understand their own texts instead of trying to interpret them all by themselves. Christians should recognize the problem often arises when reading the texts of others by seeing how non-Christians often interpret their texts incorrectly, doubly so if the purpose someone has in reading Christian texts is to refute them. Such an engagement with the other only leads up to establishing a straw man, instead of an authentic representation of that faith. This is why Christian polemics against other religions often are so bad. They are not honest representations. It is extremely important that everyone engages people of other faith traditions, not through contention and debate, but with a desire to get to know the other faiths, to know what is really believed by them (and why), because, when they do this, they begin to see the other in a new (and more positive) light. If we don’t do that, we will remain ignorant of the other, and that ignorance will produce fear, with that fear eventually producing hate; with such hate, conflicts will emerge.

The more we understand other faiths, the more we will find we have in common with them, and once we see we have much in common with them, we can form better relationships with them. Hopefully, this will lead us to forming bonds which will allow us to work together, trying to create a better world, one where we can be at peace with each despite our differences. This is because we will be able to see each other as persons who are like us, who want the same the same basic things out of life as we do.

Thus, not everyone will (or should) be able to learn about other faiths in the same way as I have. Scholars are important, as they will be able to go into depth, helping answer difficult questions concerning other religious faiths. But the problem is, scholars have been doing this for a long time, and the people who need to hear what they have to say do not pay attention to them. That is, while scholars who can overturn misconceptions of the other are invaluable, they have often been ignored. This is why, despite how many Christian scholars throughout the centuries who have tried to promote interfaith dialogue and comparative theology, their work tends to be unknown. What is needed, before scholarship, is for people to just get to know each other as people, to understand people of other religious faiths want to be loved and respected like everyone else. When this happens, people will be motivated to learn about those they have come to care for; they will engage dialogues themselves, seeking to overcome misconceptions they have had about others, because now they care about them and so have a reason to do so.

What can ordinary people do? The first, and best thing, as indicated above, is to reach out to people of other faiths, especially those currently experiencing undue prejudice or oppression against them, and work with them, making sure they are properly welcomed and respected by society. Just like in the civil rights movement, those most affected by racism had to take charge, and those who wanted to help had to take a secondary role, those experiencing such hate must hold the primary position, and those standing by them, must act in humility, taking second place in such work.

Secondly, people of different faiths should come together, not just to deal with xenophobia but to do more, to promote justice for everyone in society; when they do this, they will find, once again, how much they have in common, how much their hopes and dreams are the same, despite their differences in faith.

Thirdly, people should come together to form study or discussion groups with the express purpose to study and learn about each other’s faith traditions. Hopefully, in such groups, there will be members of many different faiths, so that for each faith, there can be a member of it leading the discussions concerning their own religious tradition. The point of such groups must be made clear from the beginning: they must be about mutual understanding, and not proselytism. That is, while in them, people should not be seeking to make converts to their own faith tradition. The focus of the group must be about people getting to know each other better. Debates, and the contention that follow after them, should be avoided, and the more people can do so in a group like these, the more they will be able to do so in society at large. This does not mean no questions should be asked, for obviously, they should be, but questions should be made in good faith, seeking to better understand the other and not stump them. And, if people in these groups feel they are able to do so, they should visit each other’s worship services (if they are open to the public), because, by experiencing them, seeing them live, much of the mystery concerning them will be dispelled, helping, once again, to dispel the ignorance and fear that leads to xenophobia.

Obviously, those who are more scholarly inclined should look to and read religious texts (and commentaries) from other faith traditions, but as they do so, they should find someone from that faith tradition to ask questions. That way, they will be able to make sure they are properly understanding what they read. Similarly, they should find a way to summarize what they have learned and then see if people from that faith tradition will validate their summary. That way, they will not only find out if there is something they have misunderstood, but also if there is something which they have neglected in their studies. I cannot say how many times I have done this, in one fashion or another, and how great it feels to have what I said validated.

It is vital for us to find a way to generate good will with each other, despite whatever differences, religious or otherwise, that exist between us. We should find that, despite our differences, we have much in common. We will find that what most often leads to conflict, religious or otherwise, are bad actors in the world. They can be found in all religious traditions (and from people without any). When see this as another thing we all hold in common, that there are people of good and ill will in all groups, we will not be so easily swayed by xenophobia. And, of course, the more we do this, the more we will see we hold in common, and the more we will realize we can work together, making a better, and more peaceful world. Certainly, the more I studied and engaged people of other religions (or people of no faith), the more I have seen this to be true. I have, through the years, formed bonds with people from all religious traditions (and those with none), bonds which I know others can have if they but seek them out. And, as I have seen, when those bonds exist, we can listen to each other, learn from each other, while still keeping our differences, because we do not fear those differences anymore.

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N.B.: While I read comments to moderate them, I rarely respond to them. If I don’t respond to your comment directly, don’t assume I am unthankful for it. I appreciate it. But I want readers to feel free to ask questions, and hopefully, dialogue with each other. I have shared what I wanted to say, though some responses will get a brief reply by me, or, if I find it interesting and something I can engage fully, as the foundation for another post. I have had many posts inspired or improved upon thanks to my readers.

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