Strangers or Co-Pilgrims? ─ The Impact of Interfaith Dialogue on Christian Faith and Practice

This book argues that interfaith dialogue begins with the basic goal of improving Christian relationships with people of other religious traditions. But gradually we become aware that this new ministry, when taken seriously, presents many new challenges, forcing us to reexamine our approach to religious plurality and our theology of religions. It also raises questions on how we read the Bible, understand Christian mission, and do theological reflections in a multifaith context. As the title of the volume suggests, the emergence and growth of interfaith dialogue has been looked upon by some as a threat to the future of Christianity and its mission in the world. Others consider dialogue a phenomenon that will give new vitality and relevance to Christianity in a religiously plural world.

The articles included here were delivered as lectures at conferences or written for periodicals, mainly in Asia, at different times and in response to a variety of circumstances. The unity of the volume lies in the fact that each of the articles addresses one of the issues crucial to interfaith relations.

S. Wesley Ariarajah is a Methodist minister from Sri Lanka who served for over ten years as director of the Department of Interfaith Dialogue Program of the World Council of Churches (WCC). From 1992, he was the deputy general secretary of the WCC. He is now professor emeritus of ecumenical Theology at Drew University School of Theology, Madison, New Jersey.