Purpose of Interfaith Dialogue

PURPOSE OF INTERFAITH DIALOGUE
URL – http://nabsites.net/demo/purpose-of-interfaith-dialogue/

The purpose of interfaith dialogue is to learn about each other, and to
separate the myths from the realities. 
To learn about each other as we believe and practice, and not what others
say about us or vice-versa.

The bottom line is how do we build a society
that all of us can learn to respect the otherness of others, and no one has to
live in apprehension, discomfort or fear of the other. Interfaith efforts are
directed towards that goal. 

Prophet Muhammad is the first man to have
conducted an interfaith dialogue.  Zarathustra, Moses, Krishna, and even Jesus
did not have that opportunity. Prophet Muhammad was dealing with Judaism,
Christianity, Pagans and other monotheistic traditions prevalent at that time.
It was followed by the Muslims in Spain, and King Akbar in India.

Now
we have many groups engaged in interfaith dialogue – there are about three or
four of us who teach pluralism ; Aga Khan, Eboo Patel, myself and a few other
Muslims. We have zero prejudice towards any faith, and we build Islam while
building other faiths as well. Our Islam grows bigger as others faiths also
shine.. our Islam does not hinge on diminishing or giving lesser value to other
faiths.

Sadly, most of the fellow Americans have a singular perception of
Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus…. and others, and those perceptions were built
up by media.  Even those who have been a
part of the interfaith dialogue still are set in what is dished out to them for
years.

Interfaith dialogue, removes those myths – hear me out, this is what
Judaism is and not what you imagine, this is Islam, and not what you see on
Fox…. INTERFAITH dialogue helps put together the real image of the group as
opposed to what is out on television.  The input is coming from the respective
religious representatives and not defined by someone else. 

How do we do that? http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/09/special-report-on-quran-burning-that.html

Indeed, in Quran 49:13 God says, I have created you into many tribes,
communities…. And the best one among you is the one who knows each other.  God knows there will be conflicts with
diversity, and then he tells us the best ones among us are those who learn about
each other. Knowledge leads to understanding and understanding to acceptance of
each other.

That is the ultimate goal of interfaith – to respect the
otherness of others as Pluralism is defined by us.  That is you are who you are, and I am who I
am. I will accept you the way you believe, dress, smile and I expect the same
from you. In true interfaith meetings, there are no compromises, what is the
need? After all it is a belief, and as long as it does not mess with my food,
water, space and my loved ones, you are welcome to be who you are, as I will be
who I am.

Of course, we will always have a few Muslim spies, Jewish spies, Hindus
spies… and a few Muslims, Baha’i and Christians come to convert others, it’s a
sport to them to see how many they can hunt.  They are a danger to building cohesive
societies where no one has to live in apprehension of the other.

I am
part of many groups and including my own – the rule is no one will even hint
about conversion, or claim superiority of their faith over others. They can
extol their faith, but never put down the other.

I have written quite extensively on the topic… Let me share the negative
side of it which are few and far between: 
http://nabsites.net/demo/interfaith-disappointements/