New Dynamics

There needs to be a better way to approach people of other "faiths" than "Us" and "Them" attitudes. More and more our attitude and openness to dialogue, and genuineness in building real relationships, will be needed to witness for Christ. We can not approach people in integrity with the attitude that my soul purpose with you is to "Tell you what is right"? We might tell them, but they will not be listening. It is it possible to be real friends, have real exchange, and real love for people and their families, real people of other world religions. We will be little light among people of "world religions", until a shift in attitude among the average Christian occurs. What joy it is to see the shift in some as they become sincere loving evangelists where needed most. (Andy Rayner)

"Other faiths used to belong to other lands. At home, rival religious claims could safely be ignored. Or, if not ignored, patronized. The superiority of one's own faith was so evident that the alternatives could somehow be brought within its purview without posing any real theological or social threat. Today things are different. Different faiths are practiced cheek by jowl in most parts of the world."

(John Habgood, Archbishop of York, Preface to Many Mansions: Interfaith and Religious Tolerance, ed. Dan Cohn-Sherbok (London: Bellew Publishing, 1992), p. vii)