Religions for Peace: A Call for Solidarity to the Religions of the World

by Francis Cardinal Arinze

Book Overview

Drawing on his vast experience and deep-seated Catholic faith, Francis Cardinal Arinze offers insights and ideas that give rise to a new, hopeful era of interreligious cooperation. Exploring the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385504608
• ISBN13: 9780385504607
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Doubleday Books
• Length: 146 Pages
• Weight: 0.53 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Compassionate confrontation and lessons in courage.

Cardinal Arinze says "Peace is not an optimal climate for human life and growth --- it is a necessity." If this is true, then of course we are in a lot of trouble. But from the Cardinal's insistence that half-measures are useless measures, he still manages to confront us with the hard truth while remaining consistently compassionate.While I do not agree with all of Cardinal Arinze's religious views, I am grateful to him for representing the importance of tolerance and understanding within and among all of the world's religions. It is, after all, the narrow view of exclusivity (If I am right, you are by definition wrong), not religious doctrine itself, that contributes to religions being used as excuses and justification for destructive conflict. Cardinal Arinze emphasizes the need for education about other religions and cultures --- as opposed to perpetuating propaganda --- as a part of every faith community's responsibility.Whether or not you are religious, there is a tremendous amount to think about in this small 143-page book. It has been my experience in working with people as they confront their fears (Embracing Fear, HarperSanFrancisco) that we humans are very inclined to abandon our expressed value systems when we feel deeply threatened. The courageous among us are those who do not let go of what we believe when the rubber meets the road or something hits the fan. Religions for Peace can help us be those courageous people.

Consider September 11

In the wake of what our country has just gone through I feel strongly that a message of tolerance and cooperation must be heard above the rhetoric of war. For this reason I have embraced this book with enthusiasm. It is a timely message that we would all do well to consider. Why aren't these ideas being more openly discussed in the media and in our communities? The way to prevent future 9/11s (and its profoundly destructive aftermath) is not to hurl billions of dollars of bombs but to cultivate the seeds of common understanding. I applaud Cardinal Arinze for reminding us of the need to reach out to one another and recognize what we have in common.

Food for thought

I wouldn't categorize this as an inspirational book--It's really more thoughtful, even manifesto-like at times--but I've nonetheless come away uplifted by what Cardinal Arinze has put forward here. Even though I have long been sympathetic to religions sharing a common vision, in the past I have been uncomfortable with the potential loss of identity for particular faiths (in my case, Christianity). I want to be open all people of good will but I don't want have to adopt a new universalist religion which throws everyone into gooey sameness. This book gives me hope that there can be alliances formed between traditional religions while their individual characters are respected. The author hasn't put forward any radical ideas, but I find it encouraging that someone so high up in the Catholic Church seems to be approaching the multifaceted nature of the world with a sense of reality.

Religions for Peace

My pastor recommmeded this for our book club. Though the club was sceptical at first (we are not Catholic after all) every person in the club was really interested and read the whole thing! I was impressed by how thoughtful and readable the book was, Cardinal Arinze encourages interfaith dialogue and seems to really believe it and practice it in his own work; he even discusses specific events around the world as examples of religions working together to promote peace and tolerance. The quotes on the back come from all kinds of people of different religions and persectives so he obviously has something to say to anyone who cares about the state of the world and hopes that religion can make a positive difference rather than creating conflicts. This seems like such a slim little book but it's content is so important especially in light of current events. Every part of this book and its message rings true.

A breath of fresh air

For years I have been uncomfortable with the Catholic Church's seeming inability (or unwillingness) to make bridges across the religious divide. But Cardinal Arinze here puts forward what I think are positive and constructive thoughts and suggestions for moving into an era where there is a better chance of religions co-existing peacefully. I heartily recommend this book to anyone who had given up on the Church making any forward progress.