I just finished not too long ago the book Interfaith Just Peacemaking: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Perspectives on the New Paradigm of Peace and War edited by Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite. This was a fascinating book, but a challenging read on a few levels.
It was really interesting and fascinating to read theologies and practices of peace and conflict resolution built into Islam and Judaism. It was challenging to follow arguments based on those faith’s sacred texts, but really interesting and I thought the book was really successful in helping illuminate areas of commonality between the Abrahamic religions in the arena of justice and peace, both interpersonally and globally.
The book goes through more less 10 practices part of the “Just Peacemaking” movement with reflections in each section from Christian, Jewish, and Muslim scholars. I found it to be really interesting and it raised a lot of questions. On one hand, it was really insightful to see that all three faiths have problematic texts that need to be engaged for the sake of interfaith dialogue and peacemaking with a commitment to a faithful hermeneutic (some approaches were good, some less committed to the meaning of the text).
I enjoyed going through the responses alongside the other reflections because it helped to look at different things I take for granted through a new lens. It was also helpful to see the Christian ethic of loving your neighbor and peacemaking applied in a holistic and global context that ranged from violence and terrorism to refugees to community development.
This was a really good book to read and I wish more would read these types of contributions. I think a lot of people would be surprised by some of what they find in some of these texts. It was a helpful reminder that every religion has well-meaning theologians and practitioners along with radical and hateful militants who distort and abuse sacred symbols for power and violence. There’s room for dialogue and peace amidst difference as this book helps illustrate.
