Faiths of Others

Thomas Albert Howard is professor of humanities and history and holds the Phyllis and Richard Duesenberg Chair in Christian Ethics at Valparaiso University, where he is affiliated with Christ College.

“Howard makes a convincing case for the need for genuine interfaith dialogue [and his] concluding chapter brings the story of interfaith dialogue up to date.”—Ed Kessler, Times Literary Supplement“Significant and deeply researched. . . . A must-read on interfaith dialogue.”—Brian Cooper, Church of England Newspaper“Howard has written a scholarly, finely crafted, and fascinating book. . . . He gracefully deals with micro details, the different disciplines related to this field (sociology, history, philosophy, theology, and cultural studies), and the bigger landscape—moving from one to the other seamlessly and sympathetically.”—Gavin D’Costa, Journal of Religious History“The Faith of Others addresses this gap by examining the roots of the wider interfaith movement. A welcome addition to literature on interfaith work.”—Deanna Ferree Womack, Scottish Journal of TheologyCHOICE Outstanding Academic Title 2022“Thomas Albert Howard has the gift of writing history in a captivating way, with great erudition and mastery of sources. This is a truly impressive piece of scholarship.”—Catherine Cornille, Boston College“A wonderfully illuminating book that shows how faith has been a bridge of cooperation rather than a barrier of division across time and place. Highly recommended.”—Eboo Patel, author of Out of Many Faiths: Religious Diversity and the American Promise“In an era overwhelmed by conflict, rage and hate, the brilliant historian Thomas Albert Howard shows us another side of ourselves: our extraordinary interest in the faith of others. Interreligious dialogue has become our defining theological concern today and Howard skillfully analyzes both its pitfalls and its potential for great contributions to a safer, peaceful world order.”—Susannah Heschel, Dartmouth College“In rich detail, Howard tells the history of interreligious conversations and initiatives, from the birth of Christianity to the present when, after 9/11, the number centers, journals, dialogues increased exponentially. Theologically astute, his critical assessment of it all is bracing but hopeful.”—James L. Heft, S.M., University of Southern California“Cleverly rooting historical turning points in key influential geographical centers, Thomas Albert Howard engagingly traces the essential junctures of the dynamic history of interreligious dialogue from its forerunning harbingers to the ‘booming heyday’ of the present.”—Hans Gustafson, University of St. Thomas, Minnesota