The limits of interfaith?: interfaith identities, emerging potentialities, and exclusivity
Interfaith movements within the United States are currently attempting to integrate nonreligionists – agnostics, unaffiliated, humanists, and atheists for example – into their dialogical spaces. We argue that this attempt to further inclusivity within interfaith movements, although well-intended, is...
Authors: | ; |
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Format: | Electronic/Print Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Taylor & Francis
[2016]
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In: |
Culture and religion
Year: 2016, Volume: 17, Issue: 2, Pages: 200-212 |
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
USA
/ Interfaith dialogue
/ Religious identity
/ Irreligiosity
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RelBib Classification: | AB Philosophy of religion; criticism of religion; atheism AX Inter-religious relations KDJ Ecumenism |
Online Access: |
Volltext (doi) |
Summary: | Interfaith movements within the United States are currently attempting to integrate nonreligionists – agnostics, unaffiliated, humanists, and atheists for example – into their dialogical spaces. We argue that this attempt to further inclusivity within interfaith movements, although well-intended, is impeded by what we refer to as the interfaith identity paradigm. This paradigm focuses on concretised religious identities through a confessional model, which powerfully circumscribes intended efforts to engage with multi-layered experiences and radical inclusiveness. As such, we utilise contemporary anthropological theories regarding subjectivity to demonstrate that the interfaith identity paradigm results in limited participation by nonreligionists. Based on several months of participant observation at multiple interfaith meetings, this article intends to initiate a conversation among interfaith practitioners endeavouring to cultivate inviting and open spaces for religionists and nonreligionists alike. The objective of this article is not to offer solutions, but to point out a constraining practice prevalent within interfaith meetings within the United States. |
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ISSN: | 1475-5610 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Culture and religion
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/14755610.2016.1183688 |