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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Culture and religion
Authors: Shoemaker, Terry (Author) ; Edmonds, James (Author)
Format: Electronic/Print Article
Language:English
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Published: Taylor & Francis [2016]
In: Culture and religion
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B USA / Interfaith dialogue / Religious identity / Irreligiosity
RelBib Classification:AB Philosophy of religion; criticism of religion; atheism
AX Inter-religious relations
KDJ Ecumenism
Online Access: Volltext (doi)
Description
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.
ISSN:1475-5610
Contains:Enthalten in: Culture and religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/14755610.2016.1183688