Interfaith Leadership: Bringing Religious Groups Together

By: Eboo Patel and Noah Silverman and April Kunze

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Synopsis: The need for effective leadership that promotes positive intergroup relations is particularly salient when the groups define themselves along religious lines. Human history and contemporary events suggest that conflict between groups divided across religious identities can be particularly violent, owing to the nature of religious motivation. However, recent history also speaks to religious motivation as a vast resource for improving intergroup dynamics and confronting social ills. This chapter explores the role of leadership in determining whether the future will be overcome by those who would divide and destroy on the basis of religious difference or will be constructed by those who will create a balance of mutual respect and cooperation. The authors present a pluralistic framework for positive interfaith relations and identify competencies that make effective interfaith youth leaders. This chapter was previously published as chapter 17 of "Crossing the Divide: Intergroup Leadership in a World of Difference."