Interfaith Preaching
Some guidelines to approach people from other faiths
- Respect their scriptures, dress, food habits, rituals and methods of preaching.
- Do not run down their beliefs. If you want to understand their beliefs inquire humbly. Be sensitive.
- Do not feel the need to convert anyone when you have an interfaith dialogue with them.
- Offer respects to people with whom you may not be able to have a dialogue at a deeper level
- Respect the right of others to disagree.
- Do not judge others by the practice of your own ideals.
- Be honest and truthful in your relationship. If you are unable to answer any question say you don’t know and shall get back to them with the correct explanation.
- The main aim is to form genuine friendly relationships that promote understanding between us and members of other religions.
- Listen to and value presentations by members of other faiths with respect.
- Give members of other faiths the opportunity to freely express their sincerely held beliefs and convictions.
- Allow members of other faiths to define themselves in their OWN language and OWN culture without imposing definitions upon them, thus avoiding to compare their practice with our ideals.
- Respect the diet, dress, rituals and etiquette of others.
- Recognize that we can all fall short of the ideals of our respective traditions.
- Do not misrepresent or disparage the beliefs or religious practices of others.
- If you want to understand their beliefs, inquire politely an humbly.
- Respect that others have a commitment to their chosen faith as we do to ours.
- Be honest and straightforward about your intentions.
- This will be appreciated by those you meet.
- Be sensitive and courteous to all you meet, even if you do not get a chance to interact on a deeper level.
- Respect the right of others to disagree and their desire to be left alone.
- There is never need to compromise our philosophy or values.
- When in dialogue with religious people, you do not have to feel the need to convert them.
- You will meet fundamentalist religionists and atheistic scholars.
- Offer them due respect and move on.
- Sincere dialogue on spiritual matters will not be possible with them.
- Do not be afraid to answer a question with 'I don't know'. Honesty is better than speculation.
----> Taken from the article of Saunaka Rsi Dasa in ISKCON Communications Journal Vol.7, No.1, June 1999
Benefits of Interfaith
- Respectability
- Spiritual growth
- Goodwill from other organizations
- Strengthens one’s own faith
- Helps to develop a more cohesive community
- Helps to foster mutual understanding
Interfaith Preaching
-By Srila Prabhupada
In this age of a godless civilization, the sages of world-recognized religious sects who believe in God must come out of their secluded places and preach the science of God, the Supreme Will, to the people in general. Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and the members of the other sects that have convincing faith in the authority of God must not sit idly now and silently watch the rapid growth of a godless civilization. There is the supreme will of God, and no nation or society can live in peace and prosperity without acceptance of this vital truth.
The warning is already there, and responsible leaders of religious sects must meet together and form a common platform of a league of devotees of the Lord.
There is no need for self-realized souls to live in a secluded place. Perfect self-realized souls, engaged in the service of the Lord, are unafraid of maya, just as law-abiding citizens of a state never fear the police. Such fearless devotees of God always speak scientifically about the existence of God, even at the risk of death. Such devotees of God feel compassion for the mass of people, who have completely forgotten the Supreme Lord and who engage in the false pursuit of happiness that ends in the sense pleasures enjoyed by the hogs and dogs.