We live in a world torn by divisions and tensions based on the plurality of religions and subsequent acts of violence and terror in the name of God. The need for free and frank dialogue among different world religions has never been more compelling. This complex topic gets a forceful presentation in this book by one of the champions of this cause for decades.

Francis Cardinal Arinze who heads the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue of the Catholic Church, offers his personal reflections on the advantages and risks involved in such dialogue. He deals with the questions and concerns that an ordinary Catholic may have about inter-religious dialogue. He gives clear and precise answers to the possible questions and doubts, providing valuable practical guidelines. His honesty, simplicity and clarity of expression make this book an important tool for those engaged in inter-religious dialogue. He is emphatic about the need for mutual respect and understanding among the religions and about the commitment of the Catholic Church to the cause of inter-religious dialogue.

Francis Cardinal Arinze, born and brought up in Nigeria was ordained a priest in 1958 and was appointed Archbishop of Onitsha, Nigeria in 1967. Pope John Paul II elevated him to the College of Cardinals and appointed him the President of the Council for Inter-religious Dialogue in 1985. He travels extensively meeting the leaders of various religions and participating in inter-religious dialogues and conferences. Through this book he provides the basic guidelines for any inter-religious dialogue.

Nigerian Cardinal and Vatican curial official Francis Arinze has written a gentle, brief introduction to some of the basic ideas of peace as espoused by the world's religions. Apart from occasional lapses, Arinze's approach is inclusive and respectful. He is sensitive to the need for interreligious dialog and cooperation in the cause of peace.

Arinze collects short sayings about peace from various religious traditions, faces the charge that religions have contributed to violence, points out the connections between peace and human development, and sees religious freedom as a presupposition for peace.

His chapter "Freedom of Religion Needed for Peace" is probably the strongest in his book. Following the Second Vatican Council, he bases religious liberty on the dignity of the human person. However, he fails to grapple with the problem of dealing with anti-social expressions of religious conviction. For example, it is not at all clear what role he would see for government or other religions when a particular religion claims that something like female genital mutilation is a legitimate expression of its belief. Religious belief has social consequences, and tolerance is not an adequate response to violent faith based activities.

It is interesting that Arinze doesn't even mention the just war theory. He sees war as always a failure and a disaster. In this, as in the rest of the book, he appears to reflect accurately the current Roman Catholic position as articulated by Vatican officials.

After finishing this book, I came away happy to have found in Cardinal Arinze an inspiring new leader (new to me, anyway) in today's Church. Religion for Peace is a very good book. Its main point is finding common ground between religions for the cause of peace in the world. The Cardinal stays far away from equating religions or trying to unify them. But he recognizes that there is a common goal of peace in the worlds major religions and that this shared aim must be drawn out for the well-being of the entire world. With intolerance being so common these days, it is heartening to have Cardinal Arinze step forward to direct us toward an alternative.

Cardinal Arinze says "Peace is not an optimal climate for human life and growth --- it is a necessity." If this is true, then of course we are in a lot of trouble. But from the Cardinal's insistence that half-measures are useless measures, he still manages to confront us with the hard truth while remaining consistently compassionate.

While I do not agree with all of Cardinal Arinze's religious views, I am grateful to him for representing the importance of tolerance and understanding within and among all of the world's religions. It is, after all, the narrow view of exclusivity (If I am right, you are by definition wrong), not religious doctrine itself, that contributes to religions being used as excuses and justification for destructive conflict. Cardinal Arinze emphasizes the need for education about other religions and cultures --- as opposed to perpetuating propaganda --- as a part of every faith community's responsibility.

Whether or not you are religious, there is a tremendous amount to think about in this small 143-page book. It has been my experience in working with people as they confront their fears (Embracing Fear, HarperSanFrancisco) that we humans are very inclined to abandon our expressed value systems when we feel deeply threatened. The courageous among us are those who do not let go of what we believe when the rubber meets the road or something hits the fan.

Religions for Peace can help us be those courageous people.

Cardinal Arinze, a Nigerian, is the head of the Catholic Church's Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialog. This collection of his speeches shows his deep commitment to positive, inter-religious dialog. The key ideas in the book are contained in Chapter 10 (Inter-Religious Dialog: Problems, Prospects and Possibilities), Chapter 21 (Building Trust in Modern Pluralist Societies: The Role of Religion) and Chapter 25 (An Authentic Response to the Call of Christ in His Church). The other chapters add little to the ideas contained in these three.

Dialog is not disguised proselytism or merely tolerance or the mutual exchange of information. It is not an academic exercise or a search for a single religion based on the lowest common denominator. It is not intended to foster syncretism, religious relativism, or indifferentism. It is a means of making progress in movement towards God and becoming more receptive to God's saving action. It is a sincere search for truth. Dialog is to be conducted with mutual respect and sincerity. This reviewer has always learned from, been inspired by, and enjoyed religious conversations with people whose faith is strong and active, no matter what their denomination.

The Cardinal gives examples of clearly fruitful dialogs. Sometimes the dialog leads to cooperative social action, such as the pro-life activities of Catholics and Muslims. Sometimes the dialog leads to praying for the same objective, even if the prayers are said apart from each other as they were in Assisi. Such dialog is occurring at the grass-roots level as well as at the administrative level.

Dialog is also fruitful in inculturation, the combining of the local culture with religious beliefs and practices. The means of expressing religious beliefs and practices must adapt to the local culture. The local culture must adapt when the culture contradicts the religious beliefs and practices. Ending the sacrifice of humans among the Aztecs is one example of the latter.

Dialog must allow for the different definition of terms, such as God, soul, and perfection. It must overcome suspicion that has been engendered by past harmful actions. Mutual trust must be re-built, as must the basis for the mutual trust: respect for the religions, sincere interest, and the respect for the conscience of the other.

The Cardinal shows that dialog is not in conflict with the mission of the Church to "make disciples of all nations," as Christ commanded. The dialog is a means of teaching. Conversion occurs due to a grace from God, not by force of the actions of people. Are we, therefore, hoping for a conversion to Catholicism? No, each party to the conversation should be hoping that God's will be done.

Perhaps the greatest argument in favor of dialog is the danger of no dialog. Mistrust will grow into open hostility and international, regional or just personal warfare among the religious, violating the dignity and fundamental rights of individual people.

Cardinal Arinze's book presents the history of the dialogs between religions, the principles to use in the dialogs, the problems to be expected, and possible future developments.