The Quiet Revolution: The Emergence of Interfaith Consciousness
Peter Kirkwood, ABC Books, 2007
In The Quiet Revolution, past producer of the ABC program Compass Peter Kirkwood, surveys the course of pioneering leaders, local interfaith communities and international organisations as they chart their way through the new and rapidly changing religious landscape and spearhead the importance of interfaith dialogue. Quoting from Karen Armstrong, historian of religion, Kirkwood likens the current religious landscape we live in as another Axial period for religion. According to Armstrong, this ‘Axial period is on par with the first Axial Age when the great prophets and sages appeared who ushered in the major world faiths’ (p.7). These “great prophets” and “sages” are the current and emerging key thinkers, local interfaith communities and international organisations in our current time that Kirkwood explores in his book.
Kirkword’s objective is to present the other side to fundamentalist terror that so often dominate the headlines. Kirkwood writes ‘While news and current affairs headlines have been aflame with the more sensational activities of extremists and fundamentalists, there has been little coverage of religious people with a pluralistic outlook. This is the focus of this book, and it is the big untold story in the realm of religion. This new pluralistic way of being religious does not yet have a definite organised form, so I describe it as still emerging’(p.15).
Kirkwood explores key thinkers such as John Hick, Raimon Pannikar, Paul Knitter, Chung Hyung Kyung, Rabbi David Rosen, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf to name a few and their contribution to the interfaith movement, relations and dialogue. Kirkwood also highlights the work of pioneering local interfaith communities, in this instance, in New York. Kirkwood’s exploration also has an international outlook where he highlights the work of the Parliament of the World’s Religions, the Global Ethic Foundation and the Peace Council.
Kirkwood does not shy away from the often difficult and tricky questions that interfaith encounters and dialogue raise such as truth, and whether or not all religions are in fact worshiping the same God or ultimate reality, or do religions share the same common goals or spiritual ends. One of the contributions this book makes to the current interfaith discussion is the issue of fundamentalism. Kirkwood states ‘if interfaith dialogue means anything, it should be about ameliorating the effect of aggressive fundamentalism. But how to do this?’ (p.262). This particular chapter examines the causes of fundamentalism and suggests some strategic ways to engage fundamentalists in dialogue.
The Quiet Revolution is an engaging and resourceful book for those wishing to know more about the interfaith movement and key thinkers in our current time. This is not a theological text as such, but it provides a good overview of interfaith relationships and dialogue post September 11th. Kirkwood competently surveys the key literature, thinkers and organisations thereby making this book a key introductory text to the global interfaith movement. Kirkwood reminds us through the words of Karen Armstrong that ‘interfaith as we call it, is no longer a nice thing to do, or a pleasant religious past-time, or an interesting one, it’s vital for our survival’ (p.288).
The Quiet Revolution was also a three-part Compass series of the same name on ABC television.
Review by Rev Sef Carroll