Scott, Susan L. Stories in my neighbor\u27s faith: narratives from world religions in Canada. Toronto: United Church Pub House, 1999

Powell, Kevin

English

Wilfrid Laurier University

ConsensusVolume 26Issue 1 The Baptismal Journey: Adventures on theRiver of LifeArticle 215-1-2000Stories in my neighbor's faith: narratives from worldreligions in CanadaKevin PowellFollow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensusThis Book Reviews is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by anauthorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.Recommended CitationPowell, Kevin (2000) "Stories in my neighbor's faith: narratives from world religions in Canada," Consensus: Vol. 26 : Iss. 1 , Article 21.Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol26/iss1/21Book Reviews 141diversity, nature itself and those tillers of the soil who work with the rhythms ofcreation. Such a view has been described by the “shakers and makers” asreactionary and primitivist, but Kneen’s effective advocacy for community-oriented bonding with each other and nature exposes his critics’ apologia asname calling and trivializing.As for those for whom a faith commitment forms the undergirding of theirlives, Brewster Kneen speaks to and for them. His is a voice akin to the prophetsof the Hebrew Scriptures and the radical message ofJesus about God’s reign. Heis rooted in our churches’ call to Jubilee and debt reduction. To read Leviticus 25on Jubilee and Jesus’ agricultural parables links us with the vision of BrewsterKneen. Indeed, his periodical Ram’s Horn comes across both as a call to actionand a reminder that we are a biblical people called to defend and serve each otherand the land we share in stewardship. The underlying foundation of Kneen’smessage is deeply Jewish and Christian; Farmageddon mirrors thesecommitments. His call to justice struggle underscores such values:Resistance must begin within, as a matter of conscience. It is a matterof life and death, stark as that may sound. It is an issue, in the words ofthe prophet Moses, of life and death. “1 am offering you life or death,blessing or curse. Choose life, then, so that you and your descendantsmay live. . .”(Deuteronomy 30:19). The prophets of biotechnology mayoffer life, so that you, personally, may live forever - if the companies justget the investment and the regulatory approvals to develop theirtechnology. But the cost, and the price, is death (191).Oscar Cole-ArnalWaterloo Lutheran SeminaryStories in my Neighbour’s Faith - Narratives from World Religions inCanadaSusan L. Scott, EditorEtobicoke, ON: Gnited Church Publishing House, 1999183 pages, $19.95 SoftcoverIt is no secret that the Canadian cultural and religious landscape is in rapidtransition, and that the ethic of diversity is becoming much more of an imperativeas so-called “world religions” play an ever increasing role in Canada’s self-understanding as a multi-cultural society. While it would be wildly naive (not tomention arrogant) for Canadian churches to assume that we can simply proceedwith “business as usual”, as if the Christian voice were the only faith grouprepresenting the religious underpinning of Canada’s cultural milieu, it would beequally naive to assume that the various communities of faith could simply co-142 Consensusexist without some real understanding of each respective faith tradition within theinterfaith arena. Stories in My Neighbour’s Faith provides an excellent entrypoint into the world of interfaith understanding, tolerance, and acceptance.Scott has collected the faith stories from such diverse and varied faithtraditions as Judaism, Mennonite Christianity, Islam, Sikh, Taoism, Gnitarianism,Humanism, Jainism, Buddhism, Zorastianism, Baha’i, Afro-Carribean traditions,Hinduism, Russian Orthodox, Goddess worship, and Aboriginal spiritualities.The strongest feature of this collection is the personal engagement with eachunique faith. Whether the story is told in scripture, song, poety, narrative, orprophetic utterance, the human face of each faith group allows a personalinvolvement with each individual region. There is no apology, no theology and nophilosophy undergirding this collection save for the common theme of thepersonal story itself and their respective adoption into the Canadian spiritualcommunity. This book is mercifully free of dogma that attempts to emphasizethe “sameness” of each faith tradition, but the collection honours the experienceand the integrity that allows each storyteller to remain steadfast to her/his ownfaith commitments.Each chapter deals with a specific religion or “spirituality” told by an adherentto the specific tradition. The richness of faith as an engagment with the struggleof “what it means to be human - broken, longing, alive” is powerfully expressedas each storyteller wrestles with the tradition that she/he confesses. Some ofthese stories are filled with profound pain, some with tremendous joy, and somewith unfulfilled longing, but each of them tells a personal story of faith and itsrelationship to what each one calls sacred or divine. 1 was moved by many of thestories and felt honoured to have been allowed into the personal lives of thestorytellers. This was a book that can be read meditatively, reflecting on the wayall our stories connect and interweave, yet still remaining uniquely personal.If there be a shortcoming, however, it would be the choices of voice thatrepresented each faith group. Each tradition seemed to be represented by amember of its liberal wing. While it would be impossible to engage the variousfactions and sects that emerge from any given community, it would seem that anodding gesture could have been given to the breadth of each faith.Assemblies of all faith communities would benefit by studying this book as away of entering into the interfaith questions that are arising today. The first steptoward peaceably living in our interfaith and multicultural society is listening tounderstand and moving toward acceptance. From there we can live and worktogether fulfilling a common vision of wholeness for the human community.Kevin PowellLutheran Parish of St. Peter’s, Williamsburg/St. Luke’s, Dunbar

Stories in my neighbor\u27s faith: narratives from world religions in Canada

Scholars Commons

Consensus
Volume 26
Issue 1 The Baptismal Journey: Adventures on the
River of Life
Article 21
5-1-2000
Stories in my neighbor's faith: narratives from world
religions in Canada
Kevin Powell
Follow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus
This Book Reviews is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by an
authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.
Recommended Citation
Powell, Kevin (2000) "Stories in my neighbor's faith: narratives from world religions in Canada," Consensus: Vol. 26 : Iss. 1 , Article 21.
Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol26/iss1/21
Book Reviews 141
diversity, nature itself and those tillers of the soil who work with the rhythms of
creation. Such a view has been described by the “shakers and makers” as
reactionary and primitivist, but Kneen’s effective advocacy for community-
oriented bonding with each other and nature exposes his critics’ apologia as
name calling and trivializing.
As for those for whom a faith commitment forms the undergirding of their
lives, Brewster Kneen speaks to and for them. His is a voice akin to the prophets
of the Hebrew Scriptures and the radical message ofJesus about God’s reign. He
is rooted in our churches’ call to Jubilee and debt reduction. To read Leviticus 25
on Jubilee and Jesus’ agricultural parables links us with the vision of Brewster
Kneen. Indeed, his periodical Ram’s Horn comes across both as a call to action
and a reminder that we are a biblical people called to defend and serve each other
and the land we share in stewardship. The underlying foundation of Kneen’s
message is deeply Jewish and Christian; Farmageddon mirrors these
commitments. His call to justice struggle underscores such values:
Resistance must begin within, as a matter of conscience. It is a matter
of life and death, stark as that may sound. It is an issue, in the words of
the prophet Moses, of life and death. “1 am offering you life or death,
blessing or curse. Choose life, then, so that you and your descendants
may live. . .
”
(Deuteronomy 30:19). The prophets of biotechnology may
offer life, so that you, personally, may live forever - if the companies just
get the investment and the regulatory approvals to develop their
technology. But the cost, and the price, is death (191).
Oscar Cole-Arnal
Waterloo Lutheran Seminary
Stories in my Neighbour’s Faith - Narratives from World Religions in
Canada
Susan L. Scott, Editor
Etobicoke, ON: Gnited Church Publishing House, 1999
183 pages, $19.95 Softcover
It is no secret that the Canadian cultural and religious landscape is in rapid
transition, and that the ethic of diversity is becoming much more of an imperative
as so-called “world religions” play an ever increasing role in Canada’s self-
understanding as a multi-cultural society. While it would be wildly naive (not to
mention arrogant) for Canadian churches to assume that we can simply proceed
with “business as usual”, as if the Christian voice were the only faith group
representing the religious underpinning of Canada’s cultural milieu, it would be
equally naive to assume that the various communities of faith could simply co-
142 Consensus
exist without some real understanding of each respective faith tradition within the
interfaith arena. Stories in My Neighbour’s Faith provides an excellent entry
point into the world of interfaith understanding, tolerance, and acceptance.
Scott has collected the faith stories from such diverse and varied faith
traditions as Judaism, Mennonite Christianity, Islam, Sikh, Taoism, Gnitarianism,
Humanism, Jainism, Buddhism, Zorastianism, Baha’i, Afro-Carribean traditions,
Hinduism, Russian Orthodox, Goddess worship, and Aboriginal spiritualities.
The strongest feature of this collection is the personal engagement with each
unique faith. Whether the story is told in scripture, song, poety, narrative, or
prophetic utterance, the human face of each faith group allows a personal
involvement with each individual region. There is no apology, no theology and no
philosophy undergirding this collection save for the common theme of the
personal story itself and their respective adoption into the Canadian spiritual
community. This book is mercifully free of dogma that attempts to emphasize
the “sameness” of each faith tradition, but the collection honours the experience
and the integrity that allows each storyteller to remain steadfast to her/his own
faith commitments.
Each chapter deals with a specific religion or “spirituality” told by an adherent
to the specific tradition. The richness of faith as an engagment with the struggle
of “what it means to be human - broken, longing, alive” is powerfully expressed
as each storyteller wrestles with the tradition that she/he confesses. Some of
these stories are filled with profound pain, some with tremendous joy, and some
with unfulfilled longing, but each of them tells a personal story of faith and its
relationship to what each one calls sacred or divine. 1 was moved by many of the
stories and felt honoured to have been allowed into the personal lives of the
storytellers. This was a book that can be read meditatively, reflecting on the way
all our stories connect and interweave, yet still remaining uniquely personal.
If there be a shortcoming, however, it would be the choices of voice that
represented each faith group. Each tradition seemed to be represented by a
member of its liberal wing. While it would be impossible to engage the various
factions and sects that emerge from any given community, it would seem that a
nodding gesture could have been given to the breadth of each faith.
Assemblies of all faith communities would benefit by studying this book as a
way of entering into the interfaith questions that are arising today. The first step
toward peaceably living in our interfaith and multicultural society is listening to
understand and moving toward acceptance. From there we can live and work
together fulfilling a common vision of wholeness for the human community.
Kevin Powell
Lutheran Parish of St. Peter’s, Williamsburg/St. Luke’s, Dunbar


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Stories in my neighbor\u27s faith: narratives from world religions in Canada

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