Helpful Resources
1) Religious Etiquette Guides
The Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding in New York City (USA) is a secular, non-sectarian organization which promotes understanding among religions. The Center supports religious peacemakers through education, inclusive workplace policies and practices, conflict resolution, and special programs. The Center offers several guides to religious etiquette, including guidelines on how to address religious leaders, enter sacred spaces, visit houses of worship and visit religious homes. These can be viewed and downloaded at
https://tanenbaum.org/tanenbaum-resources/
2) Litany of Thanksgiving for the Religions of the World
This litany of thanksgiving is an ideal resource for multifaith prayer. The litany affirms the gifts and strengths of numerous religious traditions and provides for congregational participation. To view or download, see:
3) Guidelines for organizing group visits to houses of worship
Visiting houses of worship of other faith traditions is one of the most effective ways to learn about other religions. This set of comprehensive guidelines provides all the necessary information for making such a visit a wonderful cultural, religious and educational experience. The guidelines were written by JW Windland, a highly respected multifaith educator with forty years of experience in visiting houses of worship. To view or download, see:
4) Dances of Universal Peace
The Dances of Universal Peace are simple, meditative, joyous, multi-cultural circle dances that use sacred phrases, chants, music and movements from the many spiritual traditions of the earth. The Dances touch the spiritual essence in each person and enable each person to recognize this essence in others. Building on the work begun in the 1960s by Samuel L. Lewis, a Sufi and Zen teacher, the Dances promote peace and integration within individuals and promote understanding and connection within groups worldwide. There are no performers and no audience; everyone participates by forming the circle and singing and dancing together. To find local dance circles, see:
www.dancesofuniversalpeace.org
5) World Scripture, A Comparative Anthology Of Sacred Texts
One of the best online sources for short quotations from the scriptures of numerous religions; this anthology features a detailed index. See:
http://www.tparents.org/Library/Unification/Books/World-S/0-Toc.htm
6) An Internet Sacred Texts Archive
This is the largest freely available archive of online books about religion, mythology, and folklore on the Internet. The site is dedicated to religious tolerance and scholarship, and has the largest readership of any similar site on the web. See:
www.sacred-texts.com/world.htm
7) How to Be a Perfect Stranger: A Guide to Etiquette inOther People’s Religious Ceremonies
In societies characterized by diversity, it is increasingly common to be invited to the wedding, funeral or other religious service of a friend, relative or co-worker whose faith is different from one’s own. This easy-to-use guidebook helps the well-meaning guest to feel comfortable, to participate to the fullest extent possible, and to avoid violating someone’s religious principles. This resource contains information about numerous religious traditions. Authored by Stuart Matlins, J. Magida, Arthur J. Magida. 426 pages. Available from Amazon.