Book Review: Interreligious Prayer: A Christian Guide
Thomas Ryan, CSP (New York/Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2008), 85 pp.
www.paulistpress.com
Reviewed by Fr. Anthony Randazzo
Fr. Tom Ryan’s book is a persuasive, reader-friendly Christian guide to interreligious prayer and spirituality. His text shines warmly onto a multicultural landscape of delicate belief issues, strong religious feelings and the human quest for the spiritual.
In his introduction, the author offers the reader a cosmopolitan invitation to enter a differentiated household of believing and praying people. Chapter one’s Biblical Perspectives comment on excluding idol worship to tolerating Naaman the Syrian (2Kgs 5:17-19). Those Christians who may be timid on interreligious terrain will find in the first chapter’s last section on hospitality a certain assurance in the good company of Jesus, both guest and host in the Gospels. The reign of God does not exclude centurions (Matt 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30) or Samaritans (Lk 10:29-37) both of whom are neighbors in the eyes of Jesus. The author’s biblical references lay firm foundations for interreligious prayer in the life of a Christian.
Official papal statements also weigh prominently in the text. Pope John Paul II is lauded as a Christian leader “who got it” on promoting sacred hospitality for the sake of unity and peace. In 1986 the globetrotting pope invited representatives from other churches and world religions to Assisi, Italy. John Paul is quoted as saying, “Peace, where it exists, is always extremely fragile. It is threatened in so many ways and with such unforeseeable consequences that we must endeavor to provide it with secure foundations.” Twenty years later, Pope Benedict grabs the attention of our author in Turkey: “May we come to know one another better, strengthening the bonds of affection between us in our common wish to live together in harmony, peace, and mutual trust.”
These references also shape the author’s theology of the Holy Spirit. John Paul II’s encyclicals “The Lord and Giver of Life” and “The Mission of the Redeemer” acknowledge the Spirit’s active presence in other religions and cultures. Prayer is defined as a “gift of the Spirit” for Ryan. The “groaning of the Holy Spirit” is heard; all have access to the same Spirit. Ryan’s theology of the Holy Spirit may ease the apprehension of Christians claiming to be more spiritual than religious. More use of the term “interspiritual” may have helped those positioned against words like religion and interreligious. For some today, the term “religion” gets unfairly packed down by and associated with “law”. Nevertheless, the clear argument for the Spirit’s activity in sincere prayer encourages a Christian leader to schedule interreligious prayer events.
Four different forms of interreligious prayer are presented, with reflections on the pros and cons of each one: “just being there,” multireligious prayer, integrative religious prayer, and leadership of prayer at a multifaith gathering. Helpful examples of each form are given.
A broad selection of carefully chosen prayers from Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Baha’i and Native American traditions appear in the Appendix: Some Resources. Few texts provide a sampling of prayers and meditations so “believer friendly.” Who would not want to meditate on Rabbi Rami Shapiro’s “We are Loved by an Unending Love”?
Particularly appealing to me and I suspect many others is learning more about the prayer life of our Muslim sisters and brothers who call on Allah throughout the day. Among the resources in the Appendix, one finds a Muslim Daily Prayer appropriate for inclusion in an interreligious evening of prayer: “O God, you are peace. From you comes peace, to you returns peace. Revive us with a salutation of peace and lead us to your abode of peace.”
As a yoga instructor Ryan is familiar with and includes a favorite yogic chant, the Vedic Peace Mantra: “Om. May the circumstances of all beings be auspicious. May all beings enjoy peace. May all be full and may all prosper and be happy and free from disease. May all strive to be kind to others. May none despair.” All the resources highlight universal values, especially peace.
The next step for the Paulist ecumenist is to take his soft-covered text and turn it into a leather bound prayer book. Hospital and airport chapels are just two settings for such a prayer book. More interreligious prayer events will be scheduled when the average spiritual person returns to the prayers of their childhood faith, the Our Father. Once we revel in the prayers of own religious tradition we will be knocking for hospitable entry into the prayer circles of all believers. Interreligious Prayer: A Christian Guide takes the reader to the door, gives him or her the keys, and says in so many words, “Welcome Home.”
Next time I work with my fellow Christian and non-Christian ministers to mark the calendar for an interreligious event I will be grateful to have this sunburst-covered book in my hand.
Fr. Anthony Randazzo is a parish priest at Notre Dame, North Caldwell, NJ. He holds theological degrees from the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium as well as Gregorian University, Rome. Last summer he taught Christ as Teacher and Healer at New York’s Fordham University.
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