Interfaith Engagement in Milwaukee
A Brief History of Christian-Muslim Dialogue
Kaitlyn C. Daly
Irfan A. Omar
9781626000568
376 pages
Marquette University Press
Overview
This book offers a brief overview of the history of interfaith efforts and relationships in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. During the fall of 1980, two Franciscan Sisters teamed up with a Muslim professor of a local university to begin a journey of dialogue, friendship, and activism that had a lasting effect on their group and the community. They launched one of the first “Islamic Christian” dialogues in the country, which soon became internationally known. This book brings together their stories of encounter and collaboration alongside those of other interfaith actors. The initial Christian-Muslim dialogue inspired the next generation of leaders to continue the work of building trust and mutual understanding through educational programs and social activism. The narratives presented here are based on qualitative data and scholarly research. They are accompanied by representative examples of the efforts aimed at cultivating spaces for interfaith dialogue and interaction between and among people from different faith traditions and backgrounds.
Author Bio
Kaitlyn C. Daly graduated from Marquette University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN) with double majors in Nursing and Theology & Religion. She became one of the founding members of Marquette’s first Interfaith Coordinating Team (ICT) and interfaith group, Breaking Barriers & Building Bridges (BB&BB). Kaitlyn continues to promote interfaith education and engagement, and explore the intersection of spirituality, theology, and health, as she continues her doctoral studies in Nursing at Duke University. Irfan A. Omar is associate professor of theology at Marquette University in Milwaukee, where he teaches courses in Islamic and interfaith studies as well as a course on religion and nonviolence. He is also an affiliated faculty member with the Center for South Asia at the University of Wisconsin Madison. He currently serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Ecumenical Studies and the Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Religion.
