Passing on the Faith: Transforming Traditions for the Next Generation of Jews, Christians, and Muslims

Preface

Preface James L. Heft, S.M. The chapters of this book were originally given in somewhat different form as papers at an international conference held at the University of Southern California in October 2004. The conference, ‘‘Faith, Fear and Indifference: Constructing the Religious Identity of the Next Generation ,’’ drew speakers from Europe and North America, and focused primarily on how three religious traditions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—pass on their religious traditions to their youth in the context of the contemporary culture of the United States. The conference itself would not have been possible without the generous support of the Lilly Endowment; the University of Southern California’s College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, and its Center for the Study of Religion and Civic Culture; the Omar Ibn Al Khattab Foundation; the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies; Peter and Merle Mullin; Ruth Ziegler; Mark and Peachy Levy; The Angell Foundation; the Wilsey Foundation; and Thomas and Katie Eggemeier, Jr. Without the wise counsel and constant support of Rabbi Reuven Firestone of Hebrew Union College; Professor Don Miller, the director of the Center for the Study of Religion and Civic Culture; Dafer Dakhil, the executive director of the Omar Ibn Al Khattab Foundation; Rabbi Susan Laemmle, Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California; and Brie Loskota, the conference director, this conference could not have happened. Preparation for the publication of this volume is largely the result of the superb editing skills of Carol Farrell, my excellent assistant. Dr. x / Preface Donald Wigal prepared the subject and author index, which provides easy access to the contents of the volume. I am also grateful to the wonderful support of the University of Southern California for a whole series of initiatives that allow for the careful study of religions and interreligious dialogue. This kind of study is just one of the key research agendas of the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies, which played a key role in organizing the conference and seeing this book through to publication. Passing on the Faith ...