Religious Pluralism in Democratic Societies: Challenges and Prospects for Southeast Asia, Europe, and the United States in the New Millennium (review)

In a globalizing world, linked in so many ways by economic, political, and security concerns, it is important to recognize the local impact of the global and the global impact of the local. This is a sufficient justification to focus on the promises and challenges of religious pluralism, which has implications for the democratic governance of multi-religious societies. Peaceful democracy depends on people's willingness to cooperate with one another, which in the final analysis depends on a shared sense of community.

The 20^th century bears witness to the fact of people doing unspeakable things to those for whom they lack community feeling. This is especially true of people who see themselves threatened by: outsiders, economic forces, or things they do not understand. Thus, conflict wracks Sri Lanka, Rwanda, and the former Yugoslavia. Both Sri Lanka and Rwanda were once peaceful, even progressive, but now they are aflame. Former Yugoslavia has seen four wars or quasi-wars in eight years: Croats against Serbs (twice), both against Bosnians, and now Serbs against Albanians. Whatever their causes, they have eradicated pan-Yugoslav society and set its inhabitants at odds along ethno-religious lines. India and Northern Ireland continue to suffer religious strife, while many of the various former Soviet Republics have split ethnically. Simultaneously, there is a growth of religious fundamentalism in several traditions. Though different in scale and scope, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, and other faiths have found new vigour in a self-conscious return to "tradition". Various authors have charted this resurgence and noted their similarity to inter-ethnic strife. They have suggested the creative shaping of a social order that encourages people to value their stake in each other's lives.

The book under review is an excellent endeavour in that direction. It is essentially a product of an international conference organized by the Malaysian Association for American Studies in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in late August 2002. The 14 chapters of almost equal length, revised and updated with the inclusion of a section on Europe, present a variety of views from both Muslim and non-Muslim scholars on the nature and impact of religious pluralism on the way of life of people in Southeast Asia, America, and Europe. This is analysed in the larger context of the region's relationship with modernity, democracy, and globalization.

The book is divided into three parts. Part I, containing seven chapters, deals with the problems and challenges of religious pluralism and coexistence in Southeast Asia and the United States. Common to both regions is the phenomenon of immigration that has contributed to multi-culturalism and religious coexistence. Part II is devoted exclusively to the examination of religious diversity in Europe and the form it has taken in recent decades. Part III contains four chapters analysing the linkage between democracy and the notion of separation of church and state with reference to Southeast Asia, Europe, and America. Islam and Southeast Asia looms large in all the chapters and in the discussion on Southeast Asian pluralism, Malaysia and Indonesia consume more space than other countries. As expected, the editor has provided a lengthy introduction and a meaningful concluding chapter.

The purpose of this volume is not to explain the prevalence of ethno-religious conflict, nationalism, and fundamentalism in the twenty-first century. Its objective is to underscore the importance of equality and interconnectedness for a secure world order for the prosperity of humanity at large. Leonard Swidler (Chapter 1), drawing upon the experience of Western civilization, sees peaceful world order possible only if religion is separated from the power of the state. It is also essential to be engaged in "deep dialogue" within each community and between religious communities to learn and to grow in the perception and understanding of reality and...