If I ask you what the human rights, civil rights or environmental movements are about, you likely can give a semi-coherent description. The interfaith relations movement, on the other hand, has no defined brand.

Religious diversity is a natural part of life, and it is becoming even more important to be able to understand and interact with people who have different views. We must accept that our children may not choose to think what we think -- and perhaps that is what scares us the most.

For Christians, how does a gospel of love turn into a gospel of hate toward fellow countrymen in Africa? For Muslims, how does a religion of peace get turned into a mandate for murder in Iraq, the Sudan, Nigeria and elsewhere?

Understanding the commonality and differences in our foundational texts will go far in explaining why attacks on sharia cannot be separated from attacks on religious law in general.

To pray for peace is not to seek a healing that is contrary to our deepest instinct. It is rather, as Mahatma Gandhi said, to get in touch with "the intense longings of the human heart."

These incidents are not widespread. But we call on the demonstrators and the communities involved to stand as one and denounce the hate now -- and at every future opportunity.

When we see all the evil that is done in the name of religion, we naturally want no part of it. But the truth is, the problem isn't with religion per se. The problem is with seeing religion as an end unto itself.

I recently proposed an SBL session examining the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society's use of Scripture.

Today, on the occasion of World Peace Day, I urge all countries of the world to come together -- to come forward -- to allocate a small fraction of their defense budget toward peace education.

I believe in an America that will overcome these difficult times in the next 10 years and help create a better future for people of all faiths (or people of no faith), be they Christian, Jewish or Muslim.

If we can continue building bridges, if the voices of pluralism can be heard above the din of the frightened and hateful, I will consider us well on the way to building an inclusive society.

Our engagement to study holy texts, and many such similar groups around the world, prove that people from very different religious traditions can respect, understand and love each other.

We need to address the root cause of these incidents of violence before it is too late. A combination of peace and dynamism is needed in society today.

A discussion of Muslim women's rights should begin with a brief examination of the lives of extraordinary Muslim women who defined Islamic culture during Prophet Muhammad's lifetime

I have been participating in interfaith dialogue as a rabbi and Jewish leader for more than 30 years, and most of the time it just doesn't work. Most of the time it is terribly boring.