House of Dialogue
The Chinese House
Shen Ho Shi
The House of Sylvan Harmonies
Six Recommendations for the House of Dialogue
House of Dialogue is a gift to Central Indiana

• A place: safe neutral, nowhere-everywhere
• Open for invitation: welcoming, warm and designated for dialogue
• Personal: place to know and be known; relational
• Rooted: in central Indiana historical ethos of Eli Lilly
• Unique: special and can be shaped and formed. Has no public identity.
• Sponsored: already here, staffed, within an organization already set up; no organizational years to retrofit or renovate

Six recommendations:

1. About dialogue itself: Dialogue experience; a balance of skills (training) and content (issues) not talk about experience, but experience it ourselves. To experience the change in others and ourselves as the fruit of dialogue. To experience the “we” of dialogue. These dialogue events need careful planning to set up the boundaries and expectations. At first it is helpful to have a facilitator to control through skillful leadership the process and stay on task.

The new and revised edition of my book has been released:

Islam Is...
An Experience of Dialogue and Devotion

Islam Is... is the record of my multiyear engagement in interfaith dialogue with American Muslims in an effort to bridge the gaps that seem to divide Christianity and Islam. In the book I reflect on Islam, a religion that has challenged and transformed me and in which I have found startling similarities to my own deeply held Catholic practice and beliefs.

I examine the controversial issues of terrorism, women's rights and economic power, and offer Christians, and Catholics in particular, a way of viewing Islam that is honest and authentic. The foreword is by Michael L. Fitzgerald, the introduction by John Borelli, PhD, and the book concludes with an afterword by Islamic scholar Dr. Shahid Athar, who dialogues with and explores my ideas.

The book is printed on recycled paper, and available from my publisher, Lantern Books.