In this age of social media and blogging, it seems strange that it took so long for the academic world of theology to encounter books such as Francis X. Clooney’s Learning Interreligiously: In the Text, In the World, made up of selected writings from Clooney’s blog, written for a Jesuit journal of opinion.
As an academic who has historically not shied away from his call to dispel “ignorance” and propagate interreligious learning (xii), Clooney’s collection of writings addresses significant American religious themes. Learning Interreligiously covers a broad range of thought, from comparative theology to former President Barack Obama.
It comes as no surprise that much of the book focuses on Hinduism and Christianity, namely, how these traditions can learn and grow alongside each other. As a Christian—particularly a Catholic—Clooney’s lens tends toward the Christian viewpoint. He describes how he “selected instances of my reading of the texts of other faith traditions (primarily Hindu), such as showed how I thought such texts enrich Christian faith, even if, when read closely, never ‘saying the same thing’” (xii).
One can imagine that this is especially invigorating for audience members who come from or are familiar with a Christian religious background. Although Clooney writes with an interreligious perspective, he focuses on broadening the Christian perspective. A unique aspect of the author’s collection of writings is how he includes blog entries that track through the Western Christian liturgical seasons: Advent, Lent, the Easter season, Pentecost, to name a few. The use of the Christian liturgical calendar means that Learning Interreligiously is a unique resource for any Christian community that hopes to reinvigorate its worship or preaching with wisdom from other faith perspectives.
Clooney also directs intentional thought toward questions that have pervaded the American Christian landscape for quite some time. The author dedicates multiple pieces to the importance of Muslim-Christian understanding and respect. In multiple blog entries from 2008, Clooney names the “debate about Barack Obama’s religion, particularly regarding those who attack him by implying he is a Muslim, and those who defend him by vigorously assuring us that he is not a Muslim” (205).
It is refreshing to hear a Catholic theologian and teacher assert the importance of learning from and engaging with one’s neighbors, not in spite of their faith but because of their unique religious lens. Clooney speaks to his readers earnestly, saying, “Since we can learn and can open our minds, it becomes culpable ignorance not to keep learning about one another (212).”
Clooney also includes pieces about reading Mormon texts, including the Book of Mormon (181–201). These five “reflections” (189) are not the most compelling of Learning Interreligiously; the author readily admits that he is “not a scholar of the Latter-Day Saints; I have previously only skimmed the Book of Mormon, and the copy I have is from a hotel room” (181). While it is certainly apparent that Clooney is not a scholar of Mormonism, there are a few key takeaways for readers.
First of all, Clooney normalizes learning and reading about other religious traditions even if one is not a scholar. Second, he acknowledges in the second reflection that it is integral to consider criticism from those who are more knowledgeable than oneself. He shares his gratitude to a “distinguished scholar of the Book of Mormon, for emailing me and making several good suggestions.” Clooney makes it clear that the key to interreligious understanding is being open to learning from one another without shame or fear of criticism. Third, Clooney emphasizes the importance of reading a text rather than basing one’s beliefs about a religion on “Googling rumors” (185). The downfall, of course, is that not everyone has access to various or accurate religious texts or the ability to sit and study them.
Learning Interreligiously is for average-level theologians who are looking to for resources to lead their students, congregations, or even themselves to deeper interreligious understanding. That these pieces were written originally in blog format means that they are short, succinct, and to the point. They are a great starting place for those looking to heighten their understanding of comparative theology. These writings call the reader to “further reflection” on the importance of learning from one’s neighbors “as intrinsic to the life of faith” (xiii).
Hannah D. Olson is a hospital chaplain and an independent scholar.
Hannah D. Olson
Date Of Review:
February 18, 2022