"Interfaith Heroes" is an inspiring 31-day reader, showcasing short biographies of men and women throughout history who have crossed traditional boundaries of religious groups to build stronger communities. The dramatic story of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is included as well as biographical sketches of Mahatma Gandhi and St. Francis, among the more famous names in the book. But most readers will discover new uplifting stories, including the recently documented efforts by Albanian Muslims during World War II to hide Jews in their attics. Sketches of other famous leaders include Baptist pioneer Roger Williams, the Sufi poet best known simply as Rumi, Hindu writer Rabindranath Tagore, Jewish theologian Martin Buber, the American evangelist Howard Thurman and the French Catholic Cardinal Aaron Jean-Marie Lustiger. These stories were written and edited by Daniel Buttry, an international peace negotiator for American Baptist Churches - but the style of the book is balanced and educational. This is an exploration and a celebration of diversity, not a book aimed at converting anyone to anything other than peacemaking itself. The book includes questions for daily reflection that are designed to spark creative thinking by people of all faiths. The sketches and daily questions could be used by discussion groups or students in classrooms studying history, global culture or the sociology of religion. Also included is a Study Guide for individuals, groups and classrooms. Plus, suggestions for organizing new, regional interfaith groups. The book is supplemented with online content at www.InterfaithHeroes.info and readers are invited to read this book - and nominate more heroes whose lives will be honored and explored in future editions of this series.
Daniel L. Buttry considers himself as a "Peace Warrior." Raised in a military family he has become a global peace activist. He works as the Global Consultant for Peace and Justice with International Ministries of the American Baptist Churches. What that means is that he travels to conflict zones around the world to teach peace-building, nonviolence and reconciliation. He works primarily with church groups as his own passion for peacemaking comes from his deep Christian faith. But with so many conflicts having religious lines of division as a part of them Buttry engages in peacemaking across those faith lines. His writing and his activism have taken him to the places of inter-religious encounter and how to use various faith traditions to support peace rather than fuel violent conflict.
Buttry's personal and community life feeds his global work. He and his wife Sharon are both ordained American Baptist clergy, and both committed to urban ministry. They live in Hamtramck, Michigan, an urban municipality surrounded by Detroit. They have been involved in interfaith work as well as local community and school nonviolence work.
