interfaith
What to know
Interfaith refers to people from different religious and spiritual backgrounds who join together to engage in dialogue, community action, education, and cooperation. It can also refer to people of different religions who choose to marry and/or build families.
Organizations that encourage and sponsor interfaith cooperation argue that the benefits of interfaith work include helping people understand their own values and beliefs, potentially decreasing hostility and violence, and increasing religious literacy. Interfaith cooperation typically does not require people to give up or ignore their unique religious and ethical beliefs and practices, but encourages working together across those differences for a common cause. Some organizations like the Pluralism Project at Harvard University frame interfaith cooperation as part of the project of pluralism, which focuses on building bridges across differences in order to strengthen civic life. Some organizations create interfaith groups to work for peace and justice in the world through interfaith friendships and political organizing.
Interfaith is not to be confused with intrafaith, which refers to different groups within a particular religion; or ecumenical, which specifically refers to unity among different Christian churches and denominations.
Variants of interfaith include interreligious, multifaith, and multireligious. These words are sometimes used interchangeably depending on the context, while some individuals and organizations use certain variants for specific purposes. While all these variants refer to organized religion, some interfaith/interreligious groups are inclusive of religious “nones” and people who articulate spiritual and ethical beliefs outside of organized religion. While coming together to work for a common cause is often central to interfaith work, individuals within these groups usually maintain distinct ethical and theological beliefs that are unique to them and their religious/spiritual tradition(s). Taking into account how someone self-identifies whenever possible ensures coverage aligns with their lived experience. Being specific about the faiths or beliefs in question when possible also helps add clarity.
Additional resources
- The Pluralism Project (Harvard University)
- Faith & Media Initiative
- Interfaith America
- Opinion: Why We Shouldn’t Lose Faith in Organized Religion (New York Times)
- White House’s Melissa Rogers affirms religious diversity as interfaith group expands (Religion News Service)
Summary
Interfaith refers to people from different religious and spiritual backgrounds who join together to engage in dialogue, community action, education, and cooperation. It can also refer to people of different religions who choose to marry and/or build families. Variants of interfaith include interreligious, multifaith, and multireligious. These words are sometimes used interchangeably depending on the context, while some individuals and organizations use certain variants for specific purposes. Some interfaith/interreligious groups are inclusive of religious “nones” and people who articulate spiritual and ethical beliefs outside of organized religion. Taking into account how someone self-identifies whenever possible ensures coverage aligns with their lived experience. Being specific about the faiths or beliefs in question when possible also helps add clarity.