#  Encounter 

 



##  Encounter 

Essays highlighting historical perspectives and contemporary challenges of religious diversity



 

 

 

       ![new encounter](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2025-04/news-and-media.png?itok=yTx8Vwv-) 

 

 



 

 



##  Essays: Encountering Religious Diversity 

 



### Historical Perspectives 

 

The peoples of America have long encountered religious difference—from the variety of Native tribal traditions which existed before colonization to the presence today of every major religious and ethical tradition of the world in the United States.



 [ Read Essays arrow\_circle\_right ](/historical-perspectives) 

 



      ![Touro Synagogue](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2025-08/tourosynagoguenps.jpg?itok=bHWA1IKA) 

 

 

  

 



 

 

 

 

---

 

### Today's Challenges 

 

What are some of the contexts in which Americans are challenged to think in new ways about our religious diversity and enter into dialogue with one another, different as we are? What are the issues?



 [ Read Essays arrow\_circle\_right ](/todays-challenges) 

 



      ![protest signs](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2025-08/img_9712.jpg?h=7c363b87&itok=W2mIv9D3) 

 

 

  

 



 

 

 

 

##  Selected Publications 

 



  Download 3 citations  download- [BibTeX](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_cities1%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_religioustradition%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=169299&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_religioustradition%5D%5B1%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=169470&&&format=bibtex)
- [EndNote X3 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_cities1%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_religioustradition%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=169299&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_religioustradition%5D%5B1%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=169470&&&format=endnote8)
- [EndNote 7 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_cities1%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_religioustradition%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=169299&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_religioustradition%5D%5B1%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=169470&&&format=endnote7)
- [Endnote tagged](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_cities1%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_religioustradition%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=169299&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_religioustradition%5D%5B1%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=169470&&&format=tagged)
- [Marc](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_cities1%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_religioustradition%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=169299&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_religioustradition%5D%5B1%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=169470&&&format=marc)
- [PubMedId](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_cities1%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_religioustradition%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=169299&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_religioustradition%5D%5B1%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=169470&&&format=pubmed_id)
- [RIS](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_cities1%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_religioustradition%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=169299&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_religioustradition%5D%5B1%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=169470&&&format=ris)
 


 

### 2025

Gustafson, Hans. *[Everyday Encounters: Humanizing Dialogue in Theory and Practice](/publication/everyday-encounters-humanizing-dialogue-theory-and-practice)*. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2025.



 

 

Gustafson, Hans. *[Everyday Encounters: Humanizing Dialogue in Theory and Practice](/publication/everyday-encounters-humanizing-dialogue-theory-and-practice)*. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2025.



 

 

 

 

 



### 2024

“[Pluralism Is a Big Deal](/publication/pluralism-big-deal)”. George W. Bush Presidential Center, 2024.



 

 

“[Pluralism Is a Big Deal](/publication/pluralism-big-deal)”. George W. Bush Presidential Center, 2024.



 

 

 

- [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://www.bushcenter.org/publications/pluralism-is-a-big-deal)
 
- [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://www.bushcenter.org/publications/pluralism-is-a-big-deal)
 
 

Kearns, Laurel D., and Whitney A. Bauman, eds. *[Religion and Nature in America: An Introduction](/publication/religion-and-nature-america-introduction)*. London: Bloomsbury, 2024.



 

 

Kearns, Laurel D., and Whitney A. Bauman, eds. *[Religion and Nature in America: An Introduction](/publication/religion-and-nature-america-introduction)*. London: Bloomsbury, 2024.



 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 [ See more publications arrow\_circle\_right ](/publications?f%5B0%5D=bibcite_reference_hwp_c_religioustradition%3A169299) 

 

 

 

 

##  Glossary 

 



  [### 1993 Parliament of the World's Religions

 ](/1993-parliament-worlds-religions) 

   [### agnostic

 ](/agnostic) 

   [### altar

 ](/altar) 

   [### assimilation

 ](/assimilation) 

   [### chapel

 ](/chapel) 

   [### cultural pluralism

 ](/cultural-pluralism) 

   [### dialogue

 ](/dialogue) 

   [### ecumenical

 ](/ecumenical) 

  

 

 [ More arrow\_circle\_right ](/multifaith-glossary-terms)