We don't have to live divided!
We are living in a time of profound social divisions in the United States. Many of us feel deeply concerned and long for a better future for our families and our communities. What can we do that will make a difference?
Trust grows when we know each other, do good for each other, and honor each other in public. Our Wisdom Traditions remind us of these truths. Neighbors of different cultures, faith traditions, and life circumstances can come together in simple yet powerful encounters.
Christians are often held back by the idea that relating to people of other traditions is not faithful to Jesus. Through his work to counter the bias and bigotry of our time, Rev. Terry Kyllo has been on a journey out of the culture of supremacy into the experience of our common humanity.
"I was born into White Christian Supremacy. But I was not born for it. You weren't either. The Creator has more beautiful ways for us to live and is restoring what was taken from us. Jesus invites his followers to take the long, painful, joyous, and healing journey of daily baptism to find our identity among all the Creator's children, all made in God's image."
Go on your own journey out of division and follow Jesus into our common humanity with Go and Do Likewise.
Reviews
Terry's wonderful book is written about a topic I have been focused on for all of my teaching career. Coming from an ordained Lutheran pastor gives his interpretation of religious pluralism more currency than is possible in a university classroom setting. I can hardly wait for its publication so I can add it to my own library. But more importantly, his interpretation of religious pluralism needs to be part of the religious education curriculum of local church communities.
Paul O. Ingram, Professor Emeritus, Pacific Lutheran University
This book helps us to better understand the beauty of Christianity and explains how it has been misused to rationalize hatred and dehumanization of others. Rev. Kyllo teaches us to use our wisdom traditions to honor one another and to help create meaningful relationships with others. It is a powerful message.
Rabbi Allison Flash
In this time of heightened white Christian nationalism and distrust in religious institutions, Terry Kyllo's Go and Do Likewise helps lead us toward a life-giving and authentic way of mutuality. In these pages you will find engaging and accessible guidance for modeling Jesus and honoring all wisdom traditions. This book is a profound gift for faith communities and individuals who wish to live out their true calling to "go and do likewise."
Rev. Dr. Jana Schofield, Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, Bellingham, WA
This remarkable book is filled with wisdom and hope. The author beautifully models the precious truth that to love Jesus is to make a commitment to tame the ego and open the heart, to celebrate God's diversity on earth, and to be of humble service to all of Creation.
Imam Jamal Rahman, author of Spiritual Gems of Islam
As we pursue justice in this balkanized world, we desperately need coconspirators to create a more just and humane world. In this work Terry Kyllo points us in the direction of collaboration rooted in the teaching and life of Jesus. As we engage faithful community-building behaviors this work is an important contribution to building the infrastructure of trust necessary to form healthy coalitions.
Rt. Rev. Edward Donalson III, DMin | Provost Fellow for Ecumenical Relations SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY AND MINISTRY | SEATTLE UNIVERSITY
The Rev. Terry Kyllo is the executive director Paths to Understanding: Bridging Bias and Building Unity. Terry works to counter Islamophobia, Antisemitism, Christian supremacy, and other forms of dehumanization. He believes we can recognize and honor one another's humanity. A graduate of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, he began his pastoral career in 1991 and has served in partnership between Episcopalians and Lutherans since 2004. Terry was the recipient of the Faith Action Network Interfaith Leadership Award in 2016, the Interfaith Leadership Award from the Muslim Association of Puget Sound in 2017, and the Sultan and Saint Peace award in 2017, and the Called to Lead award in 2018 by the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. You can learn more about his work at www.pathstounderstanding.org.
