Introduction to Religious Acculturation

The challenges and changes that occur when religions move from one cultural context to another present unique opportunities for interreligious dialogue. In new cultural environments, religions are not only propelled to engage with the traditional or dominant religion of a particular culture; religions are also invited to engage with one another about cultural changes.

Focus of the Volume

In this volume, scholars from different religious traditions discuss the various types of dialogue that have emerged from the process of acculturation. While the phenomenon of religious acculturation has generally focused on Western religions in non-Western contexts, this volume deals predominantly with the acculturation in the United States.

Significance of the Study

It thus offers a fresh look at the phenomenon of acculturation while also highlighting an often implicit or ignored dimension of interreligious dialogue.