The Culture of Encounter Project - Georgetown University

In our divided and dangerous world, the world’s religious traditions represent key resources in building what Pope Francis calls a “culture of encounter” on a global scale. In an international system facing crises of effectiveness, stability, and legitimacy, religious communities and interfaith networks have an unprecedented opportunity to cooperate with states and other secular partners around global challenges including climate change, public health, war, and peace. In this working paper Thomas Banchoff argues that to realize these opportunities, faith communities will need to work together to alleviate their internal divisions, renew their leaderships, and creatively engage with younger generations.