Wading Through Many Voices

Book excerpt: Wading through Many Voices brings together the voices of Latino/a, African American, Asian American, Native American, and Euro-American scholars to produce a dialogue of public theology: how faith-communities, divided by race, class, ethnicity, and gender, can find a common ground for life together. The authors articulate a multiethnic perspective on public theology that counters the divisive identity politics of U.S. public life with systematic thinking that strengthens the commitment to critically transform social relations in light of a shared vision of public good. The contributors develop a shared public theology that addresses social divisions while offering readers a broad vision to collaborate and struggle for an improved understanding of the common good for our pluralistic society. In light of emerging social issues, the contributors suggest that a fundamental respect for difference is a required first value for living together in a common social and political space.