How to Establish Productive Jewish and Christian Dialogue

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Make sure everyone participating in the discussion is open-minded and willing to learn.

   A racist or preachy attitude is useless for interfaith dialogues.
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   Step 2: Learn as much as possible about the history of both religions.

   Ask a practitioner  of Judaism and Christianity for books that they feel give an accurate view of their own religions. , No matter how big your group is, you will not be able to fully represent either religion in your dialogue, because there is just too much variety. , Remember, a dialogue is not a debate. , If things wander from history to philosophy and then over to culture, it may be harder to ensure things stay civil. , Stop the dialogue if things get heated, before they get out of hand. , No one is directly responsible for things their ancestors or cousins did. , Your goal should be to learn and teach, not to convert people from either faith, prove someone wrong, or rehash wars from thousands of years ago.
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   Step 3: Always remember that both Jews and Christians come in many types.

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   Step 4: Do not allow either group to proselytize (attempt to convert others) during the dialogue.

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   Step 5: Set a specific topic and try to keep the conversation in that area.

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   Step 6: Make sure there are rules about participants not touching one another

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   Step 7: not shouting

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   Step 8: and not using offensive language.

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   Step 9: Don't let people play victim or accuser.

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    Step 10: Keep your goals realistic.

Detailed Guide

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