It seems to me that there is some confusion between these two ideas. I think sometimes people think that interfaith is comparative religion, or at least comparing religions is an essential part of interfaith.
For me, interfaith is more like the United Nations, where individual groups work together for a common goal outside any of their beliefs. So it might be to reduce crime, or to provide charity, or help in an emergency. It's where we acknowledge each other as part of humanity. Nothing can destroy an interfaith meeting more than some person preaching their religion to the rest. Interfaith is more something from the heart.
Comparative religion, OTOH, is like a university class on it. It's where we pursue similarities, differences, contrasts, and all that, with debate even, where it's called for. It's very much an exercise of the intellect, or the brain.
So it the two concepts are overlapped, challenges can arise. A person might avoid interfaith altogether because they're not wanting to argue or debate, but that's because they don't understand what interfaith is.
Thoughts?
For me, interfaith is more like the United Nations, where individual groups work together for a common goal outside any of their beliefs. So it might be to reduce crime, or to provide charity, or help in an emergency. It's where we acknowledge each other as part of humanity. Nothing can destroy an interfaith meeting more than some person preaching their religion to the rest. Interfaith is more something from the heart.
Comparative religion, OTOH, is like a university class on it. It's where we pursue similarities, differences, contrasts, and all that, with debate even, where it's called for. It's very much an exercise of the intellect, or the brain.
So it the two concepts are overlapped, challenges can arise. A person might avoid interfaith altogether because they're not wanting to argue or debate, but that's because they don't understand what interfaith is.
Thoughts?