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KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The Fetzer Institute announces the publication of Retelling Sacred Stories: Our Journeys to a Shared Sacred Story, a groundbreaking, multi-faith collaboration five years in the making.
Published by Orbis Books, this 544-page volume brings together nine global teams of scholar-practitioners from major world traditions to re-envision their sacred narratives for a deeply interconnected world.
The project is a central expression of Fetzer’s mission to build a spiritual foundation for a loving world, which brings together leaders from Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Indigenous traditions, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, and Inter-spiritual communities to explore how ancient narratives can speak powerfully and poetically to the crises of the contemporary world.
“This book represents one of the most ambitious interfaith collaborations of our time,” says Dr. William F. Vendley, Vice President of World Religions and Spirituality at the Fetzer Institute. “Each tradition’s retelling honors its own lineage while contributing to a shared sacred narrative for humanity that readers are encouraged to read through the lens of their sacred tradition and/or experience. Our hope is that these stories will inspire deeper empathy, solidarity, and a renewed sense of the Sacred in public and private life.”
The volume includes retellings created collaboratively by leading voices from each tradition, culminating in a poetic, scientifically informed, and spiritually resonant narrative that speaks to the essence of human unity.
‘Working with our scholar-practitioner teams across traditions has reaffirmed that story is one of humanity’s most powerful tools for transformation,” says Mohammed Mohammed, Senior Program Officer at the Fetzer Institute. “This volume invites readers to listen, reflect, and see themselves as part of a global family with a shared spiritual destiny.”
Already endorsed by respected leaders such as Bruno Guiderdoni, Roshi Joan Halifax, Arvind Sharma, Rabbi Irving Greenberg, and Shaykh Abdallah bin Bayyah, Retelling Sacred Stories is positioned to become a foundational resource for interfaith dialogue, spiritual formation, and cultural healing.
Praise for Retelling Sacred Stories
Esteemed thinkers and spiritual leaders have offered powerful reflections on the book:
- “This book … is intended for all readers who are prepared to explore—or perhaps better, experience—the shared sacred narrative with an open heart and mind.” — Celia E. Deane-Drummond, Director, Laudato si’ Research Institute, Oxford.
- “The overall aim of this project aligns with the Qur’anic call … ‘And cooperate in righteousness and piety’ (Qur’an 5:2).” — H.E. Shaykh Abdalla bin Bayyah, President, Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace.
- “The creators of this volume … offer an experience of the Sacred … I want to testify that I was moved.” — Rabbi Irving (Yitz) Greenberg, J.J. Greenberg Institute for the Advancement of Jewish Life.
- “What makes this work particularly significant is its radical inclusivity. [It] offers us a reminder that our very survival depends on us recovering a sense of the Sacred.” — Roshi Joan Halifax, Abbot, Upaya Zen Center.
- “Provides a totally new horizon. … This is nothing less than a quantum leap.” — Arvind Sharma, Professor, Comparative Religion, McGill University.
- “Traveling through the heat and drought of modernity, I find fresh, sweet waters in Retelling Sacred Stories.” — Melissa K. Nelson, Professor, Indigenous Sustainability, Arizona State University.
Where to Purchase: Retelling Sacred Stories can be ordered directly from Orbis Books or via major retail outlets.
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About the Fetzer Institute: The Fetzer Institute’s mission is to help build the spiritual foundation for a loving world. Learn more at fetzer.org and sign up for Fetzer’s newsletter at fetzer.org/subscribe.
Contact:
Silma Suba
The Fetzer Institute
[email protected]
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RNS or Religion News Foundation.