A new book, Before We Call Them Strangers: What Adventists Ought to Know About Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus, by Paul Dybdahl, Walla Walla University (WWU) professor of mission and New Testament, has been published by AdventSource.
In the book, Dybdahl suggests that learning about other religions shouldn’t scare us but should actually strengthen us in our walk with Jesus. “I think we tend to be afraid of people who are not of our religion,” says Dybdahl. “We don’t need to be afraid. If we listen, we can be blessed, and, though we are different, there is much that we share.”
Dybdahl was inspired to write the book after teaching the WWU world religions class. “I realized talking respectfully about other religions didn’t make students want to convert to a different religion,” he says. “Instead, it challenged them to be more faithful in their own spiritual journeys.”
In February 2017, Dybdahl presented a lecture on this topic for the annual WWU Distinguished Faculty Lecture. A recording of the lecture can be viewed at wallawalla.edu/DFL.
Dybdahl’s book is available at www.AdventSource.org.
Ali Reiner, WWU university relations student writer
Paul Dybdahl is professor of mission and New Testament at Walla Walla University.
