INTERCULTURAL LIVING: REVIEW (6)

The Importance of the Book

The book of ‘Intercultural Living’ is an encyclopedia for those who have searched for a comprehensive understanding and explanation about interculturality related to religious life. The following points are the importance of the book for our study and its contribution. 

Firstly, with the massive influence of globalization, intercultural communication has become indispensable in our society. Attempting to stop the mobilization/movement of people to new places, and back to their former homelands, would be rather impossible.
Thus, the implementation of intercultural communication would only be possible if it was done in the light of mutual enrichment and transformation. 

The ethnorelative approach of interculturality, which provides undoubtedly a safe environment for intercultural communication, assists one to appreciate different ways of thinking, see the world, and act upon the reality.

By integrating these different cultural perspectives on the personal level, humans are individually transformed. In turn, it will make impacts on the wider society. 

To successfully apply intercultural communication, one needs to go out of the comfort zone which ethnocentrism has endorsed. A conversion from ethnocentrism to ethnorelativism is therefore mandatory.
Secondly, a strong theological foundation of interculturality. The first part of the book shows the comprehensive explanation and understanding of the Trinitarian relationship/spirituality as a foundation of interculturality. Interculturality, therefore, is not a secular concept for the church and Christianity, but it should become a way of life or spirituality.
Thirdly, the excellent elaborations and findings of the concept of interculturality with various range of disciplines are very useful and practical. It is true that various books have been published under this theme, but this book in particular deals with interculturality specifically within the religious life and how it relates to the mission. This is the strength and contribution of the book.

Finally, the expertise of the writers. It should be acknowledged that this book is written by experts in their fields. Their various backgrounds and specialties have made the book rich in its content and offer readers a warehouse of knowledge and understanding of interculturality. 

For students and knowledge seekers who wish to enhance the concept of intercultural living and communication, this book is highly recommended.

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