Acts of Faith: Book Discussion Guide

You have just read one person’s story of identity, faith, and action. What is your story? This guide is designed to help you, and a group of others on your campus, explore some of the major themes of the book as well as essential elements of your own stories. Our hope is that, like Eboo, by exploring and sharing stories you will be inspired to take action to build religious pluralism and a better world. The discussion is based on three major themes from the book: identity, community, and common action. These questions mean to guide but not limit the group’s conversation. As participants and/or facilitators, you should feel free to adjust the questions as appropriate.

Before you get started, it’s important to set the right tone for your discussion. This should enable people from all backgrounds to feel comfortable sharing their insights on the book as well as more personal reflections. Together, brainstorm guidelines you will need in order to feel comfortable in your discussions:

• What do you need from yourself and others in order to feel comfortable during this book discussion?
  • Examples of possible guidelines are: listening attentively when someone else is speaking, using “I” statements (I feel that …), or being able to pass on answering specific questions.
• Have someone in the group take notes on the group’s responses and then read the responses aloud to conclude setting the space.
• Ask everyone if they feel comfortable abiding by the guidelines. Revisit or reword guidelines that your group cannot reach consensus.

Although it should have felt like all the pieces of his life were coming together, Eboo still felt unsure of who he was. Seeing Brother Wayne’s connection to his Catholic tradition—and the way Brother Wayne used that connection to articulate a call to service—inspired and challenged Eboo to seek more.

• How did Brother Wayne help Eboo along his path to defining his identity? In what way did Brother Wayne give Eboo “wings” while encouraging his “roots” (p.70)?
• Tell the story of the formation of your own religious or non-religious identity. ¥ When was a time you were unsure about your own values or identity? Were there any individuals or events that helped you have “wings” and “roots?”
• How do give voice to your religious or non-religious identity?
• What other identities do you hold? How do they inform your religious or non-religious identity? Do these identities ever come into tension?

While in South Africa, Eboo learns the South African term for the principle of human togetherness: ubuntu (p. 116). Eboo explains that it was because of this sense of human togetherness that South Africans chose pluralism and reconciliation over separatist politics and vengeance.

• How did Eboo’s previous experiences bring him to this moment of clarity? Which of these experiences do you think was most transformative?
• What stories are you a part of? Give an example of a time when you felt that you were a part of something larger than yourself.
• How can you engage others on campus or in your community? What motivates or inspires you to do so?

Once your group completes this portion of the discussion, take a few minutes and discuss the following questions:

• What portion of today’s discussion was most meaningful or interesting? Why? What was the most challenging aspect of the conversation?
• Acts of Faith is the story of a young person reflecting on his values and using that to take action with others. How can young people in college take action on their values? What tools and support do they need?
• Eboo writes about the importance of pluralism. How does action on specific issues (poverty, hunger, the environment, etc.) strengthen interfaith work and enhance pluralism?

You have just discussed Eboo’s story as well as shared stories of identity, community, and action with each other. By coming together like this, you have been involved in building pluralism. Building pluralism requires young interfaith leaders to build relationships across identities, tell powerful stories to bridge divides, and act together on issues of common concern. The identities we hold, the stories we tell, and the actions we take all help contribute to the interfaith movement.