University of La Verne Professor Releases Interfaith Book

University of La Verne Professor of Religion and Philosophy Dr. Richard Rose has published a new book that offers ideas for how people of different faiths and ideologies can overcome tensions.

“An Interreligious Approach to a Social Ethic for Christian Audiences,” published by Christian World Imprints, is vital because people of different beliefs face challenges in getting along, despite living in a diverse world, Rose said.

“Our inability to live together harmoniously exists on interpersonal, intercultural, and international levels,” Rose said. “As an ordained Christian minister for over 30 years and a professor of religion and philosophy for over 20 years, I have been troubled by the seeming inability of religious leaders to develop a coherent strategy in the work for social and global peace.”

One method Rose promotes is restorative justice, which addresses crime by repairing the harm it has done. In some cases, that involves bringing the victim and perpetrator together to discuss how to resolve the issue.

“Implemented well, restorative justice shifts the focus of discipline from punishment to learning and from the individual to community,” Rose said.

Rose is an ordained elder with the African Methodist Episcopal Church and assistant pastor at Christ Our Redeemer Church in Irvine. He serves on the advisory board of the Southern California Committee for a Parliament of the World Religions. He also serves as chair of the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Interfaith Conference in Irvine.

He is the chair of the religion and philosophy department at the University of La Verne. He directs the university’s Ecumenical Center for Black Church Studies Program and serves as advisor for the La Verne Brothers’ Forum Mentoring Program.

Learn more about the book at Christian World Imprints.