How to Be A Perfect Stranger (6th Edition)
Updated and Revised! Includes Glossary of Popular Religious Symbols
We North Americans live in a remarkably diverse society, and it's increasingly common to be invited to a wedding, funeral or other religious service of a friend, relative or coworker whose faith is different from our own. These can be awkward situations ...
What will happen?
What do I do? What do I wear? What do I say?
What should I avoid doing, wearing, saying?
Is it okay to use a video camera?
How long will it last? What are their basic beliefs?
Will there be a reception? Will there be food?
Should I bring a gift? When is it okay to leave?
These are just a few of the basic questions answered in How to Be a Perfect Stranger. This easy-to-read guidebook, with an "Everything You Need to Know Before You Go" checklist, helps the well-meaning guest to feel comfortable, participate to the fullest extent possible and avoid violating anyone's religious principles―while enriching their own spiritual understanding. For people of all faiths, all backgrounds.
African American Methodist Churches • Assemblies of God • Bahá’í Faith • Baptist • Buddhist • Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) • Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) • Churches of Christ • Episcopalian and Anglican • Hindu • Islam • Jehovah’s Witnesses • Jewish · Lutheran • Mennonite/Amish • Methodist • Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) • Native American/First Nations • Orthodox Churches • Pentecostal Church of God • Presbyterian • Quaker (Religious Society of Friends) • Reformed Church in America/Canada • Roman Catholic • Seventh-day Adventist • Sikh • Unitarian Universalist • United Church of Canada • United Church of Christ
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Book details
- Edited by
- Stuart M. Matlins, Arthur J. Magida
- Imprint
- SkyLight Paths, an imprint of Turner Publishing Company
- Published
- Pages
- 393
- Formats
- Paperback, Hardcover
- Subjects
- Reference › Etiquette
Religion › Reference
Religion › Comparative Religion - Topics
- religious etiquette · interfaith relations · comparative religion · world religions · weddings and funerals · cultural diversity · worship services
- ISBN-13
- 9781594735936 (Paperback)9781683361190 (Hardcover)
About the author
STUART M. MATLINS is founder, editor-in-chief, and publisher of Jewish Lights Publishing and SkyLight Paths Publishing, with both imprints focusing on religion and spirituality from a broad, non-denominational perspective. His books include How to Be a Perfect Stranger: The Essential Religious Etiquette Handbook, The Jewish Lights Spirituality Handbook: A Guide to Understanding, Exploring & Living a Spiritual Life, and The Perfect Stranger’s Guide to Funerals and Grieving Practices: A Guide to Etiquette in Other People’s Religious Ceremonies.
Matlins received the Abraham Geiger Medal in 2014, recognizing outstanding service to religious pluralism, and the American Jewish Distinguished Service Award from Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in 2006. He is listed in Who’s Who in America.
Matlins served as a management consultant for over thirty years as a managing partner with Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., and subsequently headed his own consulting firm. He has served for over twenty years on the Board of Governors of Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion.
Stuart lives in Woodstock, Vermont, with his wife, Antoinette Matlins.