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ON COMMON GROUND Guide for Teachers and Students
immigrant, a third-generation Japanese American Buddhist, a third-generation Swedish Lutheran, an African American Muslim, a secular person with no religious affiliation, and so forth.
What would you say? • How would you describe your own family background in ethnic or religious terms? • What do the members of your family, the people in your community, have to say
about "what America means?" • What does America mean to you?
3. Noticing a New Diversity
The essay "We the People ..." describes the changes in America's religious landscape since the 1965 immigration act.
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Do you have friends or family who came to America during these years? What evidence have you seen in your community or your school of this wider "we" of a more diverse America?
4. Questions to Begin With
By yourself, in a small group, or in a class discussion, list the questions you have about America's new religious landscape and its various new religious traditions. Write them on the board or in your notebook. Let these questions determine your approach to ON COMMON GROUND.
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What are you most interested in? Which cities or regions covered here do you want to know more about? Which religious traditions do you know nothing about? Which religions do you know something about or a lot about? What are the things you know? Write down the important points. What stereotypes do you think you might hold? What do you know about the encounters of people of different religions? Do you think religious diversity is important? Why or why not? Do you think the United States can have religious freedom or religious equality given the strong numerical dominance of Christians? What do you suppose is the "common ground" of all religious traditions in America? Is it just the American soil, coast to coast, or is it important ideas and ideals?
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