“You don’t really know someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.”

To read Minefields and Miracles: Why God and Allah Need to Talk by Ruth Broyde Sharone is to walk in the shoes of a serious and accomplished interfaith activist. Readers will see the difference that one person can and is making in this world. I happen to know Ruth and I can tell you that conversations with her are as inspiring as her memoir, if not more.The journey is real, down to earth, all over the globe, and full of obstacles – the minefields. But it is also blessed with miracles -unexpected gifts, encouragement, reconciliation, and sincere people of all religious and philosophical backgrounds manifesting a shared and practical vision of peace.

If there are any interfaith educators or interspiritual leaders who feel alone in their work, this book confirms that not only are you not alone but you are growing exponentially. The mainstream media may not tell these stories, but books like these do and for those in the field, they are significant reading. Ruth’s writing style in particular makes you feel like you are sharing the work and the walk together. Plus, there are tons of pictures through its 300+ pages!

Minefields & Miracles provides wonderful stories to draw upon in one’s own teaching, descriptive encounters with some of the most important interfaith leaders of the day, a collection of lessons learned for moving forward, a wealth of resources for joining various interfaith efforts, ideas for new projects and the courage to do them or others, and faith in the interfaith movement itself. Ruth’s book is not only an inspiring one-woman memoir, it is a micro-history of the international interfaith community in our own era and for this, you will not want to take off your shoes.

See the Resources on this website for interfaith and interspiritual programs.