Finding a Way In

Abstract

Dialogue is central to the process of deep understanding and to building true communities that not only respect cultural and spiritual/faith differences but also excel and thrive at intrapersonal, interpersonal, institutional, and cultural levels because of those differences. Although the benefits of dialogue as a pathway to authentic interfaith and intercultural communities are well documented, dialogue is not easy to develop and sustain within complex systems, such as healthcare and higher education. Thus, when dialogue as a means for deeper intercultural or interfaith understanding has not been readily agreed to by participants, the challenges met along the dialogic pathway can be difficult to sell. Following a review of the foundational literature pertaining to calling-out and calling-in, this chapter examines the lessons learned from teaching the praxis of calling-in versus calling-out as a starting point for the development and maintenance of dialogue across differences within complex systems.