Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others

According to Taylor (emeritus, religion, Piedmont Coll.; An Altar in the World), holy envy is discovering something in another faith tradition that one's own beliefs cannot quite embody. Here the author takes readers on a composite tour of the Religion 101 courses she's taught over the years and describes how teaching has transformed her interactions with believers of different faiths and enriched her own beliefs. This serves as the conduit for her sojourn and those of her fellow classroom pilgrims. The course of the narrative progresses through a series of field trips, student profiles, exams, and even a baccalaureate service. Through these encounters, Taylor is able to chip away at the particular Christian categories she uses to evaluate religious perspectives other than her own, acknowledging that none of us has a corner on the transcendent, that we each have something to give and receive while remaining true to our own faith.