Practicing Holy Curiosity

What if understanding our neighbors could deepen our faith rather than threaten it?

In a world increasingly divided by religion, politics, and competing convictions, Practicing Holy Curiosity offers another way: pull up a chair, listen carefully, ask thoughtful questions, and encounter the person before the position.

Drawing on more than three decades of ministry, counseling, and chaplaincy, Rev. Kevin Lynch explores what it means to remain deeply rooted in Christian faith while approaching people of different religions and beliefs with humility, respect, and genuine curiosity.

Through stories, conversations, pastoral reflections, and accessible introductions to Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, sectarian religious groups, and those who claim no religious faith, Lynch moves beyond simply asking, "What do they believe?" Instead, he invites readers to ask a more personal question:

"Tell me about your journey."

Along the way, Practicing Holy Curiosity explores how listening can become an act of love, how understanding differs from agreement, and how Christians can engage religious differences without surrendering their own convictions. It is especially attentive to the wisdom that comes through a lifetime of experience-the questions that remain, the beliefs that deepen, and the relationships that teach us what matters most.

At the heart of the book is a simple conviction: before we meet a religion or draw a conclusion, we meet a person.

Written especially for older adults, church groups, chaplains, clergy, caregivers, and anyone seeking more gracious conversations across religious differences, Practicing Holy Curiosity is ultimately about more than comparative religion. It is an invitation to become better listeners, wiser disciples, and more compassionate neighbors.

Keep a chair open. Notice. Ask. Listen. Love. And remain curious about the person who sits down beside you.