Featured Resource: A New Religious America: How a "Christian Country" Has Now Become the World's Most Religiously Diverse Nation by Diana L. Eck holds up the spiritual practice of hospitality as a necessity in a time when there are more American Muslims than American Episcopalians, Presbyterians, or Jews.

Other takes on hospitality:

• Stuart Matlins and Arthur Magida are the editors of a handy volume on how to practice hospitality among 17 religious groups in pluralistic America.

• Wayne Teasdale's yearning for a universal communal mysticism arises from his experiences with multi-faith sharing — i.e. hospitality.

• Paul F. Knitter edits this book of 17 essays by religious scholars defending pluralism and spiritual hospitality.

• Howard A. Addison examines a pioneering interfaith approach to spiritual direction.

• John H. Berthrong proclaims that the next wave of spirituality will see more multiple religious participation (MRPing).

• Amanda Hughes edits an accessible collection of essays that demonstrate the value of hospitality in interfaith adventures.

• Andrew Harvey delivers an inspiring and admirable work of multifaith hospitality.

• William Johnston imagines a global Christianity that is hospitable to all religions.

• Rabbi Jonathan Sacks makes a good case for hospitality in a world of global religious and economic strife.

• James Carroll advocates hospitality as an antidote to the excessive anti-Semitism of the Christian church over the centuries.

• John Cobb Jr. challenges believers to infuse their faith and practice with hospitality and a deeper respect for the mystery of God.

• Jon M. Sweeney, a progressive Christian, models hospitality as he takes an autobiographical jaunt through his fundamentalist childhood and finds surprising gifts there.

• Ovey N. Mohammad calls for an expansion of Muslim-Christian dialogue and cooperation.

• Carl W. Ernst urges everyone to respect the rich meanings in Islam.

• Mary Margaret Funk, a Benedictine nun, offers a salutary and illuminating work of interfaith wisdom derived from her experiences with Muslim-Catholic dialogues.

• Elizabeth West harvests the benefits of interfaith dialogue between Buddhists and Christians.

• Thomas Merton's last volume of journals puts on display the breadth of his understanding of the spiritual practice of hospitality.

• Editors Donald Mitchell and James Wiseman reap the harvest of the 1995 five-day meeting of Christian and Buddhist monks at Merton's home.

• Father Daniel Homan celebrates hospitality as a spiritual necessity in fearful times.

• Sarah York explores hospitality as a way to neutralize our natural tendency to rush to judgment.

• Search for all books about hospitality.

The Holy Man by Susan Trott revolves around Joe, a 72-year-old teacher who resides in a “no-frills monastery.” Pilgrims wait patiently in line outside his door to see him. His favorite bit of wisdom is: “If you look on everyone you meet as a holy person, you will be happy.” Joe’s Zen-like approach enables an angry man to befriend his temper; a grieving man, his possessiveness; and a persecuted woman, her dependence upon an enemy. Joe is a world-class teacher of hospitality.

• Peter Feldmeier examines the spiritual practice of hospitality which lies behind all interreligious dialogue.

• Swami Nikhilananda looks at the ways in which Sri Ramakrishna modeled the practice of hospitality in his words and deeds.

• K.L. Seshagiri Rao identifies Gandhi's hospitality as instrumental in his pioneering effort to bring Hindus and Muslims together in mutual respect.

• Episcopalian priest Alan Jones admonishes the Christian community be a hospitable one where everyone is welcome.

• Mary C. Grey reflects on globalization as a threat to ancient traditions of hospitality in Africa and elsewhere.

Many of us get our ideas about who's "in" and who's "out" and how both groups should be treated from the movies.

• In Chocolat, there is a teaching scene about how the priest of a small community learns to appreciate diversity.