When some students in his religion class at Morehouse College in Atlanta told him about Daisaku Ikeda and his commitment to peace, Edward Carter Sr. – founding dean of the Martin Luther King International Chapel – had no idea who he was. He regretted that he, a disciple of Martin Luther King, a Baptist pastor dedicated to the cause of creating peace through education and action, a graduate in social sciences and a professor of religion at Morehouse College, Dr. King's alma mater, was unaware of the work of this Buddhist leader, president of Soka Gakkai International, an organization with millions of adherents worldwide engaged in a global movement for peace, culture, and education. This was the starting point that prompted Carter to deepen his knowledge of Daisaku Ikeda, leading to an important interreligious dialogue with the Buddhist leader, also achieved through several direct meetings in Tokyo. From that journey arose the urgency of this book, written by a Baptist pastor in recognition of the work done for peace by a Buddhist master. The subtitle of the book captures its essence: How My Interreligious Journey with Daisaku Ikeda Made Me a Better Christian.
“There are basically two ways for a practitioner – or at least so it is in Christianity – to relate to practitioners of other religions who are as devoted to their faith as Christians are to their own. One is to convert them; the other, however, is to respectfully learn from them, without seeking uniformity but harmony.”
“In my opinion, Daisaku Ikeda represents an example of what it means to be a ‘global citizen’. He has engaged in dialogue with ambassadors, anthropologists, economists, educators, historians, journalists, jurists, linguists, politicians, scientists, social engineers, sociologists, theologians, and urban planners, and also with me, completely changing my life.”
The Author
Lawrence Edward Carter Sr. is a Baptist pastor, dean of the Martin Luther King Chapel at Morehouse College in Atlanta, where he is also a professor of religion. Born in Dawson, Georgia, and raised in Columbus, Ohio, he graduated from Lynchburg University in Virginia with degrees in social sciences and psychology, then continued his academic career at Boston University, where he earned Master of Divinity in theology and Master of Sacred Theology in pastoral care, as well as a doctorate in pastoral psychology and counseling. He has one son, Carter, and lives in Stonecrest, Georgia, with his wife Marva.
