Preface<br >Meet the Faith Club. We re three mothers from three faiths--Islam，<br >Christianity， and Judaism--who got together to write a picture book for<br >our children that would highlight the connections between our reli-<br >gions. But no sooner had we started talking about our beliefs and how<br >to explain them to our children than our differences led to misunder-<br >standings. Our project nearly fell apart.<br > We realized that before we could talk about what united us we had<br >to confront what divided us in matters of faith， God， and religion. We<br >had to reveal our own worst fears， prejudices， and stereotypes.<br > So we made a commitment to meet regularly. We talked in our liv-<br >ing rooms over cups of jasmine tea and bars of dark chocolate. No<br >question was deemed inappropriate， no matter how rude or politically<br >incorrect. We taped our conversations and kept journals as we discussed<br >everything from jihad to Jesus， heaven to holy texts. Somewhere along<br >the way， our moments of conflict， frustration， and anger gave way to<br >new understanding and great respect.<br > Now we invite you into our Faith Club to eavesdrop on our conver-<br > sations. Come into our living rooms and share our life-altering experi-<br > ence. Perhaps when you re finished， you will want to have a faith club of<br > your own.<br >