PRINCIPLES FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE.pdf - CUEA

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Dialogue is a conversation of two (or more) persons. It could be defined as the intention to seek mutual understanding on an issue or situation through inquiry and learning that can lead to consensus. Thus Interreligious dialogue is a conversation of two (or more) believers of different religions or living faiths. Plato said in his treatise on law that “every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim. But a certain difference is found among ends; some are activities, others are products apart from the activities that produce them. Now, as there are many actions, arts, and sciences, their ends also are many; the end of the medical art is health, that of strategy victory, that of economics wealth. 1 The end of Interreligious dialogue is peace and harmony” The Church in which we are is called Catholic because it is universal in the sense that it is given to all not only as a place but more importantly as a life to choose; a life which provide all that a person need in order to be saved, that is to see God face to face as he really is. The Catholic Church, therefore, goes into internal reforms to be meaningful to all people of different generations, traditions, cultures, races, educations, etc. In the cause of reform, the Church evaluates its methods of evangelizing and its content. Essentially, it remains the same but as a social institution as well, it evolves towards a better understanding of its doctrines, beliefs and rites. Thus many things have gone into vital changes, especially from second Council held in Vatican from 1962 to 1965. The church is no longer presented as a pyramid but as communion of communion, the role of the laity was redefined, its relations with other denominations and with non- Christian religions has improved, its methods have changed, it views of the whole universe have also improved. Moreover, the Catholic Church grants freedom to all its members; the Sacraments, which are seven, received more emphasis. Its organization is in such a way that it gives identity to all, even to non-Christians. So Ecumenism and Dialogue are new forms of evangelization. 1 Cf. Plato, treatise on law. Created by DEAN-FASSFrederic Ntedika Mvumbi, OP Page 2 of 37
Thus, more than what Plato says, Interreligious dialogue is a way that God the Father through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit has shown his people for a bright future. The Church believes that there is only one divine plan of for all people. So Interreligious dialogue is a strong element of the Church of the future and the future of the Church. 2 The Church of the future has no basis of discrimination whosoever as it is stated: We cannot truly call on God, the Father of all, if we refuse to treat in a brotherly way any man, created as he is in the image of God. Man's relation to God the Father and his relation to people his brothers are so linked together that Scripture says: "He who does not love does not know God" (1 John 4, 8). No foundation therefore remains for any theory or practice that leads to discrimination between man and the man or people and people, so far as their human dignity and the rights flowing from it are concerned. The Church reproves, as foreign to the mind of Christ, any discrimination against people or harassment of them because of their race, color, condition of life, or religion. On the contrary, following in the footsteps of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, this Sacred Synod ardently implores the Christian faithful to "maintain good fellowship among the nations" (1 Peter 2, 12,14,15), and, if possible to live for their part in peace with all people, so that they many truly be sons of the Father who is in heaven. 3 The Church, particularly the Church of and after Vatican II, sees the need of Interreligious dialogue and has incorporated it in its evangelizing mission. Jacques Dupuis says: What is to be shown now in that interfaith dialogue belongs to the Church’s evangelism mission? This has not been perceived in mission theology, even in recent decades. In fact, it is a recent gain of post-Vatican II years, the background of which must be briefly recalled…this goes to show that viewing dialogue as an integral element of evangelization marks a significant qualitative change in postconsuliar mission theology. It forms part of the development in 2 Cf. Peter Lobo, Brief historical background to interfaith dialogue in Sound the Conc. Conference on interfaith dialogue (Bangkok-Thailand, 2002), p. 29 3 Nostra Aetate, no.5 Created by DEAN-FASSFrederic Ntedika Mvumbi, OP Page 3 of 37
Page 1: PRINCIPLES FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALO
Page 5 and 6: the Church through Vatican II Counc
Page 7 and 8: WHAT IS INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE? Th
Page 9 and 10: *Living together in spite of our di
Page 11 and 12: FORMS OF INTERRELIOUS DIALOGUE Expe
Page 13 and 14: seeing what Christians and Muslims
Page 15 and 16: With this trust, Muhammad did not h
Page 17 and 18: of peaceful accommodation. With tha
Page 19 and 20: Even if the Umayyad rulers did not
Page 21 and 22: y them. Therefore the Muslims and t
Page 23 and 24: Carthage were by nature the enemies
Page 25 and 26: From the beginning, in our Islamic
Page 27 and 28: To the best of my knowledge, among
Page 29 and 30: in the sight of God is he who is th
Page 31 and 32: of tolerance and real prosperity, v
Page 33 and 34: C. The Qur’ânic teaching In any
Page 35 and 36: Let there arise out of you a commun
Page 37: apostasy. We have seen, with regard

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