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Islamic umma (community) is the best one. Christian will say theirs is the best.
PKU News: And then the dialogue would just stop there.
Stepanyants: I think it can be very dangerous. On the other hand, ideologies of one
culture or religion could be very useful in another culture or religion. The West can
learn a lot from oriental philosophies, including Chinese. I always emphasize the
importance of ren (to love), the importance of family relation, of collectivity, of
respect. However, such value is not present only among the Chinese, but also in
other traditional cultures. For example, the Muslim‘s sense of community and for the
Hindus as well. This collectivity and commonality has both positive and negative
sides. One is to understand that too – to be critical, and to be realisitc.
PKU News: Our society is largely insensitive to the religious affairs, not to mention
inter-religious dialogues and tolerance. Young people of our country, for example,
are mostly without religious beliefs. Do you have a message to us on religious
tolerance?
Stepanyants: Yes, I do. My message is that people should not to enforce on
themselves religiosity. Earlier during the panel discussion, I pointed out that
dialogues of civilizations should not be just dialogues of religious people and
theologians. Because our contemporary society is much wider. It is secular in nature
and has atheists as well as people who have beliefs which are not necessarily
institutionalized or dogmatic. So, we should really respect all these people and they
should be involved. I don‘t think religion should be imposed on anybody. It should be
a free choice, for everyone to be either secular, religious, atheist or whatever.
PKU News: What is your view on atheism which is simply a negation of religiosity?
Stepanyants: It is a very hard internal work – as in the case of Engel who became an
atheist not because of being imposed on. I trust this kind of atheist but I don‘t trust
the kind of atheist I was. We were told there was no god and that‘s all.
PKU News: So, it was something imposed on people.
Stepanyants: Yes, it was. And religiosity also. If you ask me whether I am religious or
not, I would say I don‘t know. I am agnostic. I wish I would believe. And I believe in
something but I cannot say what it is. I don‘t want to be associated with any
institution. I don‘t want anybody to tell me what is right and what is wrong. Let me
read and think and to decide for myself, at least to my consciousness. So my advice
to other is the same - let them think and decide for themselves.
PKU News: What is your impression of the Forum so far?
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