Weekly Reflections
30th June, 1996
WHAT'S THE POINT OF
INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE ?
Dear Catechist;
We keep hearing the cliché "Inter-Religious Dialogue."
Isn't it impossible for us to speak to Muslims about religion in our country?
Firstly, they are doing things to stop our growth.
Secondly, it is an offence to convert a Muslim.
What's the point of inter-religious dialogue then?
Isaac
Dear Isaac;
To respond to your questions,
I will have to clarify some false notions that you have.
First, the Church's call for dialogue with peoples of other
religions is not aimed at converting them. Second, we have
to distinguish between sincere Muslims interested in dialogue
from Muslims who use Islam as a political tool.
Dialogue certainly does not mean talking with Muslim government
officials regarding church lands or catechism classes in Catholic schools.
Dialogue has nothing to do with bargaining for rights.
Rather, dialogue is about fostering relationships which
help promote mutual understanding, appreciation and respect of the religions.
Inter-religious dialogue, then, is not necessarily an activity between the
Church's leaders with government officials or Pusat Islam.
It is an activity of every Catholic as one interacts with
persons of other religions in everyday life. It is our
duty to seek out righteous Muslims to dialogue with as today's Gospel reminds
us that "he who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall
receive a righteous man's reward" (Mt.10:41).
A look at the Church's teachings might be helpful here.
The Second Vatican Council states that "The Catholic Church
rejects nothing which is true and holy in these religions."
Nostra Aetate (The document on the Church's relationship with
non-Christian religions) goes even further to say that the
Church believes these religions "often reflect a ray of that
Truth which enlightens all people." The Council stresses what
unites us with other people rather than what divides us.
It mentions other religions with respect.
It emphasizes that non-Christian religions have their place in God's
saving design (Ad Gentes).
…that non-Christian religions have their place in God's saving design…
The Church, therefore, must adopt a wholly new attitude toward non-Christian religions.
In other words, it has to become a NEW WAY OF BEING CHURCH.
We, Catholics, have to engage in dialogue so as to learn from
our partners as we journey with them towards God's Kingdom.
The following are steps towards becoming a "dialoguing Church."
1. Be CHARITABLE in thought, word, and deed.
If you have tendencies of stereotyping people or of making sweeping
negative statements about a particular race or religion, change that habit.
Bite your tongue everytime you
say something uncharitable about persons of another religion.
2. COLLABORATE with Muslims or persons of other religions in activities
which help solve human and social problems. As you engage in this
"dialogue of life," you will begin to learn that we share a lot of
common spiritual truths. Your collaborator will thus become a partner rather
than an enemy in your search for Truth and Holiness.
3. Be CURIOUS about the other person's spirituality.
Be curious about what inspires your dialogue partner.
Where does s/he draw spiritual energies from? How does
s/he relate to God and to the world? What are some
elements of her/his religion that you can learn from?
4. Develop a CRITICAL attitude towards life.
Learn to appreciate as well as question the truths of the
other person's religion and those of your own.
Be critical of the things you learnt through your childhood catechism years and
those you have heard about the other religions.
5. Have COURAGE. Be prepared to challenge your childhood beliefs.
Be prepared to reformulate new sets of beliefs.
Be prepared to become a DIALOGUING CATHOLIC.
Please contact Bro Edmund Chia, FSC
for further information or any other matters relating to his weekly reflections. Thank you
updated:2nd June, 1996
I do welcome suggestions, corrections, improvements ...
Please send feedback
to gabrielle
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