Dialogue is…the norm and Dialogue is…the norm and necessary manner of every form of necessary manner of every form of Christian mission.Christian mission.

INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE

Dialogue is possible because the Dialogue is possible because the presence of God’s saving grace is not presence of God’s saving grace is not confined to the Church alone…confined to the Church alone…

One of the major motives for dialogue One of the major motives for dialogue is the discovery in the knowledge of is the discovery in the knowledge of the other new depths and possibilities the other new depths and possibilities in oneself.in oneself.

Approaches to dialogue in the last Approaches to dialogue in the last several decades have been based on several decades have been based on

how various Christian theologies how various Christian theologies estimated the presence of grace estimated the presence of grace

outside explicit knowledge and faith in outside explicit knowledge and faith in

Christ.Christ.

The theology of religions speak not The theology of religions speak not of salvation as a religion’s goal but of salvation as a religion’s goal but of the various religious ends of the of the various religious ends of the world’s faiths…world’s faiths…

Nostra AetateNostra Aetate became the Magna Carta of a profound became the Magna Carta of a profound development of the Catholic Church’s development of the Catholic Church’s relationship with Judaism.relationship with Judaism.

The major development has been the The major development has been the overcoming of the idea of overcoming of the idea of “supercessionism”, the notion that “supercessionism”, the notion that Christianity has now “fulfilled” Judaism Christianity has now “fulfilled” Judaism and, in effect, “made it obsolete and and, in effect, “made it obsolete and superfluous.”superfluous.”

Because of the re-thinking that has gone on among some Christians about their identity in light of Judaism, Catholic scholars have proposed that dialogue, not conversion, should be the Catholic goal in relation with Jews.

Mission is not something for which Mission is not something for which Jews are a “target”, rather, Christians Jews are a “target”, rather, Christians and Jews are called to work together as and Jews are called to work together as ”partners in waiting”, to witness to and ”partners in waiting”, to witness to and work for God’s reign together.”work for God’s reign together.”

The plurality of valid religious ends is The plurality of valid religious ends is actually part of the dynamism of actually part of the dynamism of Christianity itself.Christianity itself.

Dialogue and ProclamationDialogue and Proclamation proposes proposes four forms of interreligious dialogue that four forms of interreligious dialogue that Christians can practice:Christians can practice:

Dialogue of lifeDialogue of lifeDialogue of ActionDialogue of ActionDialogue of theological exchangeDialogue of theological exchangeDialogue of religious experienceDialogue of religious experience

As an integral part of missionary As an integral part of missionary activity, dialogue focuses on the activity, dialogue focuses on the missionary constant of the centrality of missionary constant of the centrality of Jesus Christ, even while it recognizes Jesus Christ, even while it recognizes the presence of the Spirit, and on the the presence of the Spirit, and on the “seeds of the Word”…“seeds of the Word”…

1. The Plan of God

God is LoveGod shows his love to all through Jesus in the Spirit...

2. The Aim of Dialogue

Reign of God….

3. Theological Problem

Positions of the Church

RM 55 Dialogue is part of mission

RM: 28 “The Spirit’s presence and activity affect not only individuals but also society and history, peoples cultures and religion.

RM: 56 Other religions stimulate her both to discover and acknowledge the signs of Christ’s presence and the spirit…

GS: 22 “The Holy Spirit offers to all the possibilities of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery”.

55 Church is the ordinary means of salvation

55 Church alone possesses the fullness of the means of salvation

DOMINUS JESUSD I Church as a pilgrim now on earth is necessary for salvation

D I No.20 - Necessity of the Church which men enter through baptism and as though through door (LG.14)

D I No. 21 – To other religions -- one cannot attribute to these, divine origin or opere operato salvific efficacy which is proper to the Christian sacraments

D I No.22 It is also certain that objectively speaking they are in a gravely deficient situation in comparison

with those who, in the church, have the fullness of the meaning of salvation.

D I No.22 Inter-Religious Dialogue - all are equal = only on human level

- Christianity as true religion - All religions are not equal

The Church and the ReligionsBefore Vatican II – other religions false – Hence False have no rights. Vatican II –Religions are good…

Each religion discovers their values….

Position Other religions work for common goals and values

Dialogue in common civil and political life.

4. Religions in Conflict

A. Religions

growth towards fundamentalism seek identity and want to keep the identity for their advantage

middle class uses this identity against any economic prosperous growth

Social-Eco Problem

Political ProblemRiots in democratic states, because they use religion

B. Conflict among religions

Muslims recall their golden age and see the present, so conflict arises.

Christians Recall their freedom.

So “INSTITUTIONALIZED RIOT SYSTEM”Religions have become a problem

Hindus recall their golden age and see the Muslims so conflict Hence prejudice, blame….

5. The Obstacle Against Dialogue:

A. Communalism – Use religion for the pursuit of economic goals through the use of political power

B. Fundamentalism – Against Scientific theories. Communalism is political

Fundamentalism is religious

C. Negation of other’s identity -we have identity, but see other as opposite… -To assert one’s identity by destroying others… -They don’t have guilt, combined with communalism and fundamentalism – more harmful

D.Historical Hang-up e.g. Sri Lanka – killed, burnt…difficult to forgive…

6. Preparing for a DialogueA. In conflict situation

Not retributive justicebut restorative justice- Concentrate on common values than religion

B. Intra-personal and inter-personal dialogue – Swami Abishiktananda

C. Prayer, common enrichment peace rally, etc.

Dialogue is missionWe proclaim in dialogue and not dialogue for proclamation.

Dialogue With ReligionsForming dialogical person “faith formation in a multi-religious context”Formation and Religions

At the service of harmony:-pluralism– ethnicity-religions

-defending human values

7. Moving Ahead7. Moving Ahead

Affirmation of human dignity

Forming Basic Human Communities

DIALOGUE: THE DIALOGUE: THE S-I-L-S-I-L-A-HS-I-L-S-I-L-A-H WAY WAYSS-logan-loganII-nteractive activities-nteractive activitiesLL-ife-in-Dialogue-ife-in-DialogueSS-pirituality of Dialogue-pirituality of DialogueII-mmersion in faith communities-mmersion in faith communitiesLL-essons from Islam and Christianity-essons from Islam and ChristianityAA-wareness and appreciation-wareness and appreciationHH-armony Prayer-armony Prayer

SLOGANSLOGAN

““CRY CRY PEACEPEACE WITH YOUR WITH YOUR L-I-F-E--IN--DIALOGUE!”L-I-F-E--IN--DIALOGUE!”

INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIESINTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES

As a methodology employed in the varied As a methodology employed in the varied courses of Silsilah, the interactive activities courses of Silsilah, the interactive activities play an important part. It is here where play an important part. It is here where the participants are able to interact more the participants are able to interact more concretely with one another and thus concretely with one another and thus come to a better appreciation of one’s faith come to a better appreciation of one’s faith and culture.and culture.

LIFE-IN-DIALOGUELIFE-IN-DIALOGUE

Means establishing loving, Means establishing loving, compassionate, and peaceful compassionate, and peaceful relationships with God, with the relationships with God, with the self, with others (including self, with others (including people of other cultures and people of other cultures and religions) and with creation.religions) and with creation.

SPIRITUALITY OF DIALOGUESPIRITUALITY OF DIALOGUE

IMMERSION IN FAITH-COMMUNITIESIMMERSION IN FAITH-COMMUNITIES

For those taking up the basic For those taking up the basic courses, one concrete way of courses, one concrete way of manifesting the life of dialogue manifesting the life of dialogue is by community exposures or is by community exposures or immersion – Christians in immersion – Christians in Muslim families and Muslims in Muslim families and Muslims in Christian families for 3 week-Christian families for 3 week-endsends

LESSONS FROM ISLAM AND LESSONS FROM ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITYCHRISTIANITY

On its twentieth anniversary, the Silsilah On its twentieth anniversary, the Silsilah Bulletin started to give lessons from Bulletin started to give lessons from Islam and Christianity on the same Islam and Christianity on the same topic for their personal growth in the topic for their personal growth in the

spirit of dialogue…spirit of dialogue…

AWARENESS AND AWARENESS AND APPRECIATIONAPPRECIATION

One of the objectives of the courses in the Silsilah One of the objectives of the courses in the Silsilah Dialogue Institute whether they be basic, special or Dialogue Institute whether they be basic, special or intensive is to evoke awareness and appreciation of intensive is to evoke awareness and appreciation of dialogue in the religious, cultural, social and political dialogue in the religious, cultural, social and political life of Muslim and Christian Communities.life of Muslim and Christian Communities.

HARMONY PRAYERHARMONY PRAYERO Lord, I cry for peace. Purify my eyes to see it and my mind to O Lord, I cry for peace. Purify my eyes to see it and my mind to

understand.understand.Purify my heart to love it, and my memory to work for peace…Purify my heart to love it, and my memory to work for peace…That comes from your love and compassion.That comes from your love and compassion.O Lord, sustain my vision of peace Following your inspiration O Lord, sustain my vision of peace Following your inspiration and the many ways that you reveal. Your presence and your love for alland the many ways that you reveal. Your presence and your love for allhumanity with your constant style in dialogue, you care for all.humanity with your constant style in dialogue, you care for all.CHORUS:CHORUS:Make me, O Lord, live-in-dialogue with you and rediscover Make me, O Lord, live-in-dialogue with you and rediscover the meaning of my life Moving in harmony with all of creation.the meaning of my life Moving in harmony with all of creation.CHORUS:CHORUS:Give me, O Lord, the courage to live in dialogueGive me, O Lord, the courage to live in dialogueIn the midst of divisions and conflicts and to build peaceIn the midst of divisions and conflicts and to build peace with all people of sincere hearts who believe in your love and with all people of sincere hearts who believe in your love and

compassion… AMENcompassion… AMEN

THE THE ENDEND

IS JUSTIS JUST

THE BEGINNINGTHE BEGINNING……