IRD IRD InterreligiouInterreligiou

s Dialogues Dialogue

IRD DEFINITION EXPLAINEDIRD DEFINITION EXPLAINED

What is an IRD?Definition of terms:Inter- with one anotherReligious-devoted to piety and monastic vows of life.Dialogue-a conversation in which two or more take part

• A CONVERSATION between persons of different minds, where the dialogue-partners come TO LEARNfrom the other TO WITNESS to the other as well as TO CONVERT the other.

THE HIGHLIGHTED TERM(S)ON THE THE HIGHLIGHTED TERM(S)ON THE DESCRIPTION OF IRDDESCRIPTION OF IRD

CONVERSATIONCONVERSATION

Conversation…Conversation…

-A two-way communication between two or more persons with different views– Not a debate but more on listening and

understanding of one’s religious convictions and traditions.

– Open-mindedness to others despite of its differences is necessary in conversation.

– Partners in conversation should avoid an act of EXCLUVISM.

Excluvism a subjective attitude of superiority of one person over the other. He/she believes the idea that his/her religion is the only one who deserves an absolute righteousness and final status.

TO LEARN…TO LEARN…• At this point the dialogue-partners should mutually

learn about each other differences.

• It is by way of accepting and respecting others differences.

• In learning about the other, one will also learn and appreciate much about one’s own religion.

TO WITNESSTO WITNESS

TO WITNESS…TO WITNESS…

• A commitment of the other to witness and experience one’s own religious convictions, values, system, tradition and truth.

• In witnessing, the truth of other religion, one hopes that the other will be able to understand and appreciate its truth.

• To witness the other, one must also come ready to be witnessed by the other. A mutual witnessing.

TO CONVERTTO CONVERT

TO CONVERT…TO CONVERT…

• It is a mutual conversion characterized more by authentic transformation of the hearts, and not so much by changing one’s own religious affiliations.

• It is a “win-win” conversion where both sides come to see and truly appreciate one’s fundamental religious convictions.

WHY ENGAGE IN IRD?WHY ENGAGE IN IRD?

REASONS:REASONS: A.RELIGIONS ARE DIFFERENT A.RELIGIONS ARE DIFFERENT

RELIGIONS ARE DIFFERENT…RELIGIONS ARE DIFFERENT…

– It is evident that religions are indeed different. Each religion has its own religious truth. Therefore, we are surrounded with different truth.

– Due to one’s differences IRD invite us to an openness to the real truth which one should be able to ask sincerely about the essence of the real truth.

– It also invites us to search for this truth which as well found in other religions.

The illustration of a pyramid below shows the different people The illustration of a pyramid below shows the different people of different religion of different truth. Each religion has a of different religion of different truth. Each religion has a

corresponding percentage of 25% truth and for one religion to corresponding percentage of 25% truth and for one religion to attain the absolute truth of equivalent 100% they must attain the absolute truth of equivalent 100% they must

interact with each other by dialogue.interact with each other by dialogue.

Christians

25%

Muslims

25%

Jews

25%

Buddhist25%

B.B.UNITYUNITY

UNITY…….UNITY…….

• Differences could be used as uniting factor through the means of IRD.

• In IRD, one is bound to discover that many of these differences are not so different in essence as they are in manifestation.

• IRD facilitates the discernment of shared or common grounds to one’s belief.

• Moreover, it helps in bridging the gap between religions and its perspective toward other religions.

• Also it encourages religionist to appreciate substantive reasons for collaborative action and partnership.

C.RELIGIONS C.RELIGIONS WILL MEET WILL MEET ANYWAYANYWAY

RELIGIONS WILL MEET ANYWAY….RELIGIONS WILL MEET ANYWAY….

• Even each religion has different ways of practicing religious convictions still they are all aiming to the real truth.

• They all believe in the only Supreme being which is God.

• They all follow the commandments of God which is one LOVE GOD above all and the other is to LOVE YOUR NEIGHBORS as you love yourself.

D. SUFFERING IN THE D. SUFFERING IN THE WORLDWORLD

SUFFERING IN THE WORLD…SUFFERING IN THE WORLD…

– In reality, violence is apparent due to misunderstood differences of one’s religion which causes the sufferings of the world.

– It could be an ecological, human, societal or personal sufferings.

– As the fact that sufferings continue to exist, IRD come into its place to alleviate these sufferings.

– In relation to IRD, one must be willing to work together with other religions by understanding and sharing one’s own faith and others faith which may help in promoting the integral human development.

WHO SHOULD ENGAGEWHO SHOULD ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE? IN DIALOGUE?

A.DIALOGUE OF DISCOURSEA.DIALOGUE OF DISCOURSE

• It is an academic dialogue which often takes place on the formal level amongst trained scholars, religious leaders and theologians which uses scriptural texts, beliefs, theologies stories, myth and history of the various religious traditions.

• It is where experts come together to discuss points of convergences and divergences.

DIALOGUE OF DISCOURSE…DIALOGUE OF DISCOURSE…

B.DIALOGUE OFB.DIALOGUE OF RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE

☺This form of dialogue is most often between persons deeply involved in religious practices such us monks, nuns, mystics, sufis and any person who has a little theological training.

☺It is a spiritual dialogue on how and why we pray as well as to have a personal encounter with God.

☺It could be practiced through reflection, meditation and other forms of prayer.

DIALOGUE OF RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE OF RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE…EXPERIENCE…

C.DIALOGUE C.DIALOGUE OF ACTIONOF ACTION

DIALOGUE OF ACTION…DIALOGUE OF ACTION…

-It is an institutional, organizational, societal or group dialogue which involves social workers, community organizers, human rights activists for the purpose of working together for the common good of the society.

D.DIALOGUE OF D.DIALOGUE OF LIFELIFE

DIALOGUE OF DIALOGUE OF LIFE…LIFE…

• Involves all persons from all walks of life.• A dialogue where believers of different religious bear

witness to their religious values and convictions in their everyday life such us from home, workplaces and neighbors.

• A dialogue of day to day interactions of people with neighbors of other faith.

• Examples: A mother teaching to love other persons of other religion; returning lost item by person with another faith.

HOW TO ENHANCE IRD?HOW TO ENHANCE IRD?

SIMILARITY…SIMILARITY…

– It is suggested that interreligious relationship can be further enhanced if similarities are highlighted as the old adage goes “birds of same feather flock together”.

– A similarity to characteristics, attitude, values, interests, some shared principles, beliefs, stories between religions may helps an individual to get along well and be comfortable to others.

– Awareness that religions have more similarities than differences.

FAMILIARITYFAMILIARITY

FAMILIARITY…FAMILIARITY…

• Exposure to the teachings, values, and systems of other religions is a way to be familiar with them.

• Direct exposure to persons of other religions is more useful.

• Familiarity can also be acknowledged through mass media, textbook, billboards, television, movies and other ingenious means.

• As the other become more familiar her/his behaviors also become more predictable.

• If one is able to predict others behavior and be familiar with her/his religion, he/she become more comfortable relating with him/her.

PROXIMITYPROXIMITY

PROXIMITY…PROXIMITY…

-Refers to physical closeness where one is able to see, hear, speak with or meet the other.

-It increases familiarity to attitudes, values and codes of the other.

-Proximity encourages different religions to come together more often, work together more often or to

live in the same neighborhoods.

-As it says, the less physical distance between persons of different religions the more its interreligious

relationships will develop.

ATTRACTIVENESSATTRACTIVENESS

- One religion may see the attractiveness of other religion for him/her to be inspired to enhance its interaction to them.

- It should be understood and presented by giving freedom to other religions to express their own convictions toward the real truth.

•One religion must be pleasing to the other by means of its own presentations of its religious activities.

ACTIVITY:ACTIVITY:Think of ways by which we engage Think of ways by which we engage

in DIALOGUE of life here in in DIALOGUE of life here in ATENEOATENEO

•What are those concrete ways by What are those concrete ways by which we dialogue with one which we dialogue with one another?another?•What are your insights and What are your insights and realizations?realizations?

• DRAW A SYMBOL OF INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE (explain briefly)

• Be Creative!

SOURCE:

PAXERS, Ateneo de Zamboanga University

Inter-Religious Dialogue Group