Realities and challenges of ‘difference’ in Pastoral Care

Emmanuel Y Amugi Lartey

Phenomenal number of known species

How may persons of different ethnicities, cultures, genders, religions, and socio-economic circumstances live and interact together reasonably on one earth, the resources of which are not unlimited, in the light of historic relations of dominance and subjugation?

We need to move from a static description of the existence of many to a dynamic, engaging and respectful recognition and enhancement of interaction and interconnectedness.

The relationship with the other is a relationship with MYSTERY(Levinas)

What lies at the heart of the intercultural encounter is not an easy, over-optimistic gliding over of differences in a ‘soppy tolerance’ that superficially embraces and shakes hands with smiling ‘alterns’. (Pastoral Theology in an Intercultural world, p.137)

It is the difficult, respectful, dangerous and enigmatic encounter between autonomous, different but interconnected and interrelated, persons self-aware and vulnerable in their full humanity.

It is our task as pastoral theologians to do all in our power to preserve the otherness of the other as well as seek to promote ‘enigmatic relationships’ between persons of difference.

A Counter-hegemonic turn

From tolerance to interaction

THEORY BUILDING

Deep listening to people’s stories

The need for empowerment

A counter-essentialist move

KEEP MOVING