Documents on Encounter and Dialogue of religions and cultures
Meeting the other as visitation
Presentation on Meeting the other as visitation.
It is a reflection on the interreligious and intercultural encounter based on Mary’s Visitation to Elizabeth. Look at the slides presentation inspired by Kam Sié Mathias’ in « African Tradition of Hospitality and Interreligious Dialogue: Reflection ». See the presentation.
From « A Journey together: Building mutual respect, understanding and cooperating »
Interreligious or interfaith ialogue, is about people of different faiths coming to a mutual understanding and respect that allows them to live and cooperate with each other in spite of their differences. Each party remains true to their own beliefs while respecting the right of the other to practise their faith freely.
Interfaith dialogue is not just words or talk. It includes human interaction and relationships. It can take place between individuals and communities and on many levels. In many places Muslims and Christians live on the same streets; use the same shops, buses and schools. Normal life means that we come into daily contact with each other. Dialogue therefore, is not just something that takes place on an official or academic level only – it is part of daily life during which different cultural and religious groups interact with each other directly, and where tensions between them are the most tangible.
Seven Principles of Interfaith Engagement
These principles are a guidance about how people of different faiths can engage with each other in meaningful and productive ways. This advice is the product of 36 years of interfaith work. Read more.
The following are basic ground rules, or “commandments,” of interreligious, interideological dialogue that must be observed if dialogue is actually to take place. These are not theoretical rules, or commandments given from “on high,” but ones that have been learned from hard experience. Read more.
Need for formation for those living interreligious dialogue
It is important to emphasize the need for formation for those who promote interreligious dialogue. If it is to be authentic, this dialogue must be a journey of faith. How necessary it is for its promoters to be well formed in their own beliefs and well informed about those of others. It is for this reason that I encourage the efforts of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue to organize formation courses and programmes in interreligious dialogue for different Christian groups, especially seminarians and young people in tertiary educational institutions.
Benedict XVI, tenth Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, July 7, 2008.
Réseau Justice, Paix, Intégrité de la Création, Rencontre et Dialogue des SMNDA 