Guidelines for Inter-Religious Dialogue E-Book

• Herausgeber: buch & netz
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 129

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

In recent decades more and more people have realised that in our globalised world, cultural and religious plurality is here to stay. This plurality can enrich us all. But suspicion and fear of other cultures and religions is still actively present among us. Tolerating difference needs inner strength and fundamental goodwill. This goodwill must include the readiness to respect other people and their concerns and take them seriously. The Inter-Religious Think-Tank responsible for these Guidelines is a group of Jewish, Christian and Muslim women, who have all been active for years in the field of interfaith dialogue. The Guidelines are aimed at helping people who are just starting out to plan interfaith projects and events. But they are also aimed at people who have been engaged in interfaith dialogue for some time, and may have experienced every now and again that they have done or said something dysfunctional – they are aware that they have “dropped a brick”, but do not quite understand what happened. Examples taken from the praxis of dialogue situations will show where stumbling blocks are liable to be found, and how we can avoid them. One special feature of these Guidelines is that it has been written by Jewish, Christian and Muslim women working together.

Leseprobe

Guidelines for Inter-Religious Dialogue

Practical suggestions for successful interfaith dialogue

Inter-religious Think-Tank

Translated by Isobel Jenkins, Jennifer Jenkins and Paul Jenkins

Version 1.01, 2015-12-16

ISBN: 978-3-03805-200-5 (PDF), 978-3-03805-201-2 (ePub), 978-3-03805-202-9 (mobi/kindle)

The translation of this booklet was generously funded by the Foundation “Dialog zwischen Kirchen, Religionen und Kulturen” in Basel/Switzerland. We are also extremely appreciative of the commitment of our translators, Paul, Jennifer, and Isobel Jenkins. It is available in various E-Book formats and as an online book. You can find additional information about this Edition at: http://buchundnetz.com/werke/guidelines-for-inter-religious-dialogue/.

Copyright for the English Translation © 2015 Interreligiöser Think-Tank / Inter-religious Think-Tank, Basel (Switzerland): www.interrelthinktank.ch

The German Original was published in November 2013

© 2013 Interreligiöser Think-Tank, Basel (Switzerland)

Cover design by Schärrer & Bachmann, graphic design Basel (Switzerland)

Production and distribution by buch & netz (http://buchundnetz.com)

Contents

IntroductionPart I: Fundamental reflections1.1   Who wants inter-religious dialogue, and why?1.2   Who is in conversation with whom?1.3   What is the conversation about?1.4   What is the purpose of inter-religious dialogue?1.5   Political conflict as a subtext1.6   Diversity and differences within religious communities1.7   Anxieties, and memories of insult and injuryPart II: Practical Guidelines for successful inter-religious dialogue2.1   If a dialogue is to go well it will depend on the dialogical attitudes of the participants2.2   Radical respect for your opposite number is fundamental2.3   Be aware of structural asymmetry, and take measures to counteract it2.4   Give up thinking you have the power to make or use unilateral definitions. Respect other peoples’ interpretation of what they think and do2.5   Remember, we are all learners, and learning all the time2.6   Seeing things from a different perspective takes practice2.7   Learn to see ourselves as others see us2.8   Make your own basic assumptions clear, and suspend judgement on what others may say2.9   Respond to problems and disruptions in discussion as soon as they occur2.10 Speak from the heart!2.11 Remember, each language is different!2.12 Slow down!2.13 Recognise what you have in common, and acknowledge where you differ2.14 Be fair! Compare like with like2.15 Plan interfaith events in an interfaith way!2.16 Exercise care and sensitivity in the organisation of interfaith celebrationsCheck-list for the planning of interfaith events1. What is the starting-point?2. Organisational questions / framework3. Questions of content4. Conclusions and evaluationThe Authors

1

Introduction

“The end of the common world has come when it is seen only under one aspect; it exists only in the multiplicity of its perspectives.” (Hannah Arendt) [1]

Europe has always seen itself as a Christian continent. But people usually forget that there have often been periods when large minorities of Jews and Muslims lived on European soil and mutual exchange and enrichment across religious boundaries flourished. In the collective memory of the Christian majority in Europe the relationship with the other two monotheistic religious communities is remembered as one always characterised by enmity and hatred. That false perception has had terrible results.