New Platform for Interreligious Dialogue

The New Platforms for  inter-religious

and inter-cultural dialogue

Fr. JUN MERCADO, OMI

In Asia, dialogue takes concrete forms in the interaction with three realities: religions, cultures and poverty. The Church desires to be in continuous, humble and loving dialogue with all the realities of the life of the people and strives to make the history, values, aspirations, thoughts, language, songs and artistry of human communities her own. Dialogue assumes even people’s frailties and failings, so that they too may be healed.

There is a new turning point in the indigenous peoples’ assertion for empowerment and self-determination. Like their counterparts in the North, the tribes now consider themselves as nations poised to reclaim homeland and self-determination, which have been lost to years of colonial domination.

Many claim that the tragedies of 9/11 and the subsequent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have exacerbated the ever widening divide between the Western world and the world of Islam. Europe is no exception to this cultural divide. In many ways, globalization has accelerated the movements of peoples – migrants. And when people move they also bring with them their specific cultures and religious beliefs. Europe is clearly composed of multi-ethnic and multi-religious communities. The conflicts that arise in these contexts have little to do with Islamic fundamentalism and more to do with a search for identity. Children caught between cultures belong to neither – which gives rise to the crisis of identity.

New platforms for inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue are now emerging. One of these is the Millennium development Goals which includes halving extreme poverty and building partnership by 2015. Another is the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change. These are instances when we are called upon to rethink not only our sense of sin, but our sense of morality.

Another is the call to dialogue and alliance of civilizations and cultures. The dominating source of conflict is said to be cultural. Hence, religions become even more crucial because they form civilizations and are the defining elements of culture.

Another forum of dialogue is the youth movements that are growing all over the world. Finally, the World Social Forum, a platform for the poor and marginalized sectors who demand a more active role in shaping a new world social order. This is now a veritable forum for dialogue. The author also brings to the fore a number of Oblate initiatives in the world working for peace and reconciliation through dialogue.