The Imperatives of Dialogue and Good Inter-religious Relations

The advances in Science and Technology and the leveling of frontiers and boundaries have all contributed to a greater awareness of the pluralism of faiths, culture and peoples not only in the world but also in our own community.

Yes, we live amid many and diverse faiths, cultures and peoples.  Though many and different, we need not be hostile nor indifferent to each other.  In fact, these diversities invite us to make a shift in our paradigm from hostility to partnership; from indifference to involvement; and from being closed to being opened to one another. This relational paradigm teaches us that notwithstanding our differences and diversities we all live on this earth, in fact, on this piece of land.  The bottom line is the affirmation that we are together in the journey through life.  For better or worse, we are neighbors and we hope and believe that as neighbors, we can be partners in building not only of a better world but more so of a friendlier community where you and I, and our children live as brothers and sisters. The first step is to take our pluralism seriously.  We need to seriously experience our ties. Second is to be open to learn not only from each other but more so to live with each other in tolerance.   Yes, it is our willingness to accept, to trust and to live together.
 Third, is our commitment to guarantee the rights and dignity of every person regardless of faith, gender, culture and color within our society/community. 
In inter-religious relations there is one WORD that can describe our efforts and endeavors – TRUST! Trust is NOT a universal element in human relations.  It has to be slowly, patiently and sometimes painfully built through time.
 
 
For emphasis, I take a portion of St.  JP II’ s address at Casablanca Morocco on 18 August 1985.
 
 
                        “People do not accept their differences.
 
                         They do not know each other sufficiently.
 
                         They reject those who have not the same civilization.
 
                         They refuse to help each other.
 
                         They are unable to free themselves from egoism and from self-conceit.
 
                         But God created all equal in dignity,
 
                         Though different with regard to gifts and talents,
 
                         Mankind is a whole where each one has his/her part to play.
 
                         The worth of the various peoples and of the diverse cultures must be
                        
                                    recognized.
 
                         The world is as it were a living organism.
 
                         Each one has something to receive from the others and has something                                           

                         to give to them.”
 
 

             The basis of this commitment is our belief that all peoples even though they belong to different religions, nations, etc. all form ONE human family, created by the ONE and same God, living in the same world/community, and destined for a common end.

Bapa Jun Mercado, OMI