The Experience of Grace in The Phenomenon of Interreligious Dialogue (original) (raw)

Hermeneutic Dilemma in the Indonesian Interfaith Dialogue Program

Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Language, Literature, Education and Culture, ICOLLEC 2021, 9-10 October 2021, Malang, Indonesia

In Indonesia, one of the needs for dialogue between religious people manifests in religious harmony forum programs as the implementation of Pancasila, Preamble 1945, Article 29 paragraph 2, and Joint Decree of Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Religious Affairs No 8 and 9 2006. This research employed ethnographic methods to reveal the dialogue difficulties between religious people that are prone to conflict. One of the research results showed that the root of conflict between religious people is the diversity of interpretation of the religious teachings. However, this issue refers to the diversity of interpretations between religious institutions and the diversity of interpretations from each individual of the religious community. It implies that dialogue in the context of religions and daily life yields problems or dilemmas that are impossible to solve. However, it should be regarded as an integral part of the dialogue itself.

Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot’s Dialogue Views Against Interreligious Dialogue In Indonesia

Kamaya, 2023

This research focuses on Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot's Dialogue Views on Interreligious Dialogue in Indonesia. According to Cardinal Ayuso, this research aims to understand the importance of inter-religious dialogue in Indonesia. Dialogue between religious adherents is indeed being warmly encouraged by the Church to build a just and prosperous society. This research uses descriptive qualitative methods and critical reading of the text. Based on a critical reading of this research text, it is analyzed and combined with materials related to Cardinal Ayuso's dialogue views in Das Dikasterium fur den Interreligiosen Dialog, the Church's teachings on the dialogue between religions, especially those contained in the documents of the Second Vatican Council and documents-Documents after the Second Vatican Council and scientific works related to religious life and authentic fraternity. The findings in this study are that the concept of inter-religious dialogue in Cardinal Ayuso's perspective is more focused on the "existential attitude" that every human being must have in his life to promote peace in the world. The initial step for inter-religious dialogue must be preceded by theological dialogue. Then the dialogue must be followed up at a practical level in the form of interreligious cooperation to solve humanitarian and national issues jointly.

Graced Religions. Ecumenical Perspectives on Revelation and Grace in the Theology of Interreligious Dialogue

Answerable for Our Beliefs: Reflections on Theology and Contemporary Culture Offered to Terrence Merrigan, Louvain Theological and Pastoral Monographs Vol 48, Peeters Publishers, 2022

This article argues that all God’s revelation is soteriological because revelation means that God reveals himself as his loving self with the purpose of inviting creation into fellowship with him. The distinction between general and special revelation, perhaps helpful for heuristic purposes, tends to lead to an unhealthy bifurcation between God as Creator and God as Redeemer. This is especially relevant for a Christian theology of interreligious dialogue where the question of the particularity of God’s ultimate revelation in Christ and his universal salvific will comes strongly to the fore. We argue that there are good biblical and theological arguments to be made that God does indeed provide the necessary revelation and means of grace to everyone, in such a way that their particular contexts, including the religious, can provide the holy ground where one can encounter God. Drawing on sources from different Protestant families and from Roman Catholic contributions we try to argue our case such that it is plausible for the particular theologies of both traditions. We specifically combine the Neo-Calvinist concept of ‘common grace’ with a participatory ontology and a dispositional soteriology. In this way we hope to demonstrate the cross-fertilization of an ecumenical and tradition-specific approach to theology of interreligious dialogue.

Living the Rhetoric of Dialogue: An Ecumenical Challenge

1970

Dialogue is a manner of acting, an attitude; a spirit which guides one's conduct. It implies concern, respect, and hospitality toward the other. It leaves room for the other person's identity, modes of expression, and values. Dialogue is thus the norm and necessary manner of every form of Christian mission, as well as of every aspect of it, whether one speaks of simple presence and witness, service, or direct proclamation" (Code of Canon Law, can. 787.1). Inspired by Raimundo Pannikar's The Rhetoric of Dialogue 1 , this paper is an attempt to gather thoughts and reflections on interfaith dialogue. Ecumenical Theology challenges everyone to tread the path leading to universal sense of brotherhood. People of goodwill, regardless of religious affiliation could very well work together for a common purpose, and have mutual commitment to the people's struggle for justice and peace, likewise be in solidarity with one another in matters pertaining to protection of human rights and sublime respect for human dignity. Basically, the focus of this presentation shall be on the essence of dialogue and the way it could be done. There shall be an exposition of presuppositions to and theological bases of an inter-religious dialogue as well as a discussion of its viability and attitudinal constraints. The following precepts shall likewise be reflected upon: right to religious freedom; relationships of respect and love; dialogue of salvation; positive and constructive dialogue; universal presence of the Holy Spirit, dialogue of life and fruits of dialogue among others.

Common grace as theological encouragement for interreligious dialogue

Acta Theologica

The Dutch theologian-statesman Abraham Kuyper developed the doctrine of common grace in a lengthy manner. Common grace emphasises that God’s grace operates not only in a salvific way for the elect, but also in a general way for every individual. Despite sin, human beings are capable of doing beautiful, just, and wise things and are endowed with gifts and talents, due to God’s act of common grace. On that doctrinal basis, Christians are called upon to appreciate the people outside the church, for there are fruits of common grace in their lives. On many occasions, Kuyper acknowledgedthat people of other religions have better qualities than Christians. Although not salvific, common grace opens various possibilities for Christians to learn from non-Christians. Thus, common grace could be a theological encouragement for interreligious dialogue toward mutual enrichment. This doctrine shows how the interreligious relationship between Christians and non-Christians should not be reduced to e...