Interfaith encounters: Shifting from 'interfaith dialogue' to 'interfaith collaboration', a foundation for religious tolerance

Abstract

Today, in the globalized world in which we are living, with a full diversity of beliefs, thoughts and cultures, it has become essential for us all to focus on common ground and areas of cooperation, as well as challenges that face us regardless of our faith or belief systems. Our mutual coexistence is facing numerous challenges, starting with the acute ignorance of one another, the increase of mistrust amongst followers of different religions, through to the more extreme trends and symptoms of discrimination, hatred and violence. In the light of all of the above, it is clear that interreligious dialogue has become a necessity, rather than a luxury, and that one cannot build agreement and cooperation without first building trust and understanding. It is vital that interfaith dialogues continue to build more trust and clearer understanding of one another's faith, but it is similarly vital that now what is needed is to move from the 'interfaith dialogue' phase to 'interfaith collaboration'. This paper attempts to explore such challenges that face the interfaith encounters and the prospects to establish a more solid interfaith collaboration.