Interreligious Dialogue as Language Negotiation

Abstract

This article expresses suspicion over theories and theologies of dialogue that slip too easily into explanations of dialogue as neutral information exchange between dialogue partners. Such an understanding ignores evolving historical developments in dialogues as well as the history of colonialism that shapes relationships between Christians and other religious believers. The article establishes that Christians are living a new and complicated moment in the history of interreligious dialogue. Thus, a more complex model for understanding dialogue is required. Such a model would include thinking about resistance, hybridity and incompleteness of all language exchanges, and interreligious conversations in particular.