The Integrity of Interfaith Dialogue

Abstract

Since the second half of the last century, not only has there been much talk of interfaith dialogue but also meetings and activities aimed at promoting interfaith dialogue in general and Christian-Muslim dialogue in particular have become common phenomena. Despite the modest gains made through dialogue in promoting better understanding between people of different religions, dialogue has become increasingly vulnerable to popular mistrust in the eyes of many in the Western, but even more in the non-Western, worlds. Dialogue is perceived by many as an attempt to undermine faith in order to preserve interfaith harmony and to promote peaceful co-existence at the expense of honest engagement and discussion. To build confidence in dialogue amongst people from the non-Western world, I have identified five main issues that need critical re-examination, namely: theological issues and the general notion that truth claims are the main stumbling blocks to dialogue; the relationship between mission or propagation and dialogue; the challenge of inherited traditions in relation to the negative and hostile depictions of the Other; the burden of the past and the need to be honest with ourselves and partners in dialogue; and facing the challenge of re-examining our presuppositions about the Other in light of existential realities.