Abstract
The early nineties ushered in the dawn of democracy; and attempts towards negotiations and settlement for peaceful elections were due to theological dialogues that seem to have been obscured later. This article explores the meaning, method, and implementation of theology of dialogue in peace negotiations and settlements. The role of five dialogues is explored as cases for South Africa during that time. Reference is made to the impact dialogical theology made upon the socio-political landscape during the negotiations that led to some peaceful elections that opened the door for the new democracy in South Africa. Theology of dialogue is proposed as a powerful approach to peace making and settlement in any socio-religious or socio-political tensions and impasses.
Highlights
Theology of dialogue can be traced from the twentieth century and is observable in the Vatican II Council documents
The early nineties ushered in the dawn of democracy; and attempts towards negotiations and settlement for peaceful elections were due to theological dialogues that seem to have been obscured later
Reference is made to the impact dialogical theology made upon the socio-political landscape during the negotiations that led to some peaceful elections that opened the door for the new democracy in South Africa
Summary
Theology of dialogue can be traced from the twentieth century and is observable in the Vatican II Council documents. Ever since the end of the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), the RCC has used these dialogues as the preferred method of its ecumenical relations with and rapprochement to other Christian Churches. At the dawn of the twenty-first century, the ecumenical movements especially the World Council of Churches started to aggressively address the issue of dialogue. Theologians such as Kärkkäinen (2003) highlighted that religions that used to be distant, almost exotic, and were regarded as vague and mentioned in passing, “have come much closer to us whether we live in the West or elsewhere” (2003:17–18). This article aims to point out that the theology of dialogue contributed immensely towards the current democratic dispensation in South Africa, so will limit itself to dialogues that played a role in the process
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