Inter-religious dialogue: a secular challenge

Studies in Christian-Jewish Relations, 2011

Theologians have a particular task to provide discernment when expressing in interreligious dialogue the Christological proclamation that Jesus Christ is "'the way, the truth, and the life,' (Jn 14:6), in whom people may find the fullness of religious life, in whom God has reconciled all things to Himself" (Nostra Aetate, §3). Therefore, there is a need to renew the spirit of the Conciliar Declaration Nostra Aetate,, which reminds us that the Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in the other religions. The Church acknowledges with sincere reverence ("sincera cum observantia") that the other often religions reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all people. In this article, I highlight three different moments in which this sincere reverence towards other religions may be realized. The first moment may be called methodological and refers to the Ignatian tradition of the Spiritual Exercises. I develop first of all the praesupponendum ...

Irish Theological Quarterly, 2008

MA Thesis, University of Manitoba, 1995

Interdenominational disputes originating in the Reformation are invariably affected by the dominant ecclesiology within each denomination. An assumption of the ecumenical movement which needs a critical examination is that there can be an ecclesiology that transcends these denominational divisions, and affirms that which each Christian tradition holds regarding the nature of the church. This thesis attempts to sketch the beginnings of such an "ecumenical ecclesiology." The search for an "ecumenical ecclesiology" undertaken in this thesis is in response to the current programme study of the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches. This study was inaugurated by the World Council's Seventh Assembly in Canberra, Australia in 1991. This thesis attempts to evaluate the assumption that such an ecclesiology is conceivable. The first part of this thesis begins with a study of the basic assumptions of Christian theologians regarding the nature of unity, then moves to an examination of the historical roots of the divisions in the church. The first part of this thesis concludes with a consideration of the historical progress of the twentieth Century rapprochement placing particular emphasis on the inauguration of the World Council of Churches and the Second Vatican Council. In the second part of this thesis, a consideration of the modern dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and her ecumenical partners is undertaken. Considering in separate chapters the dialogues relating to baptism, eucharist and ministry, this thesis examines the ecclesiological issues related to these dialogues. It is the intent of this thesis to point towards prospects for further dialogue, and to highlight the rapprochement already achieved.

Louvain Studies, 1999

This paper does not concern itself with a dialogue between those who share, or think they share, a common vision of reality. Rather, the focus is on those who generally do not share a common vision of reality. By focusing on this second, more interesting, group we are presented with a challenging philosophical and practical problem in our examination of inter-religious dialogue, specifically, we are faced with the question: is it possible to hold an absolutist view of the truthfulness of one’s own traditions and still engage in an open inter-religious dialogue with other religions? The importance of this question cannot be overemphasized: and this paper is dedicated to framing the question in a way that highlights the need for an agreed upon philosophical basis for this dialogue, and in so doing demonstrates the intimate connectivity of inter-religious dialogue with religious pluralism.

2014

This seminary course examines the role and nature of the Church in the mystery of salvation, paying particular attention to the relationship of the Church to those baptized Christians who are not in full, visible communion with the Catholic Church (ecumenism) and those who are not baptized Christians (interreligious dialogue). It considers various aspects of the Catholic position and its application to specific circumstances. Material is drawn from the Scriptures, various documents of the magisterium, and other theological treatments of the theme. Students should become familiar with the scriptural mandate for Christian unity and encounter with other religions; with the Catholic principles of ecumenism and interreligious dialogue; an initial understanding of the causes and contexts of contemporary divisions and dialogues; and be prepared for the most common pastoral questions and scenarios faced in parochial ministry related to these themes.

Palgrave Macmillan, 2018

This book assesses how Vatican II opened up the Catholic Church to encounter, dialogue, and engagement with other world religions. Opening with a contribution from the President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, it next explores the impact, relevance, and promise of the Declaration Nostra Aetate before turning to consider how Vatican II in general has influenced interfaith dialogue and the intellectual and comparative study of world religions in the postconciliar decades, as well as the contribution of particular past and present thinkers to the formation of current interreligious and comparative theological methods. Additionally, chapters consider interreligious dialogue vis-à-vis theological anthropology in conciliar documents; openness to the spiritual practices of other faith traditions as a way of encouraging positive interreligious encounter; the role of lay and new ecclesial movements in interreligious dialogue; and the development of Monastic Interreligious Dialogue. Finally, it includes a range of perspectives on the fruits and future of Vatican’s II’s opening to particular faiths such as Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

2017

This seminary course examines the role and nature of the Church in the mystery of salvation, paying particular attention to the relationship of the Church to those baptized Christians who are not in full, visible communion with the Catholic Church (ecumenism) and those who are not baptized Christians (interreligious dialogue). It considers various aspects of the Catholic position and its application to specific circumstances. Material is drawn from the Scriptures, various documents of the magisterium, and other theological treatments of the theme. Students should become familiar with the scriptural mandate for Christian unity and encounter with other religions; with the Catholic principles of ecumenism and interreligious dialogue; an initial understanding of the causes and contexts of contemporary divisions and dialogues; and be prepared for the most common pastoral questions and scenarios faced in parochial ministry related to these themes.

2016

This seminary course examines the role and nature of the Church in the mystery of salvation, paying particular attention to the relationship of the Church to those baptized Christians who are not in full, visible communion with the Catholic Church (ecumenism) and those who are not baptized Christians (interreligious dialogue). It considers various aspects of the Catholic position and its application to specific circumstances. Material is drawn from the Scriptures, various documents of the magisterium, and other theological treatments of the theme. Students should become familiar with the scriptural mandate for Christian unity and encounter with other religions; with the Catholic principles of ecumenism and interreligious dialogue; an initial understanding of the causes and contexts of contemporary divisions and dialogues; and be prepared for the most common pastoral questions and scenarios faced in parochial ministry related to these themes.

2018

This seminary course examines the role and nature of the Church in the mystery of salvation, paying particular attention to the relationship of the Church to those baptized Christians who are not in full, visible communion with the Catholic Church (ecumenism) and those who are not baptized Christians (interreligious dialogue). It considers various aspects of the Catholic position and its application to specific circumstances. Material is drawn from the Scriptures, various documents of the magisterium, and other theological treatments of the theme. Students should become familiar with the scriptural mandate for Christian unity and encounter with other religions; with the Catholic principles of ecumenism and interreligious dialogue; an initial understanding of the causes and contexts of contemporary divisions and dialogues; and be prepared for the most common pastoral questions and scenarios faced in parochial ministry related to these themes.