In search of a common base for interreligious dialogue : beyond “a common word” between Muslims and Christians

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Date
2020Author
González García, Alexander
ISBN
978-958-9145-80-7
Seccional
Bogotá
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Abstract
Religions are like musical instruments. To be played
together in an orchestra, they must be tuned to the right
tone or pitch. The first requirement is the desire to be in
tune with the other instruments. The second one is to find
a common reference or tone, usually given by the oboe that
plays a fixed pitch (A = 440 Hz). Then all other instruments
will be adjusted according to this common pitch using
different methods because of the different ways in which
sounds are produced. The task of interreligious dialogue,
using this analogy, is to find that common reference or
pitch that allow all religions to play together in peace and
harmony.
I found that the first requirement for tuning our religions
is already present. Several important documents such as
Nostra Aetate and A Common Word between Us and You are signs of a real desire for falling in the right pitch. However,
religions are still searching for the second requirement,
the pitch to which the whole orchestra will be tuned. This
study hopes to contribute to this search by presenting a
common pitch to which religions can tune themselves to
build harmonious relations with each other, i.e., a common
base for interreligious dialogue. The desire for a common
base is expressed in the dialogue between Muslims and
Christians, established by the Muslim text A Common
Word between Us and You, (2007). Therefore, I shall focus
my study on the documents of both religions expressing
this idea.
The first chapter presents an analysis of this relevant
document. Muslim leaders and scholars suggest that
meaningful peace can be brought about between Islam and
Christianity because both traditions share a fundamental
belief. This revolutionary initiative has been admired by
many Christian leaders. Nevertheless, we will see that
according to the analogy of the orchestra, A Common Word
does not propose a universal pitch that will allow tuning
all religions. I propose going beyond “A Common Word”
between Muslims and Christians.The second chapter studies another proposal for a
common universal base for interreligious dialogue. In
several documents, the Catholic Church introduces the
idea of natural law as a common base for all people
because God has provided humanity with reason, leading
people towards righteous behavior. Even though natural
law has been criticized from several angles, I hold that it is
still a valuable means to foster interfaith relations.
The third chapter shows that the common bases for
interreligious dialogue, as proposed by Muslims and
Catholics, are worthy only if they push us to concrete
actions that will enhance harmony among all people. Each
proposal contains various ways of justifying righteous
actions. However, in my perspective, those actions geared
towards the respect for human dignity and the protection
of fundamental rights are more important than the ways
we use to justify them. I conclude by suggesting a universal
and common universal pitch to which all religions can be
in tune.
The search for a common base for interreligious
dialogue is an essential task for today’s society. Our
cultures face extremes positions, deliberately avoiding or
even demonizing religions other than theirs. Therefore, we urgently need to find a base where believers and
non-believers can meet with each other to overcome the
tensions among us, and where reconciliation can turn from
hope into reality. Let us start with the Muslim proposal.
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