with people of no formal faith
"Can a movement, born out of a choice of God as an ideal for life,
be of interest to men and women with no formal faith?
The fact that the son of God took human flesh is something great;
it establishes a deep bond with you, committed as you are to
respect for, and development of, humanity, of each person,
and the growth and safeguarding of human values.
That is what we too must do, and what we want to do with you.”
Chiara Lubich
The aim of dialogue between believers and people with no formal faith is that of working together for the unity of the human family.
During the forties, there were people of many social and cultural backgrounds linked to the community of the Movement in Trento, including those with no formal beliefs. They were attracted by the communion of goods practiced in the movement in favour of the poor.
Towards the end of the seventies, these contacts, with agnostics, atheists, and people indifferent to religion, developed into a dialogue with its own characteristics. An international centre for dialogue with people of no formal faith began in 1978. In 1992 the first of a series of international conventions took place at the Centro Mariapoli at Castelgandolfo (Roma).
What happens
From the experience of recent years, some characteristics of this dialogue have emerged:
there is an effort to emphasise the positive in everyone, and to discover commonly held values;
each person stays true to their own identity;
there is a commitment together to common values like solidarity, equality, peace, and fraternity;
everyone tries to give the best of themselves to the others, in faithfulness to their own convictions, to welcome others, knowing that each person has treasures of their own culture to give ;
this commitment leaves no room for proselytism; thoughts are shared to create a relationship with the other, not to win them over to one’s own ideas;
dialogue is based on deep respect for the other and on acting according to one’s own conscience, which everyone tries to follow in a coherent way;
the focus is on practical things, trying to act together, in actions of solidarity
the group is not closed in on itself, rather, it commits its members, from whatever culture, to work in their own environment.
the common objective is to build together a more united world, building among believers and non-believers alike, a fraternity that can be a witness for others.
Groups
As a result of the various conventions held at Castelgandolfo, groups of dialogue have formed in Italy, Europe, and South America.
Some groups explore themes of common interest, for instance “lay people and faith” or current affairs. Others, to broaden the dialogue, animate social and cultural projects, and others get involved in actions for solidarity.
Actions of solidarity
Various social initiatives have been supported in Eastern Europe (Croatia, Serbia, Albania), Russia, the Middle East (Jerusalem), Ecuador, Cameroon Republic, and Brazil.
Newsletter
“Dialogue among friends”. This is a newsletter translated into 5 languages, linking sixty existing groups and encouraging the exchange of experiences and reflections.
Contacts
Secretariat for dialogue with people of no formal faith
Via Frascati, 306
00040 Rocca di Papa (Roma) IT
tel. +39-06-9497488
fax +39-06-94790205
e-mail: info.centrodialogo@focolare.org
