among religions
Dialogue among religions for fraternity among peoples
The world is changing dramatically, and becoming a multicultural and multifaith society. While this brings with it xenophobia, religious intolerance, and the fear of a clash of civilizations, the Focolare Movement is engaged in the promotion of dialogue among religions. The religious pluralism of the world’s peoples ought not to be the cause of divisions and war, rather it ought to contribute to the re-establishment in fraternity of the unity of the human family.
Spirituality is the place where this dialogue has proved especially productive. We have become increasingly convinced during the recent decades of dialogue that what the faithful of other religions expect from Christians is a practical witness to the love found in the Gospel. It is not by chance that the golden rule “Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you” is common to all major religions. In the atmosphere of mutual love which accompanies the practice of the golden rule, dialogue may be established. This demands us to “make ourselves one” with the other, to “live the other”. This is not just kindness, openness and esteem, it is a practice that requires the complete “emptiness” of ourselves to become one with the others, to “enter beneath the skin of the other” and understand more deeply what it means for the other to be a Muslim a Hindu a Buddhist,...
The effect is twofold: it helps us to be inculturated, and to know the religion and language of the other, and predisposes the other to listen.
We can then move on to “proclamation with respect” when, true to God and ourselves, and in sincerity towards our neighbour, we can say what our faith teaches on the subject we are speaking about, without imposing anything on the other, with no hint of proselytism, out of love. And so we grow in mutual knowledge.
The effect of dialogue
The effect of dialogue in this spirit of unity is not syncretism, but the rediscovery of our own religious roots, and of what unites us, the lived experience of fraternity. What is strengthened is the common commitment to be builders of peace and unity, especially where violence and racial and religious intolerance threaten to drive a wedge between different parts of society. Common humanitarian projects flourish.
This was the desire of Pope Benedict XVI and other religious leaders:
“If together we can succeed in eliminating from hearts any trace of rancour, in resisting every form of intolerance and in opposing every manifestation of violence, we will turn back the wave of cruel fanaticism that endangers the lives of so many people and hinders progress towards world peace.
The task is difficult but not impossible. The believer - and all of us, as Christians and Muslims, are believers - knows that, despite his weakness, he can count on the spiritual power of prayer.”
(Benedict XVI, Meeting with Representative of Some Muslim Communities. Cologne, 20 August2005)
A founding event
In 1977, Chiara Lubich was in London to receive the Templeton Prize for “progress in religion”. At the Guildhall, she spoke about her experience to leaders of many different religions, and many of those present in the hall responded warmly.
Since that time interfaith dialogue has become an integral part of the Movement’s aims: “Straight away”, Chiara says, “I realized that this moment was a “turning point” for our movement. I understood that we had to address ourselves to people of other religions, letting the Holy Spirit show us what to do and how to do it”.
Since 1994 Chiara Lubich has been an honorary president of the World Conference of Religions for Peace (WCRP). The movement has been represented since 1979 at the world assemblies of the WCRP and at regional meetings and activities.
Formation for dialogue
A permanent school for interfaith dialogue is based in the little town of Tagaytay (near Manila in the Philippines), a meeting place which helps to spread the Focolare spirituality in Asia. Another school for dialogue is based in the little town of Luminosa in the USA. As a means for getting to know one another better, the “Luminosa Prize” is awarded every year to people from different religions who are involved in dialogue for peace.
Progress
Due to the universal expansion of the Movement, there is a dialogue with all the main religions of the world. This is not only with individual members or leaders of those faiths, but with the leaders and followers of large movements, such as the Buddhist lay movement, Rissho Kosei-kai, with 6 million adherents; the Muslim American Society (USA) with more than 2 million, and the Swadhyaya Family (India) that has 8 million adherents, mostly Hindu.
There are about 30,000 members of other religions who live in their own measure the spirit of the Movement and are committed to the same aims.
Contacts
Centre for interfaith dialogue
via Frascati, 306
00040 Rocca di Papa (Roma) IT
tel. +39-06-9497489
fax +39-06-9496221
email: info.dialogointerreligioso@focolare.org
