In dialogue with people of no religious affiliation

“Let us draw together our strengths, the strengths of those who are not particularly interested in faith and of those who do have faith, because the ideal of humanity that nurtures freedom and equality together with fraternal respect and mutual love is really beautiful and absolutely necessary.”

Chiara Lubich

Chiara Lubich in dialogue with people without religious beliefs. Below: in Loppiano, Italy, in 2015.

Aim

People without religion and religious indifference are widespread in many parts of the world. Many people who have no religious affiliation but are faithful to their conscience and to the universal common values of humanity are in contact with the Focolare Movement. With them, a path of knowledge and deep esteem has opened up, leading us to work together for the fraternity of the human family. This dialogue takes shape through discussions on concrete topics, cultural and social initiatives and acts of solidarity. It thereby becomes an opportunity for an individual and collective growth and a chance to experience the fruits of fraternity in a tangible way.

Dialogue between persons who hold different points of view is possible if both sides are aware of their own identity, have mutual respect, make a constant effort to listen to each other, so as to understand and discuss each other’s reasons, and to recognize that the other’s beliefs are as valid as their own.

This dialogue shows that the spirituality of unity inspires, beyond the circle of one’s own religious affiliation. And it is precisely in this spirituality, understood in a broad sense, that believers and non-believers acknowledge each other and feel part of the same reality.

History

At the end of the 1970’s, the openness towards people who have no religious affiliation, such as agnostics, atheists and those who are indifferent to religion, developed to the point of expressing itself in a dialogue with its own features. In 1978 the International Centre for dialogue with people of no religious affiliation began. This centre promotes several international conferences and meetings which aim to contribute to the building of universal fraternity together.

In some of these meetings, Chiara Lubich was present, answering the questions of the participants.