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Document Details : Title: Trends and Developments in Interreligious Dialogue Author(s): EVERS, Georg Journal: Studies in Interreligious Dialogue Volume: 18 Issue: 2 Date: 2008 Pages: 228-242 DOI: 10.2143/SID.18.2.2033324 Abstract : This annual overview of interreligious dialogue starts with general observations on the function and aim of engaging in interreligious dialogue. To counter the trend of abusing religion to justify violence, the quality of information about other religions in education should be enhanced. Another area is interreligious cooperation in the social field. Then the crisis in the relationship between the Jewish community and the Catholic Church, caused by a new formulation of a prayer in the Good Friday service, is presented. Turning to Christian-Muslim relations, the open letter from 138 Muslim religious leaders is presented and the reactions to it described. Other Christian-Muslim dialogue ventures dealt with topics such as “love of God and love of neighbour,” the problem of “faith and reason,” and the issue of “violence.” In addition to an increase in dialogue, disputes continue, e.g. in Malaysia with regard to using common religious terminology, in Denmark (caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad), and in the Netherlands (Wilders’ film Fitna). The proposal to introduce some parts of sharia law into the UK by the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and the public baptism of a Muslim by Pope Benedict XVI were other controversial issues in Christian-Muslim relations. Buddhist-Christian relations remain friendly, as examples of dialogue activities show. Examples of local dialogue activities in Asia are presented. |
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