Interfaith Dialogue
By Bob Munson
Communication between different
religions
 Can
we talk?
 Why should we talk?
 How should we talk?
Can we Talk?
Some would say that interfaith dialogue is
simply impossible. Derek Philips believed
that one may simply not be able to
communicate in a meaningful way
between religions. “If certain religions have
enough in common, then there is a basis
for discussion. If not, then the basis for
such a discussion is lacking.” <Vroom, 51>
Christians searching for a common
starting point in dialogue with other
religions have gone through three stages.
 Christocentric
 Theocentric
 Pneumatocentric
<These transitions have been to seek
commonality.>
Although many have drifted to
Theocentric or Pneumatocentric
points for discussion, Harvie Conn
recommends Christocentric. He
believes Christ provides a point of
common interest, and a guide for
dialogue.
Why should we talk?
 To
bring people to our viewpoint?
 To understand each other better?
 To gain insights from each other?
 Maybe… all three?
How should we talk?
Proclamation/Preaching?
Instruction/Teaching?
Apologetics/Argument?
Dialogue/Discussion?
Preaching has its place. So does teaching
and argument. However, Christians should
become better at dialogue.
---Dialogue tends to break down hindrances
to conversion.
---Dialogue leads to better understanding.
---Dialogue leads to greater insight of each
other.
But isn’t Dialogue bad?
John Hick believes that dialogue means that
one must switch from being confessional
to being truth-seeking. (Toss aside our
beliefs and seek new truths.)
But that presumes that those who are most
interested in truth are those that don’t
know what is true. Why assume that?
Martin Buber’s Response
“the presupposition of genuine dialogue
is not that the partners agree
beforehand to relativize their own
convictions, but that they accept each
other as persons.”
Christ’s Guide for Interfaith Dialogue
(based on Harvie Conn)


Jesus always moves the discussion from
theory to practice. “The reign of God is
not an abstract ideal; it is a reality
actualizing itself in history.”
Jesus reminds us that “religion is always
a mixed blessing. Jesus, after all, was
fiercely opposed by many (not all) of the
religious people of his day.”
Christ’s Guide for Interfaith Dialogue
(based on Harvie Cox) Part II


“Jesus' example reminds us also that the
search for human oneness-in-diversity in
interreligious dialogue is not only a matter of
making judgments; it sometimes requires
refraining from judgment.”
Jesus guides us to “expect to find God already
present in the "other," including the one with
whom we are in dialogue, no matter how
strange or unfamiliar that other's ideas or
religious practices may seem.” <Cox>
Is there risk in dialogue?
Yes! Some have fallen beside the way
because they fell prey to the arguments of
others.
However, Christians have never been called
to avoid all risks… certainly not risks with
a high possibility of gain.
Can learning from other religions be
beneficial?
Peter and Cornelius describes a win-win in
interfaith conversation. Cornelius left his
former faith and became a Christian.
However, Peter also learned a great deal
from Cornelius. Being an Apostle of Christ
did not mean that he had nothing to learn
from a syncretistic pagan. One could even
argue that Peter was, in a sense
converted. He now knew that the Gospel of
Christ is revealed and available to
Gentiles. (Anderson, 188-190)
Works Cited
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Anderson, Norman “Christianity and World Religions: The
Challenge of Pluralism”
Cox, Harvey. “Many Mansions or One Way? The Crisis in
Interfaith Dialogue”. The Christian Century. August 17-24,
1998. p. 731-735.
Karkkainen, Veli-Matti. “How to Speak of the Spirit Among
Religions: Trinitarian ‘Rules’ for a Pneumatological Theology of
Religions.” International Bulleting of Missionary Research, Vol.
30 No. 3. p. 121-127.
McLaren, Brian D. Finding Faith: A Self-Discovery Guide for
your Spiritual Quest. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1999).
Vroom, Hendrick M. Religions and the Truth: Philosophical
Reflections and Perspectives.