#HRISTIAN !TTITUDES IN 4HIS 4IME OF 2ELIGIOUS $IVERSITY &R 0IERRE &RAN½OIS DE "£THUNE 7E SHOULD NOT WISH TO EVANGELIZE OTHERS RATHER WE SHOULD EVANGELIZE OUR WAY OF APPROACHING OTHERS ˆ-SGR (ENRI 4EISSIER
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HE NEW WAY OF EVANGELIZING TO WHICH WE ARE CALLED TODAY DOES NOT SIGNAL A RESURGENCE OF THE MISSIONARY 2ATHER IT IS A HUMBLE RETURN TO THE 'OSPEL TO DISCOVER THERE HOW TO WELCOME OTHER PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR THOSE WHO BELONG TO OTHER RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS OR WHO HAVE NO RELIGIOUS ALLEGIANCE -Y POINT OF DEPARTURE IS TO STATE WHAT HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE EVI DENT THE (OLY 3PIRIT IS AT WORK IN OTHER RELIGIONS )T IS ALMOST AS IF WE HAVE BEEN PREVENTED FROM SEEING THIS 4ODAY WE CAN CHANT WITH A NEW CONVICTION THE INTROIT TO THE 0ENTECOST h4HE 3PIRIT OF THE ,ORD l LLS THE UNIVERSE AND (E WHO ENCOMPASSES ALL THINGS MAKES HIMSELF UNDERSTOOD TO SPEAKERS OF EVERY LANGUAGEv 7ISD OF 3OL "UT IT IS NOT ONLY A MATTER OF STATING THIS BECAUSE THE STATEMENT LEADS TO A QUESTION $OES NOT THIS UNDERSTANDING OF THE WAY IN WHICH THE (OLY 3PIRIT IS AT WORK REQUIRE OF #HRISTIANS A FUNDAMENTAL REEXAMINATION )F 'OD IS ACTING OUTSIDE THE #HURCH SHOULD WE NOT IN THE NAME OF THE 'OSPEL RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO CONVERSION !ND THIS QUESTIONING CONCERNS ALL #HRISTIANS %VEN THOUGH ALL HAVE NOT MET THE $ALAI ,AMA OR READ THE FOUNDATIONAL TEXTS OF OTHER RELIGIONSˆNOR HAVE ALL UNDERTAKEN THIS OR THAT PRACTICE EXPOUNDED IN SOME OTHER SPIRITUAL TRADITIONˆNEVERTHELESS THE PROBLEM OF RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY TOUCHES ALL BECAUSE IT REVERBERATES THROUGHOUT THE PUBLIC MEDIA 1UESTIONS ARE AIRED FREQUENTLY ON THE SUBJECT OF #ATHOLIC MISSIONS AND THE EQUIVALENCE OF ALL RELIGIONS )N ANY CASE IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO EXAMINE THE #HURCH S ATTEMPTS TO RESPOND SINCE THE 3ECOND 6ATICAN #OUNCIL 4HIS IS ALL THE MORE NECESSARY BECAUSE THE PREn6ATICAN )) MENTALITY STILL LIVES WITHIN US NO MATTER WHAT WE SAY AND STILL INm UENCES US STRONGLY MOST OFTEN WITHOUT US REALIZING IT >HHJ: D8ID7:G
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!FTER SUMMARIZING THE RECENT DISCOVERY OF THE PRESENCE OF 'OD IN OTHER RELIGIONS AND AFTER OFFERING SOME THEOLOGICAL REm ECTIONS CONCERNING IT ) WILL TRY TO TEASE OUT THE EVANGELICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THIS NEW SITUATION ) )N 7HAT 7AY )S THE 3PIRIT !CTIVE IN THE /THER 2ELIGIONS 4HIS PRESENCE OF 'OD IN THE OTHER RELIGIONS WILL BE SELF EVIDENT FROM NOW ON "UT AS RECENTLY AS l FTY YEARS AGO IT WAS NOT AT ALL EVIDENT ITS OPPOSITE IS WHAT SEEMED OBVIOUS TO US "EFORE REVIEWING THE FACTS WE MUST TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE WERE UNAWARE OF THEM AND TO CLARIFY THE NATURE OF THE PREn6ATICAN )) MENTALITY IN THIS REGARD )T IS PLAIN THAT IN THE MOST ANCIENT TRADITIONS EACH NATION HAD ITS OWN GOD OR GODS !LL WERE EQUALLY REAL EQUALLY FORMIDABLE 7E KNOW FOR EXAMPLE THAT THE GOD OF THE !MMONITES FOUGHT ON THEIR SIDE FOR HE PROTECTED HIS TRIBE 4HE )SRAELITES HELD THIS POLYTHEISM TO BE FACT ,ATER ON THEY CAME TO UNDERSTAND THAT 'OD WAS UNIQUE (E IS THE UNIVERSAL CREATOR THE MASTER AND JUDGE OF ALL THE INHABITANTS OF THE %ARTH (ERE WAS REAL PROGRESS IN THE CONCEPTUALIZATION OF 'OD "UT THEN HOW TO ACCOUNT FOR THE OTHER GODS ABOUT WHOM SO MUCH HAD BEEN SAID 4HERE WERE TWO RESPONSES TO THIS QUESTION 4HE OTHER GODS WERE NOTHINGSˆMERE WIND h4HEY HAVE MOUTHS THAT SPEAK NOT EYES THAT SEE NOT NOSES THAT CANNOT SMELL FEET THAT CANNOT WALK .OT A SOUND COMES FORTH FROM THEIR THROATSv 0S SEE ALSO )SA "UT THIS VIEW DID NOT ANSWER THE QUESTION )T WAS NOT ENOUGH MERELY TO DENOUNCE THESE OTHER GODS IT WAS NECESSARY TO EXPLAIN WHAT THEY WERE FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE WHO BELIEVED IN THEM 4HE SOLUTION THAT ULTIMATELY PREVAILED WAS THAT THESE OTHER GODS WERE IN FACT DEMONSˆBEINGS WHO WERE INDEED SUPERNATURAL BUT MALEl CENT 4HEY WERE RIVALS OF OUR OWN JEALOUS 'OD AND FROM THAT TIME ON WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A SOMEWHAT -ANICHEAN STRUGGLE BETWEEN OUR 'OD AND ALL THESE OTHER GODS &OR THESE OTHER GODS ARE hABOMINATIONSv AND ALL CONTACT WITH THEM BRINGS DEl LEMENT 4HE ONLY PROPER ATTITUDE TOWARD THEM IS TO ANATHEMATIZE THEM AND TO DESTROY THEM UTTERLY %VEN 3AINT 0AUL REFERS TO PAGAN ALTARS AS hDEMONS TABLES v AND IF THEY SEEM TO HAVE SOME POSITIVE QUALITIES HE PUTS US ON OUR GUARD AGAINST h3ATAN DISGUISED AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT v /F COURSE SUCH AN ANALYSIS WOULD HAVE TO BE NUANCED CONSIDERABLY )T IS ENOUGH TO SAY HERE THAT DURING THE TWENTY l VE SUBSEQUENT CENTURIES THESE OTHER GODS WERE SYSTEMATICALLY DEMONIZED ) WANT TO RELATE HERE AN INCIDENT THAT WILL GIVE A GOOD ILLUSTRATION OF THIS ATTITUDE )N A PRIEST WHO HAD VISITED 6ARANASI THE HOLY CITY OF (INDUISM MET WITH US AND DESCRIBED HOW THE OMNIPRESENCE OF THE DEMON THAT HE HAD ENCOUNTERED THERE HAD GIVEN HIM NAUSEA
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"UT SOON AFTERWARDS ATTITUDES HAD CHANGED RADICALLY 7HEN 4HOMAS -ERTON WENT TO )NDIA IN HE WROTE h) LEFT MY MONASTERY TO COME HERE NOT ONLY AS AN ACADEMIC RESEARCHER NOR EVEN IN MY ROLE OF WRITER ) CAME AS A PILGRIM WISHING TO OBTAIN INFORMATION FACTS ABOUT OTHER MONASTIC TRADITIONS BUT AS ONE WHO WISHED TO DRINK FROM THE ANCIENT SOURCES OF THE MONASTIC VISION AND EXPERIENCE v 7HEN ) MYSELF WAS ABLE TO GO TO 6ARANASI IN ) REMEMBER BEING GREATLY EDIl ED AND l LLED WITH ENTHUSIASM BY ITS m OURISHING RELIGIOSITY ) WENT OFTEN TO THE BANKS OF THE 'ANGES DOWN THOSE GRAND STAIRS THAT DESCEND TO THE WATER S EDGE /N MY LAST DAY THERE ) WAS EVEN INVITED BY AN OLD SAGE TO IMMERSE MYSELF IN THE RIVER AND AFTER HESITATING A LITTLE ) DID IT &OR ME IT WAS A MARVELOUS SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE TO PRAY THERE IMMERSED IN THE WATER UP TO MY NECK AS ) FACED UPSTREAM TOWARDS THE SOURCEÂ&#x2C6;AND TOWARDS THE ORIGIN OF ALL THE MANY GRACES WHICH m OWED OVER ME (OW AND WHY HAS SUCH AN EVOLUTION INDEED A REVOLUTION IN ATTITUDE BEEN POSSIBLE ) BELIEVE THAT IT IS DUE ESSENTIALLY TO EXPERIENCES THAT PRESENTED THEMSELVES DURING THIS TIME TO PEOPLE WHO HAD ATTAINED A CERTAIN SPIRITUAL FREEDOM 4HEY WERE ABLE TO DISCOVER CLEAR SIGNS OF THE PRESENCE OF 'OD AND OF THE ACTING OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT AMONG NON #HRISTIANS !T l RST THEY WERE MOVED BY SCRIPTURES WHICH ARE MORE EASILY ACCESSIBLE ) WILL CITE ONLY ONE INSTANCE DRAWN FROM ONE OF THE 5PANISHADS WHICH DATES FROM THE SIXTH CENTURY BEFORE #HRIST (IDDEN IN THE HEART OF ALL BEINGS THE "REATH THE 3PIRIT THE DIVINE 3ELF SMALLER THAN THE SMALLEST MOTE OF DUST LARGER THAN THE VAST UNIVERSE 7HOSOEVER SURRENDERS HIS WILL INTO THE HANDS OF 'OD LEAVES ALL SORROW BEHIND AND BY THE GRACE OF THE #REATOR CONTEMPLATES THE GLORY OF THE "REATH 7HEN A SAGE BECOMES CONSCIOUS OF THE UNIVERSAL PRESENCE OF THE 3PIRIT WHICH IS THE INVISIBLE WITHIN THE VISIBLE HEART THE PERMANENT WITHIN THE IMPERMANENT HE TRANSCENDS ALL SORROW "UT IT IS (E THE 3PIRIT WHO CHOOSES HIM IT IS (E WHO REVEALS TO HIM HIS TRUE NATURE +ATHA 5PANISHAD n /NE COULD l ND DOZENS OF LIKE PASSAGES IN WHICH SIMILAR EXPERIENCES OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT ARE EVOKED "UT WHEN ONE CONTEMPLATES THESE TEXTS THERE IS ALWAYS THE DANGER OF OVEREMPHASIZING SIMILARITY AND SO LOSING RESPECT FOR DIFFERENCE )T IS ALTO GETHER TOO EASY TO SUMMON UP TEXTUAL EXAMPLES SUCH AS THE CELEBRATED INSTANCE OF THAT PRAYER FORMERLY ATTRIBUTED TO 3T 'REGORY OF .AZIANZUS / 4HOU 7HO ART BEYOND ALLÂ&#x2C6;BY WHAT OTHER NAME MAYEST 4HOU BE CALLED !LL WHO EXIST OFFER YOU THEIR PRAYERS ALL BEINGS WHO CAN COM PREHEND 4HY UNIVERSE SEND TO YOU THEIR SILENT HYMNS OF PRAISE !LL THAT >HHJ: D8ID7:G
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ENDURES ENDURES IN 4HEE ALONE 4HE MOVEMENT OF THE UNIVERSE UNFURLS WITHIN 4HEE 4HOU ART THE GOAL OF ALL BEINGS 4HOU ART THE /NE 4HOU ART ALL AND ART NONE 4HOU ART NEITHER SEPARATE NOR APART ALL NAMES ARE 4HINEÂ&#x2C6;YET HOW SHALL WE ADDRESS 4HEE (AVE PITY / 4HOU 7HO ART BEYOND ALL "Y WHAT OTHER NAME MAYEST 4HOU BE CALLED 2ECENTLY IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THIS TEXT WAS ACTUALLY WRITTEN BY 0ROCLUS A PAGAN PHILOSOPHER )T IS THEREFORE MORE WORTHWHILE TO RELY ON ATTITUDES WHICH DO NOT DECEIVE SINCE ONE EVENTUALLY WILL BE ABLE TO DISCERN IN THEM THE FRUITS OF THE 3PIRIT CF 'AL n LOVE JOY PEACE PATIENCE GENTLENESS GOODNESS SELF DISCIPLINE AND ALSO COURAGE AND UNDERSTANDING h"Y THEIR FRUITS SHALL YE KNOW THEMv -ATT 4HE FRUITS OF THE 3PIRIT ARE IN FACT CLEARLY EVIDENT IN SOME NON #HRISTIAN SAINTS ) AM THINKING OF 'ANDHI WHO THROUGH READING 4OLSTOY WAS INSPIRED BY THE 'OSPEL BUT EVEN MORE BY HIS OWN (INDU AND *AIN TRADITIONS PAR TICULARLY BY THE "HAGAVAD 'ITA ) REMEMBER HAVING GONE TO MEDITATE IN HIS MAUSOLEUM IN $ELHI WHERE HE HAD BEEN CREMATED )N THIS VERY IMPRESSIVE v MONUMENT THE ONLY INSCRIPTION IS THESE TWO WORDS h(E 2AMv / 'OD Â&#x2C6;THE WORDS HE SPOKE AT THE MOMENT OF HIS ASSASSINATION (E WAS A MAN OF PRAYER
AND THESE TWO WORDS EVOKE HIS PRESENCE PERFECTLY /NLY IN BAD FAITH COULD ONE REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHAT HE DID WAS DIVINELY INSPIRED ) COULD ALSO MENTION MEETINGS WITH ADMIRABLE PEOPLE NOT ONLY #HRIS TIANS LIKE 0OPE *OHN 88))) -OTHER 4HERESA AND &ATHER /SHIDA BUT ALSO SUCH MASTERS AS THE 2OSHI 9UHO 3EKI AND 2OSHI 3UZUKI 3OCHU AND THE )NDIAN SAGE 3WAMI #HIDDANANDA )N ALL THESE PEOPLE WHATEVER THEIR RELIGIOUS AF l LIATION ) WAS ABLE TO SEE HOW THE PRESENCE OF 'OD HAD TRANSl GURED THEM AND HAD MADE THEM TRULY GOOD PEOPLE ) ALSO RECALL SIMPLE MONKS WHO WERE REMARKABLE FOR THEIR COURAGE AND PERSEVERANCE AND WHO WERE CLEARLY INHABITED BY A GREAT DESIRE FOR TRUTH AND FOR LIGHT 7E CAN ALL REMEMBER SACRED PLACES WHICH BORE WITNESS EACH IN ITS OWN WAY TO THE PRESENCE OF 'OD !S THE TWELFTH CENTURY *APANESE POET 3AIGYO SAID ABOUT A 3HINTO TEMPLE h) DON T KNOW WHAT MYSTERY INHABITS THIS PLACE BUT ) CANNOT REFRAIN FROM WEEPING IN GRATITUDE FOR IT v 4EMPLES MOSQUESÂ&#x2C6;SANC TUARIES OF ALL KINDSÂ&#x2C6;ARE OFTEN INFUSED WITH AN ASTONISHING FORCE ,ET US ALSO REMEMBER ALL THOSE PRAYERFUL PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD WHOSE PRACTICES ARE OFTEN THE SAMEÂ&#x2C6;PRACTICES SUCH AS REPETITION OF THE NAME OF 'OD OR PRAYING WITH BEADS SUCH AS THE ROSARY 4HE SIMILARI TIES ARE SO EVIDENT THAT THE EARLY MISSIONARIES ARRIVING IN *APAN AND 4IBET
UPON OBSERVING THE DEVOUT FAITH OF THE INHABITANTS BELIEVED THAT THEY HAD DISCOVERED THE #HRISTIANS WHO AS LEGEND TELLS HAD LONG AGO BEEN CONVERTED
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BY 0RESTER *OHN )T WAS ONLY LATER THAT THEY HAD TO ACCEPT THE EVIDENCE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THESE PEOPLE WERE IN FACT NON #HRISTIANS )T IS CLEAR THEN THAT THE 3PIRIT IS ACTIVE IN ALL BELIEVERS %VEN SO SUCH AN INTERPRETATION OF THE FACTS SHOULD NOT BE IMPOSED ON OTHERS SINCE THIS MANNER OF NAMING THE DIVINE BELONGS TO A PARTICULAR TRADITION AND WILL QUITE POSSIBLY HAVE NO MEANING IN OTHER TRADITIONS )NDEED IT WOULD NOT BE RESPECTFUL TO SUMMARIZE THEIR EXPERIENCE IN THESE TERMS )) (OW -AY 4HESE &ACTS "E )NTERPRETED 4HEOLOGICALLY &OR CENTURIES THE MATTER SEEMED CLOSED FOR GOOD NOTABLY SINCE THE SEVEN TEENTH %CUMENICAL #OUNCIL WHICH WAS CONVENED AT &LORENCE IN AND WHICH ISSUED THIS DECLARATION 4HE #HURCH l RMLY BELIEVES AND PROCLAIMS TO ALL THAT ANY PERSON LIVING OUTSIDE THE #ATHOLIC #HURCH NOT ONLY PAGANS BUT ALSO *EWS HERETICS AND SCHISMATICS HAS NO SHARE IN ETERNAL LIFE BECAUSE SUCH A PERSON IS BOUND BY DESTINY FOR THE l RE PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS IF HE HAS NOT BEFORE HIS LIFE ENDS BEEN GATHERED INTO THE #HURCH 4O THIS FURTHER NO EXCEPTION IS POSSIBLE EVEN IF THOUGH BAPTIZED IN SOME COM MUNION OTHER THAN THE #ATHOLIC #HURCH HE GIVES ALL HIS WORLDLY GOODS TO THE POOR OR IF HE SPILLS ALL HIS BLOOD IN THE NAME OF #HRIST HE CANNOT BE SAVED WITHOUT HAVING BEEN GATHERED TO THE BOSOM OF THE #HURCH "UT TO MAKE SENSE OF THE EXPERIENCES OF ENCOUNTER MID TWENTIETH CENTURY THEOLOGIANS HAVE DRAWN UPON THE REm ECTIONS OF THE EARLIEST #HURCH &ATHERS THOSE WHO LIVED IN A TIME WHEN #HRISTIANS WERE STILL VERY MUCH IN THE MINORITYÂ&#x2C6;SUCH AS #LEMENT OF !LEXANDRIA )N THIS WAY LITTLE BY LITTLE A RECONSIDERATION HAS BECOME POSSIBLE %VEN THOUGH THE VIEWS OF SUCH THEOLO GIANS AS *EAN $ANI£LOU (ENRI DE ,UBAC +ARL 2AHNER AND 2AIMON 0ANIKKAR DID NOT HAVE A LARGE FOLLOWING STILL IT WAS POSSIBLE TO HAVE RECOURSE TO THEM DURING THE 3ECOND 6ATICAN #OUNCIL WHEN SOMETHING NEEDED SAYING ON THE SUBJECT OF OTHER RELIGIONS 3INCE THEN THE THINKING HAS ADVANCED A GOOD DEAL FARTHER .EVERTHELESS IN SUGGESTING WAYS TO ACCOUNT FOR THE EXPERIENCES OF INTERRELIGIOUS ENCOUNTER ) WILL LIMIT MYSELF TO THE OFl CIAL TEACHINGS OF THE #ATHOLIC #HURCH 4HESE STATEMENTS MAY NOT AT l RST SEEM PARTICULARLY STIMULATING BUT THEY ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR PURPOSE BECAUSE THEY ATTEST TO THE MINIMUM LEVEL OF WHAT HAS BEEN GAINED .UMEROUS STATEMENTS WERE COLLECTED IN A PAGE ANTHOLOGY EN TITLED )NTERRELIGIOUS $IALOGUE 4HE /Fl CIAL 4EACHING OF THE #ATHOLIC #HURCH n 4HUS AFTER CENTURIES OF SILENCE OR INDIFFERENCE TOWARD THIS MATTER THERE HAS BEEN CONSIDERABLE REm ECTION CONCERNING IT AT THE 6ATICAN >HHJ: D8ID7:G
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4HESE DOCUMENTS ALSO SHOW DEVELOPMENTS SINCE 6ATICAN )) 5NFORTUNATELY THE DOCUMENTS ARE NOT WIDELY KNOWN EVEN WITHIN THE 6ATICAN )T WILL BE HELPFUL TO SUMMARIZE BRIEm Y THE GAINS OF THE LAST FOUR DECADES &IRST HERE ARE TWO STATEMENTS FROM THE #OUNCIL 4HE #ATHOLIC #HURCH REJECTS NOTHING THAT IS TRUE AND HOLY IN THESE RELIGIONS 3HE REGARDS WITH SINCERE REVERENCE THOSE WAYS OF CONDUCT AND OF LIFE THOSE PRECEPTS AND TEACHINGS WHICH THOUGH DIFFERING IN MANY ASPECTS FROM THE ONES SHE HOLDS AND SETS FORTH NONETHELESS OFTEN REm ECT A RAY OF THAT 4RUTH WHICH ENLIGHTENS ALL MEN )NDEED SHE PROCLAIMS
AND EVER MUST PROCLAIM #HRIST hTHE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE v 4HAT SALVATION IS THROUGH FAITH IN #HRIST HOLDS TRUE NOT ONLY FOR #HRIS TIANS BUT FOR ALL MEN OF GOOD WILL IN WHOSE HEARTS GRACE WORKS IN AN UNSEEN WAY &OR SINCE #HRIST DIED FOR ALL MEN AND SINCE THE ULTIMATE VOCATION OF MAN IS IN FACT ONE AND DIVINE WE OUGHT TO BELIEVE THAT THE (OLY 3PIRIT IN A MANNER KNOWN ONLY TO 'OD OFFERS TO EVERY MAN THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PASCHAL MYSTERY 4HE l RST OF THESE h.OSTRA !ETATE $ECLARATION ON THE 2ELATION OF THE #HURCH TO .ON #HRISTIAN 2ELIGIONSv IS STILL SOMEWHAT MARGINAL IT IS THE SHORTEST OF ALL THE DECLARATIONS PRODUCED BY THE #OUNCIL AND IS ONLY SEVEN PAGES LONG AS OPPOSED TO THE DECLARATION CONCERNING MISSIONS WHICH COVERS SIXTY FOUR PAGES )T IS VERY TIMID BESIDES STILL IT OPENED A BREACH WHICH IT IS NO LONGER POSSIBLE TO CLOSE )N ADDITION TO THE STATEMENTS THERE ARE EVENTS MOST ESPECIALLY THE $AY OF 0RAYER FOR 0EACE IN THE 7ORLD HELD AT !SSISI ON /CTOBER AN IMPORTANT DATE IN THE HISTORY OF HUMANITY !FTER CENTURIES OF IGNORANCE AND MISTRUST THERE TOOK PLACE AN EXPLICIT AND RECIPROCAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT 'OD IS AT WORK IN ALL THE RELIGIONS )T WAS AN ACTUAL MEETING OF RELIGIONS AS RELIGIONS NOT MERELY AS POLITICAL SOCIAL OR CULTURAL ENTITIES !SSISI WAS A MEETING IN PRAYER $ESPITE THE MANY ATTEMPTS TO MINIMIZE THIS EVENT IT MUST BE ACKNOWLEDGED AS A MEETING OF THE RELIGIONS NOT AT THEIR PERIPHERY BUT AT THEIR CENTER 4HIS WAS NOT SYNCRETISM BUT A TRUE SPIRITUAL COMMUNION "ECAUSE THIS GESTURE WAS NOT UNDERSTOOD PARTICULARLY WELL EVEN BY MEMBERS OF THE 2OMAN #URIA 0OPE *OHN 0AUL )) UNDERTOOK TO EXPLAIN ITS SIGNIl CANCE IN AN IMPORTANT DISCOURSE TO THE #URIA (ERE IS AN EXCERPT 4HE EVENT AT !SSISI MAY BE CONSIDERED AS A VISIBLE ILLUSTRATION AN OBJECT LESSON A UNIVERSALLY INTELLIGIBLE CATECHISM OF THE UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS AND THE MEANING OF ECUMENICAL ENCOUNTER AND INTERRELI GIOUS DIALOGUE AS RECOMMENDED AND PROMOTED BY 6ATICAN )) !T !SSISI THE UNIQUE WORTH OF PRAYER FOR PEACE WAS REVEALED IN AN EXTRAORDINARY
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WAY !LL AUTHENTIC PRAYER OCCURS UNDER THE INm UENCE OF THE 3PIRIT
WHO AS 3T 0AUL SAID hINTERCEDES FOR US POWERFULLY SINCE WE DO NOT EVEN KNOW WHAT TO ASK FOR IN ORDER FOR OUR PRAYERS TO BE AUTHENTIC WHEREAS (IS PRAYERS IN US ARE INEXPRESSIBLE GROANINGS !ND (E WHO KNOWS OUR HEARTS KNOWS WHICH OF OUR DESIRES ARE THOSE OF THE 3PIRIT v 7E CAN THEREBY REAFl RM THAT ALL AUTHENTIC PRAYER IS SUSTAINED BY THE (OLY 3PIRIT WHICH IS MYSTERIOUSLY PRESENT IN THE HEARTS OF ALL PEOPLE 4HIS IS WHAT WAS SEEN AT !SSISI /THER SUCH STATEMENTS COULD WELL BE CITED THAT WOULD ATTEST TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS THINKING PARTICULARLY IN THE BOSOM OF THE 0ONTIl CAL #OUNCIL FOR )NTERRELIGIOUS $IALOGUE )T IS TRUE THAT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN SOME ATTEMPTS AT RETRENCHMENT FOR EXAMPLE IN SUCH STATEMENTS AS $OMINUS )ESUS WHICH SEEMS TO TAKE !SSISI TO BE NULL AND VOID "UT IT MUST BE STATED THAT A POINT OF NO RETURN HAS ALREADY BEEN REACHED AND THAT TO BORROW FROM THE VOCABULARY OF AERONAUTICS WE ARE SO FAR ALONG THE RUNWAY THAT WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO TAKE OFF "ESIDES IT IS NOT SO MUCH A MATTER OF WHETHER TO CONTINUE EVER MORE OPENLY AND EVER MORE BOLDLY IN THIS LINE OF THINKING /N THE LEVEL OF THOUGHT THE BREAKTHROUGH HAS ALREADY BEEN ACHIEVED )T IS NOW A MATTER OF DRAWING PRACTICAL CONCLUSIONS CONCERNING OUR #HRISTIAN BEHAVIOR ))) 7HAT 2ENEWED #ONVERSION TO THE 6ALUES OF THE 'OSPEL $OES 4HIS 5NDERSTANDING 2EQUIRE OF 5S )N RECENT YEARS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE STOCK OF ALL THAT RESULTED FROM OUR PREn6ATICAN )) MINDSET 7E CAN SEE ALL THE BENEl TS THAT AROSE FROM THE PREACHING OF THE FAITH ALL THE GOOD THINGS ACCOMPLISHED HOW HUMAN DIGNITY HAS BEEN ENHANCED IN MANY PLACES "UT IN ACKNOWLEDGING THE NEGA TIVE REACTIONS AMONG THE POPULATIONS WHO HAVE BENEl TED FROM THIS WORK WE MUST ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE SIDE EFFECTS WHICH WENT MORE OR LESS UNNOTICED -IXED IN WITH MUCH SACRIl CE AND EVEN HEROISM THERE WAS ALSO BLINDNESS TO THE VALUES OF OTHER CIVILIZATIONS AND SPIRITUALITIES A GOOD DEAL OF ARRO GANCE AND CONTEMPT AND ABOVE ALL MUCH FORGETFULNESS CONCERNING CERTAIN DEMANDS INHERENT IN THE 'OSPEL MESSAGE 4ODAY THEREFORE IN ORDER TO BE MORE OBEDIENT TO THE 'OSPEL WE ARE CALLED TO A GENUINE TRANSFORMATION IN OUR ATTITUDES TOWARDS BELIEVERS IN OTHER RELIGIONS TOWARDS NONBELIEVERS IN SHORT TOWARDS ALL THOSE WHO ARE OTHER THAN US )T HAS BEEN A CONCERN OF THE 0ONTIl CAL #OUNCIL FOR )NTERRELIGIOUS $IA LOGUE TO SUPPORT THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION OF THIS MATTER AND IT IS IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING TOGETHER A STATEMENT THAT WILL ADDRESS IT )N ANTICIPATION OF THE PUBLICATION OF THIS STATEMENT ) PROPOSE A FOUR STEP APPROACH TO THE >HHJ: D8ID7:G
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ISSUE AT HAND ) SEE IN EFFECT FOUR PRINCIPAL EVANGELICALLY INSPIRED APPROACHES THAT ARE OF PARTICULAR RELEVANCE 4HERE ARE OF COURSE MANY OTHER POSSIBLE ROADS LEADING TO CONVERSION THAT ARE WORTHY OF MENTION ) DO NOT CLAIM TO BE EXHAUSTIVE 4HUS FURTHER REm ECTION IS CALLED FOR 3PIRITUAL &REEDOM 4HE KEY THAT GRANTS ACCESS TO THE SPIRITUALITY OF INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE IN EACH OF ITS STAGES IS INNER SPIRITUAL FREEDOM )NNER SPIRITUAL FREEDOM WHICH IS A RESULT OF A TRUE CONVERSION OF THE HEART IS ALWAYS TO BE UNDERSTOOD IN THE CONTEXT OF A SPIRITUALITY OF COMMUNION WITHIN THE #HURCH 3PIRITUAL FREEDOM IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE WORKING OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT IN OUR LIVES IN ACCORD WITH 0AUL S 3ECOND ,ETTER TO THE #ORINTHIANS h7HEREVER THE 3PIRIT OF THE ,ORD IS PRESENT THERE INDEED IS FREEDOM v 4HIS GRADUALLY INCREASING INNER SPIRITUAL FREEDOM IS ITSELF THE KEY TO SPIRITUALITY AT EACH STEP OF THE INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE 7HAT IS NEEDED l RST OF ALL IS TO FREE OURSELVES FROM BACKSLIDING NOW SO MUCH IN EVIDENCE IN EXPRESSING THE DOCTRINES OF THE #HURCH 7E HAVE FOR A LONG TIME BEEN PARALYZED BY ROADBLOCKS BASED ON DOCTRINE JURISPRUDENCE OR DISCIPLINE WHICH HAVE RESULTED IN THE FORECLOSURE OF ALL REm ECTION "UT WE ARE ABLE TO FREE OURSELVES OF THIS WHEN WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECENT EVOLU TIONÂ&#x2C6;REVOLUTIONÂ&#x2C6;IN THE MANNER IN WHICH CONCEPTS IN THIS AREA HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED NOTWITHSTANDING THE EXISTENCE OF STONE WALLS SUCH AS THE ONE PUT UP BY THE #OUNCIL OF &LORENCE %NCOUNTERS WITH BELIEVERS IN OTHER FAITHS AND EVEN WITH ATHEISTS WHEN ACCOMPLISHED WITH PRAYERFULNESS AND WITH RESPECT HAVE AS END RESULT AN ALLOWING OF THE VALUES OF THE 'OSPEL TO m OURISH 4HIS INNER SPIRITUAL FREE DOM IS OF COURSE NEVER REALIZED ALL AT ONCE )T IS A DYNAMIC THAT CONTINUES TO DEEPEN AND MUST BE CONSTANTLY NOURISHED AND FED 4HIS INNER FREEDOM WILL BE STEADILY DEEPENED BY PRAYER REPENTANCE PILGRIMAGES A DAILY AP PLICATION OF DISCERNMENT AND A LIFE OF PRACTICE OF THE SACRAMENTS AND THE LITURGY WITHIN THE #HURCH !T THE HEART OF THESE VARIOUS PRACTICES IS THE LIVING EXERCISE OF FAITH HOPE AND #HRISTIAN CHARITY 4HE CORNERSTONE OF A FRUITFUL INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE IS FAITH 4HERE IS NOTHING SURPRISING ABOUT THE FACT THAT INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE IS SPREADING AMONG MONASTICS FOR WHOM PRAYER IS A PRIORITY !N EXAMPLE OF THIS DIALOGUE IS KNOWN PARADOXICALLY AS THE DIALOGUE OF SILENCE WHICH HAS BEEN PRACTICED IN A VARIETY OF ENCOUNTERS BETWEEN "UDDHIST AND #HRISTIAN MONKS AND NUNS 4HE MORE WE DEVOTE OURSELVES TO THIS AS #HRISTIANS TO THE CONTEMPLATION OF THE COUNTENANCE OF *ESUS THE MORE EFFECTIVE WE WILL PROVE TO BE IN INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE 4HEREFORE WHEN WE ENCOUNTER SOMEONE WHO IS OTHER THAN US IT IS OF THE l RST IMPORTANCE THAT TRUSTING IN THE AID OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT WE PROCEED
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FROM THE INMOST MOST VITAL MOST FREE PART OF OURSELVES 4HERE WILL BE NO NEED TO BE AFRAID OF MAKING CONTACT AT THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL OF OUR LIFE IN FAITH AND NO NEED TO FEAR INVOLVING OURSELVES IN DIALOGUE THAT IS hINTRARELIGIOUS v TO BORROW AN EXPRESSION OF 2AIMON 0ANIKKAR S 4HREE LEVELS OF ENCOUNTER MAY BE DISTINGUISHED s .EIGHBORLY COLLABORATION N OR JOINT EFFORT IN THE SERVICE OF JUSTICE OR PEACE SUCH IS GENERALLY REALIZED WITHOUT MANY WORDS SPOKEN ON THE SUBJECT OF RELIGION s #OLLOQUY ON THE SUBJECT OF THE DOCTRINES AND PRACTICES OF DIFFERENT Y RELIGIONS &OR THIS WORDS ARE NEEDED FOR WHICH BOTH TRAINING AND DISCIPLINE ARE REQUISITE s 4HE DESIRE TO BE OF ONE MIND WHICH MAY LEAD TO COMMUNION !T THIS POINT WE ARE BEYOND WORDS .OT EVERYONE IS DESIROUS OF ACHIEVING THIS THIRD LEVEL 3OME PEOPLE ARE FEARFUL OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF hINTRARELIGIOUSv DIALOGUE )F WE ARE WILLING TO REm ECT ON THIS HOWEVER WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TO RULE OUT DIALOGUE ON A SPIRITUAL LEVEL MUST RENDER ALL DIALOGUE IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE TO RULE OUT SUCH DIALOGUE AGAIN SUBJECTS TO QUESTION THE FUNDAMENTAL UNITY AND COM PATIBILITY THAT EXIST AMONG ALL HUMAN BEINGS )F THIS CAPSTONE IS REMOVED
THE ENTIRE EDIl CE OF DIALOGUE CRUMBLES 4HAT IS WHY THE SPIRITUAL FREEDOM TO DEVELOP DIALOGUE TO ITS FULL EXTENT
WITH THE AID OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT IS NECESSARY TO ANY COMING TOGETHER 4HE #OMMITMENT TO !CT IN !CCORD WITH THE 'OSPEL 4HIS SECOND ATTITUDE MUST BE APPROACHED IN COUNTERPOINT WITH THE ATTITUDE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY BECAUSE THE SPIRITUAL FREEDOM WHICH WAS AT ISSUE THERE DOES NOT CONSIST IN SEVERING ONE S TIES IT IS NOT WITHOUT GUIDELINES IT IS A FREEDOM IN FAVOR OF 'OD IN FAVOR OF #HRIST ) WISH THEREFORE TO SAY A WORD ABOUT THE WORK OF MISSION AND ITS RELA TION TO AN APPROACH BASED ON THE SPIRIT OF DIALOGUE &OR SOME #HRISTIANS DIALOGUE IS SOMETHING TO FALL BACK ON WHILE WAITING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO CARRY OUT THE WORK OF MISSION IN ITS PROPER SENSE &OR OTHERS INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE SEEMS AN UN MISSION OR A COMPRO MISSION A WAY OF WATERING DOWN THE FAITH SO THAT IT CAN BE ACCEPTED WITH THE LEAST EFFORT )T IS EASY TO DENIGRATE IN THIS WAY THE INTENTIONS OF THOSE WHO ARE ATTEMPTING A NEW WAY OF APPROACHING OTHERS IN THE NAME OF THE 'OSPEL .EVERTHELESS ) WANT TO RESTATE CLEARLY THAT IT IS THE 'OSPEL THAT MOVES US TO ENTER INTO DIALOGUE )T IS A PROCEEDING THAT IS IN EFFECT A WAY OF PROCLAIM ING OF STATING OUR JOY IN HAVING FOUND *ESUS LIKE THE JOY FELT BY THE WOMAN IN THE PARABLE IN ,UKE UPON l NDING HER LOST COIN SHE CALLS TOGETHER HER >HHJ: D8ID7:G
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NEIGHBORS TO SHARE IN HER JOY )F WE ARE NO MORE ENTHUSIASTIC THAN THAT IN BEARING WITNESS TO OUR l NDING #HRIST WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE VITALITY OF OUR OWN FAITH !T THE LEAST IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE A CLEAR DISTINC TION BETWEEN OUR WISH TO SEE *ESUS LOVED AND OUR WISH TO CONVERT OTHERS SO THAT THEY WILL ENTER INTO THE #HURCH 4HESE ARE TWO SEPARATE ROADS AND
AS -ONSIGNOR 4ESSIER HAS SAID h7E SHOULD NOT WISH TO EVANGELIZE OTHERS RATHER WE SHOULD EVANGELIZE OUR WAY OF APPROACHING OTHERS AND SPEAKING ABOUT OUR FAITH !ND THEN WE SHOULD LET THE 3PIRIT DO ITS WORK v 7ITHOUT THIS COMMITMENT TO ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 'OSPEL THE ENTERPRISE OF ENCOUNTER WITH OTHER FAITHS IS BOUND TO BE FRUSTRATED )F OUR UNDERTAKING IS NOT BASED ON FAITH DIALOGUE WILL AMOUNT TO SOME EXTENT TO FOUNDING A BRIDGE ON SAND 7E WILL NEVER BUILD A SOLID BRIDGE TO OTHERS IF WE ARE NOT CERTAIN OF OUR POINT OF DEPARTURE OR OF HOW SOLID THAT POINT OF DEPARTURE IS 4HE #OURAGE TO 'O &ORTH INTO $EEP 7ATERS )N DESCRIBING PRECISELY THE PROCESS OF INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE IT IS ILLUMI NATING TO COMPARE IT IN AN ADMITTEDLY SCHEMATIC WAY TO OTHER KINDS OF RELATIONS s -ISSION HAS AS ITS TRADITIONAL GOAL N THE EXPANSION OF THE BORDERS OF THE S #HURCH s %CUMENISM CONSISTS IN ERASING THE BORDERSS ESTABLISHED BY OUR TRIBAL SPIRIT s $IALOGUEE CONSISTS IN CROSSING THE BORDERS IN THE NAME OF #HRIST AS S 3T &RANCIS OF !SSISI DID WHEN HE CROSSED THE FRONT LINES TO GO SPEAK WITH THE 3ULTAN 7HAT IS INVOLVED HERE IS RECOGNIZING THE BORDERS AND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT ONE IS CROSSING THEM IN HUMILITY NOT AS A CONQUERING NATION BUT AS ONE WHO WISHES TO MAKE ONESELF KNOWN TO STRANGERS 4HIS PROCESS PRESUMES THAT ONE HAS DECIDED .OT TO JUDGEÂ&#x2C6;THAT IS NOT TO WISH TO BE CONSTANTLY COMPARING WHAT ONE E ENCOUNTERS IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY WITH WHAT ONE KNOWS IN ONE S OWN COUNTRY #OMPARING GAUGING AND JUDGING ARE NEVER VERY SPIRITUAL UNDERTAKINGS ) AM THINKING HERE OF THOSE ATTEMPTS TO MAKE COMPARISONS BETWEEN #HRISTIAN CHARITY AND "UDDHIST COMPASSIONÂ&#x2C6;COMPARISONS WHICH CLAIM TO MEASURE THEIR RESPECTIVE WORTH -AKING THIS SORT OF JUDGMENT CAN OFTEN BE RATHER PRESUMPTUOUS )N ANY CASE SO LONG AS ONE INSISTS ON COMPARING WORTH IN THIS WAY ONE IS NOT IN DIALOGUE AT A SPIRITUAL LEVEL $ID NOT #HRIST ASK US h7HO AUTHORIZED YOU TO JUDGE YOUR BROTHER v
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)T IS OF COURSE NECESSARY TO DISCERN WHAT IS OF VALUE TO THE HUMAN PER SON AND AT SOME POINT TO DENOUNCE CLEARLY WHAT IS CONTRARY TO THE RIGHTS OF MAN BUT FOR ANYTHING TO DO WITH DOCTRINES AND SPIRITUAL PRACTICES IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DECLARE FROM OUTSIDE WHAT IS VALUABLE OR VALUELESS FOR OTHERS &OR THE SAME REASON ONE CANNOT ESTABLISH THE VALUE OF RELIGION IN GENERAL 3UCH VALUE JUDGMENTS QUITE SIMPLY MAKE NO SENSE ON A SPIRITUAL LEVEL 4O RENOUNCE ALL WISH FOR POWER )N THE PAST ONE SANG h#HRIST TRIUMPHS #HRIST REIGNS #HRIST RULES v "UT #HRIST HIMSELF SAID h-Y KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD v 4HIS POINT IS SO FUNDAMENTAL THAT THERE IS NO NEED TO ELABORATE IT 4O CARRY A MINIMUM OF BAGGAGEÂ&#x2C6;DOCTRINAL BAGGAGE IN PARTICULAR %VANGELISTIC DYNAMISM HAS ONLY TOO OFTEN BEEN SLOWED OR EVEN HALTED BY REQUIREMENTS FOR DOCTRINAL INTEGRITY AND PURITY &OR THE SAKE OF ENFORCING CONCERNS THAT ARE NOT ESSENTIAL WE HAVE NEGLECTEDED THE CENTRAL CONCERN OF THE 'OSPEL WHICH IS TO SEE WITH THE HEART 4HE END RESULT IS THAT PERVERSIONS LIKE THE )NQUISITION BECOME POSSIBLE )N ANY CASE WE NEED TO RETHINK FROM THE BEGINNING THE PROPER RELATION BETWEEN ORTHODOXY AND ORTHOPRAXYÂ&#x2C6;THAT IS THE RELATION BETWEEN THE CORRECT THINKING AND CORRECT LIVINGÂ&#x2C6;AND EVEN MORE THE RELATION BETWEEN SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE AND DOGMATIC FORMULATIONS .OT TO FEAR SELF EXPOSURE #HRIST TELLS US h4AKE NO THOUGHT OF WHAT OR HOW TO SPEAK FOR IT SHALL BE GIVEN TO YOU AT THAT HOUR WHAT TO SPEAK &OR IT IS NOT YOU THAT SPEAKS BUT THE 3PIRIT OF YOUR &ATHER THAT SPEAKETH IN YOUv -ATT !BSENCE OF FEAR IS A VERY TELLING WITNESS TO THE VALUES OF THE 'OSPEL )S IT NOT THE l RST GIFT OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT )N ANY CASE IT IS THE l RST MANIFESTATION OF THE 3PIRIT BEING AT WORK AT 0ENTECOST THE DISCIPLES WERE NO LONGER AFRAID TO GO FORTH 5NDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES GOING FORTH INTO DEEP WATERS WILL NOT BE A FORM OF SPIRITUAL TOURISM A WAY OF SATISFYING OUR CURIOSITY BUT WILL BE TRULY TO GO FORTH ON A MISSION (OSPITALITY 4HIS LAST QUALITY EXISTS IN COUNTERPOINT TO THE PRECEDING ONE JUST AS THE l RST TWO EXISTED IN COUNTERPOINT !N INTERNAL WELCOMING CORRESPONDS TO AN EXTERNAL GOING FORTH 4HE VARIOUS SPIRITUAL APPROACHES REQUIRED FOR THE PRACTICE OF INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE ARE ENCOMPASSED IN THE EXPERIENCE OF HOS PITALITY 4HAT IS TO BEGIN A SINCERE DIALOGUE IS LIKE INVITING SOMEONE INTO OUR OWN HOME )N RETURN WE AGREE TO VISIT OUR COUNTERPART S HOME SOMETIMES EVEN THE INNER SANCTUARY OF THEIR SPIRITUAL LIFE ! MEETING IN THIS SPIRIT WITH PEOPLE OF OTHER RELIGIONS IS UNDOUBTEDLY A FORM OF WITNESS IN ACCORD WITH THE RECOMMENDATION GIVEN BY 3T 0AUL TO THE #HRISTIANS OF 2OME h7ELCOME ONE AND ALL JUST AS #HRIST WELCOMED YOU FOR THE GLORY OF 'OD v >HHJ: D8ID7:G
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)T WILL BE USEFUL TO RECALL HERE THE h$ISCOURSE ON -ISSION v THOSE INSTRUC TIONS #HRIST GAVE TO HIS DISCIPLES WHOM HE WAS SENDING OUT ON MISSION -ATT (E INSTRUCTED THEM TO TAKE NO BAGGAGE WITH THEM PRECISELY BECAUSE THE DISCIPLES WOULD THEN BE OBLIGED TO ASK FOR HOSPITALITY AND TO BE RECEIVED IN HOMES WHERE THEY WOULD BE GIVEN FOOD AND DRINK THEY WOULD THUS BE OBLIGED TO RECEIVE BEFORE THEY COULD GIVE 7HY HAS THIS MANNER OF PROCEED ING NEVER BEEN TAKEN STRONGLY INTO ACCOUNT IN MORE RECENT INSTRUCTIONS TO THOSE DEPARTING ON MISSION ! "ELGIAN MISSIONARY NEVERTHELESS TOLD ME OF HIS ASTONISHMENT DURING THE S THAT A MISSION IN ,UMBUMBASHI WAS BUILT AT A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE CITY AWAY FROM WHERE PEOPLE LIVED h7E TRAVELED KILOMETERS TO MEET WITH PEOPLE BUT WE FAILED TO GO THE LAST METERS v )T IS DIFl CULT TO ASK FOR HOSPITALITY AND TO BE DEPENDENT TO SOME EXTENT ON THOSE WHO WELCOME US 7E KNOW OF COURSE THAT *ESUS HIMSELF RECEIVED MUCH AND OFTEN (E RECEIVED MANY SIGNS OF RESPECT AND AFFECTION FROM -ARY -AGDALENE (E RECEIVED FROM :ACCHEUS AN INVITATION TO ENTER HIS HOME (E WAS INVITED TO EAT WITH ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE (E RECEIVED AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE AND HOMAGE !ND THE WAY IN WHICH HE EXPERIENCED AMAZEMENT AND ASTON ISHMENT AT SO MANY THINGSÂ&#x2C6;WAS THIS NOT ALSO A KIND OF RECEIVING 0ROFESSOR 'ESCH£ S REm ECTION ON THE #REATION WILL CLARIFY WHAT IT MEANS TO WELCOME h4HE ULTIMATE MEANING WRAPPED IN A GIFT IS THAT IT ENDOWS THE RECIPIENT WITH THE ABILITY TO GIVE IN RETURN 7OULD IT NOT BE AS GREAT FOR 'OD TO RECEIVE AS TO GIVE 3ETTING ASIDE OUR HABIT OF MAKING -ANICHEAN DISTINC TIONS IS TO GIVE NOT ALSO TO RECEIVE v 4HIS STATEMENT HELPS US GRASP WHAT WE MAY CALL THE LOGIC OF GIVING AND RECEIVING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE 'OSPEL )N THIS SPIRIT WE CAN OVERCOME THE FEAR THAT WE EXPERIENCE UPON RECEIVING FROM OTHERS GIFTS WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL TO US 4HIS APPROACH TO RECEIVING PRESUPPOSES (UMILITYÂ&#x2C6;THAT IS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT MIGHT BE CALLED hPIOUS TOTALI Y TARIANISM v ) WOULD APPLY THAT TERM TO THOSE WHO SAY h)N #HRIST WE HAVE EVERYTHING 7HY LOOK ELSEWHERE 4O TAKE NOTE OF SOMETHING IMPORTANT THAT COMES FROM ELSEWHERE FROM ANOTHER SPIRITUALITY WOULD ALMOST BE AN ACT OF DISLOYALTY TO #HRIST BECAUSE IT WOULD AMOUNT TO AN UNSPOKEN ADMIS SION THAT HE WAS NOT ENOUGH FOR US 4HE MOST WE CAN DO IS l ND ELSEWHERE VARIOUS CONl RMATIONS OR ILLUSTRATIONS OF OUR BELIEFS OR ELSE ABSURDITIES THAT DEMONSTRATE BY CONTRAST THAT WE HAVE THE TRUTH AS OPPOSED TO THEIR ERRORS AND ABERRATIONSÂ&#x2C6;BUT NOTHING MORE v "UT ) WOULD ASK DOES A l RM ATTACHMENT TO THE PERSON OF *ESUS NECESSITATE SUCH AN ARROGANT SELF SUFl CIENCY .OT AT ALL 4HERE IS NO SHAME IN HAVING NEED OF OTHERS %VEN h'OD HAS NEED OF -AN v
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/N THIS POINT WE WILL ALSO NEED TO RETHINK THE PROPER RELATION BETWEEN A LOVE THAT IS EXCLUSIVE AND A LOVE THAT IS UNIVERSALÂ&#x2C6;BETWEEN A LOVE THAT TAKES CONJUGAL LOVE AS ITS MODEL AND ONE THAT TAKES AS ITS MODEL A HOSPITAL ITY OPEN TO ALL ) WOULD ADD AS WELL THAT IN ALL THIS WE MUST REMAIN HUMBLE AND RECOGNIZE THAT IN TIMES OF IMPERIALISM AND COLONIALISM THERE ARE ALSO PEOPLEÂ&#x2C6;MISSIONARIES IN PARTICULARÂ&#x2C6;WHO HAVE DONE VERY GOOD WORK AND HAVE MET OTHERS AT A DEEP LEVEL ! SINCERE RECOGNITION OF OTHERNESS 7HAT IS OTHER HAS THE RIGHT TO EXIST AS OTHER )TS SALVATION DOES NOT NECESSARILY CONSIST IN BECOMING WHAT WE ARE 4HE #ATHOLIC #HURCH IS TOO MUCH IN THE HABIT OF SELF QUOTATION ONE SOMETIMES HAS THE FEELING THAT NEW DOCUMENTS ARE NEVER ANYTHING BUT A RECASTING OF WHAT HAS ALREADY 7HAT IS OTHER HAS THE RIGHT BEEN SAID 3UCH AN APPROACH IS PATENTLY STERILE WHAT HAS VITALITY IS BIODIVERSITYÂ&#x2C6;THE WELCOMING OF LIFE THAT TO REMAIN AS OTHER COMES FROM ELSEWHERE )S IT POSSIBLE THAT WE WILL AGAIN BECOME CAPABLE OF hREJOICING IN THE TRUTHv WHATEVER ITS SOURCE 4HIS APPROACH IS ONE OF THE QUALITIES OF LOVE
TO FOLLOW 3T 0AUL #OR !RE WE STILL CABLE OF BEING ASTONISHED AND AMAZED )S NOT ASTONISHMENT THE BEGINNING POINT FOR ALL PHILOSOPHIZING
FOR ALL THOUGHT 7HEN THERE IS NO MORE AMAZEMENT THOUGHT BECOMES LA BORED AND PAINFUL AND SADLY WE ARE WITNESSING AMONG #HRISTIANS CERTAIN REGRESSIONS IN THOUGHT 7E MUST ON THE CONTRARY CULTIVATE A hHOSPITABLE TRUTH v AS &ATHER *£ROME 7ITKAM A 4RAPPIST MONK EXPRESSED IT 3UCH A TRUTH IS A #HRISTIAN TRUTH REVIVIl ED BY ENCOUNTER 7E SHOULD EVOKE HERE SOME ELEMENTS OF !SIAN !FRICAN OR INDIGENOUS TRADITION THAT HAVE NOURISHED #HRISTIAN THOUGHT AND PRACTICE ) AM THINKING OF THE NONVIOLENCE AHISMA OF 'ANDHI OF THE MEANING OF FAMILY IN "ANTU TRADITION OF THE *APANESE WABII JOY IN POVERTY AND MOST ESPECIALLY THE REm ECTION UPON EMPTINESS SUNYATA WHICH WAS ELABORATED IN THE WORLD OF ANCIENT "UDDHISM AND WHICH ALLOWS FOR A VERY FRUITFUL DIALOGUE WITH #HRISTIANS AS THEY REm ECT ON KENOSIS OR THE EMPTYING OUT OF #HRIST CF 0HIL "UT IT IS NOT REALLY POSSIBLE TO SPEAK OF THIS AT GREATER LENGTH ,ET IT SUFl CE FOR US TO REMEMBER THAT *ESUS ANNOUNCED THAT THE 3PIRIT WILL COME IN ITS OWN TIME TO REVEAL TO US THINGS THAT HE HIMSELF WAS UNABLE TO TELL US (E WILL REVEAL ASTONISHING THINGS FOR hONE KNOWS NOT WHENCE HE CAME NOR WHITHER HE GOETH v (OPE (OPE ENCAPSULATES THIS NEW APPROACH 'ABRIEL -ARCEL SAID h4O LOVE IS TO PLACE OUR HOPES WHOLLY IN THE OTHER v )F WE WISH TO LOVE OTHERS SINCERELY WE MUST BEGIN BY TRUSTING THEM 7ITHOUT HOPE THERE CAN BE NO >HHJ: D8ID7:G
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DEEP ENCOUNTER WITHOUT US EXPECTING FROM THE OTHER WORDS OF SALVATION
WORDS THAT WILL CONVERT US #ONCLUSION 4HIS MEETING IN HOPE ALLOWS US IN TURN TO PLACE OUR HOPES IN THE FUTURE OF THE #HRISTIAN TRADITION 7HEN THAT TRADITION HAS AT LAST ACKNOWLEDGED THE HOPES AND THE QUESTS OF OTHER TRADITIONS WHEN IT HAS DISCERNED MORE CLEARLY THE ACTION OF 'OD AMONG THEM IT WILL BE REINVIGORATED AND YET NOT ALTERED AS SOME FEAR )N FACT IT IS NOT THE FOREIGN ELEMENTS ONCE ASSIMI LATED THAT JUSTIFY OUR HOPE BUT RATHER THE PROCESS OF WELCOMING THE OTHER THAT WILL TRULY REVIVE OUR OWN TRADITION BECAUSE IT IS A PROCESS ESSENTIAL TO THE 'OSPEL ALTHOUGH SOMEWHAT ATROPHIED IN THE COURSE OF THE YEARS OF #HRISTIAN TRIUMPHALISM 4HE FUTURE WILL TELL TO WHAT OTHER DISCOVERIES THESE ENCOUNTERS WILL LEAD US AND WHAT NEW CALLS TO CONVERSION THEY WILL REVEAL ,ET IT BE ENOUGH FOR US FOR THE MOMENT TO REMEMBER THAT THIS MEETING IS NOT ONLY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US #HRISTIANS BUT IT IS EQUALLY A RESPONSI BILTY TOWARD THE OTHER INHABITANTS OF THE GLOBE 0ROPHETS OF DOOM PREDICT AN EXACERBATION OF CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES ENDING IN A hCLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS v $ESPITE THESE PERSPECTIVES THE #HRISTIAN WORLD WHICH IN THE PAST HAS BROUGHT MUCH BENEl T TO OTHER NATIONS IN PARTICULAR THE KNOWL EDGE OF *ESUS #HRIST BUT WHICH ALSO CONTRIBUTED THROUGH ITS ARROGANCE TO CONm ICT BETWEEN CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS IDENTITIES NOW HAS AN IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY 4HE GREAT MISSIONARY ENERGY WHICH LED SO MANY #HRISTIANS INTO CONTACT WITH OTHERS DURING PAST CENTURIES CANNOT NOW BE ABANDONED )TS TRANSFORMATION ALREADY LAUNCHED MUST RESULT IN A CONCRETE ENGAGEMENT THAT WILL GRADUALLY CONSTRUCT A hCULTURE OF DIALOGUE v 4HIS WILL BE IT SEEMS TO ME THE BEST WAY TO BRING ALL TO THE LOVE OF THE ,ORD *ESUS s 4HIS ARTICLE l RST APPEARED AS )SSUE OF 0AROLES AU l L DU TEMPS PUBLISHED BY THE -ONASTÞRE 3AINT !NDR£ DE #LERLANDE /TTIGNIES "ELGIUM 4HE TRANSLATION FROM THE &RENCH IS BY $AVID 2OUNDS WITH 2OBERT (ENREY .OTES #ATHOLIC #HURCH 0ONTIl CAL #OUNCIL FOR )NTERRELIGIOUS $IALOGUE )NTERRELIGIOUS $IALOGUE 4HE /Fl CIAL 4EACHING OF THE #ATHOLIC #HURCH n ED &RANCESO 'IOIA "OSTON 0AULINE "OOKS -EDIA h.OSTRA !ETATE $ECLARATION ON THE 2ELATION OF THE #HURCH TO .ON #HRISTIAN 2ELIGIONS 0ROCLAIMED BY (IS (OLINESS 0OPE 0AUL 6) ON /CTOBER v PARAGRAPH OF )NTERRELIGIOUS $IALOGUE 4HE TRANSLATION IS THAT GIVEN IN THE 6ATICAN !RCHIVE
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