International Theological Commission: Christianity and the world Religions

“The importance of the religious dimension in human life and the increasing encounters among people and cultures make interreligious dialogue necessary. In view of the problems and needs affecting humanity, there is a need to seek enlightenment about the meaning of life and to bring about common action for peace and justice in the world. Christianity does not in fact and cannot remain on the margins of this encounter and consequent dialogue among religions. If the latter have sometimes been and still can be factors of division and conflict among peoples, it is to be desired that in our world they should appear in the eyes of all as elements of peace and unity. Christianity has to contribute toward making this possible.”

The discussion on this theme took place during several meetings of the subcommission and in the plenary sessions of the International Theological Commission held at Rome in 1993, 1994 and 1995. The present text was approved “in forma specifica” by vote of the commission on 30 September 1996 and was submitted to its president, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, who has given his approval for its publication.

The proceedings (See there) from the International Teological Commission represent a crucial passage about the interfaith dialogue: it is one of the most salient in terms of interreligious dialogue for the Catholic Church. Spend some time on this text, especially in the section ‘1.6. Mission and Interreligious Dialogue’ [p.7] and compare your opinion with others on the comments. What strikes you as most important about this study? What is the essential characteristic of interreligious dialogue according to this section?