ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA
I'm from Brazil. I have a master degree in Global Development and Social Justice and work at Sophia University. I want to learn and improve my skills on interfaith dialoghe
Location Sophia University is in a beautiful place in Tuscany.
Activity
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
I’m very thankful to God for the gift of this course. It was very inspiring for the contents, lectures and the colleague’s discussion. I learned many things, new concepts and insights, but the most beautiful thing was the understanding that God is within and beyond every religion… His love for humanity is so great that he is everywhere, inspiring, nourishing...
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
I have learned a lot of things about Hinduism, I discover that had misconceptions and the course helped me to understand and appreciate Hinduism and it’s tradition. The most important conceps that I learned are: the idea that everything is interconnected, the non-violence concept starting from inner peace; unity of God and diversity of forms that we can...
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
I do agree that all religions contributes to peace, justice, harmony and fraternity, however religion is not a closed system, it get influences from the society and economical and political context. History show us how the misusing of religions by interest, greed and power can lead to conflict and tragedies.
Yes I do agree that the concept of inner peace... -
I choose non-possessiveness because it is not easy to be detached from ourselves, from greed, passion and even from ourselves. To cultivate our mind and soul with the non-possessiveness approach will liberate ourselves from all things that may obstacle compassion, love, peace and mutual understand.
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
For me the most interesting thing is how to answer the question: how the Hinduism survive trough out millenniums without a formal institution that keep the traditions and care for the transmission. Maybe because Hinduism does not pretend to be the holder of the truths and adapt itself to the context ???
Hinduism from what I understood until now is very... -
The idea of Sanatana-Dharma as divine primordial word, as something that preserve, support, nourish beings, I can find a relation with what we can found in the Genesis and in the gospel of St. Johns: “in the beginning was the word”. God for us Christians is immanent (create and support everything… The whole creation sings His Glory, and man is His image) but...
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
Many things about Hinduism for me are knew and I’m very Glad to discover how deep and inspiring this tradition is. A divine primordial word that was not transmitted by mediators, but was there, supporting, nourishing the whole creation in an endless time… very beautiful
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
Thank you for this explanation. For me Hinduism Is very knew, and I understand now that I had some misinterpretation. For example I though that Hinduism was a polytheistic religion. Instead for Hinduism God is one but we call him in different names… for me this is common ground were all religions can come together and understand each other.
The other... -
Thank you prof. Seung for such deep, beautiful reflections and provocative questions. I found out the Indra’s methaphor very meaningful and far from keeping apart Chistian and Buddist vision it may help us to understand better each other.
Hua-yen sees the world as an inter-dependent origination. If this is true for the origin reality why should be... -
Surely, the encounter between Christianity and Buddhism will give both side deeper comprehension of God and Human being.
The question of Science and Faith is something actual and it needs to go deeper in other to access in the proper way ethical issues like bioethics, environment, technology ecc.
In my opinion there is a contact point in the way Buddhism... -
ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
The concept of emptiness is quit challenging and difficult to for western culture. However we can find some similarities in some saints that lived mystical experiences for example San Giovani della Croce in his experience of “nada”, “nulla”, nothingness. I would say even something more: The incarnation of Christ is a kenotic act… He was so empty of His power...
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
It is very interesting to compare Cristianity and Buddism about salvation and liberation, I found out that something became more clear for me about my own faith. I would say that Salvation comes from God but nor without our efforts. In fact in Christian faith there is the mystic (grace from God, his immense Love and mercy), an ascetical work (that means...
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Mandala is a very deep experience and symbol that everything is vanity and passes way. In this word of consumerism and materialism the experience of the monks working peacefully, concentrated in the present is a drop of wisdom for us. The last part: the destruction of the mandala, that is a master peace of beauty and art, for us western people is quite...
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
For me meditation is a daily practise. I try to recollect my self at least 20 min a day and read some inspiring text and the Bible. In the last 2 years I have done a course of mindfulness and this kind of practise helped me in be aware of myself and help me to open my heart, body and soul in a more profound moment of meditation.
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
thank you prof. Kim for this short but clear and essential explanation on Buddhism fundamentals. We can find many points for reflexion: for example the principal that suffering is part of human condition it seams obvious, instead is a great true that our modern societies try to avoid. Aging, illness and death are tabù and like a foolish, we look only for...
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
This week was very empowering. I have learned a lot about Islam and the important statements and documents that Musulims authorities and scholar have done in order to build a world of peace and harmony. Beside that I have realized how much important things have be done in the interreligious dialogue specially in a Islamic-Christian dialogue.
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
Many things about Islam was new for me and I enjoy discovering it and appreciating the richness of Islam tradition. I like very much do discover the Medina Charter, and all the effort of Muslims leaders in our days in working for peace and harmony, for example in the Marrakesh document and the “Fraternity for knowledge and cooperation”.
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In the west societies the separation between religion and state is an important experience for a more balance of power. However this position in some cases was so extreme that separation became division and secularism prevail… the result is a society that behave as God do not exist and religion is tolerate only as private thing. On the other side some...
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
The Marrakesh document is a big step, a powerful commitment from the Muslim religious, that surely provide a phat way for the Muslim clergy and institution and at the same time it would promote mutual understanding among religions. Definitely it is a sing of peace for the whole world.
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
I do agree with prof Palavicini that is important to find concert ways to religions leaders to be advisers of secular institutions: migration, poverty, war, conflicts, environment and so on…
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
I notice however that all the personalities that have sign up the documents are men. This is something that we all have to be aware that the presence of woman still missing. I know personally important Muslim woman scholars form Shiah and Sunni tradition. I’m sure that woman presence in our religions Institution can make a difference.
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
The declaration for me is a corner stone for the dialogue and human fraternity. It is very powerful commitment for both religions traditions that engage everyone from the top of hierarchy, scholars, institutions and lay people in unity of heart and mind in order to collaborate for a more peaceful and fraternal world. I’m very happy in studying this course...
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
Thank you professor Pallavicini. I do agree with your statement and I find out 3 important points for a interreligious dialogue: 1. to make a distinction from the core of the faith and its doctrine from people that may use the message in a wrong way and abuse of it for other interest. 2. Responsibility of religious leaders in transmitting the values of their...
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As prof. Pallavicini affirms is not religion itself that causes conflicts and wars, but wrong interpretation of the message. I agree with this statement. Every religious institution are carry out by humans that are sinful and imperfect. Even though the core of the message is love, mercy, peace and justice, greed sometimes prevail and religions are used for...
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
God is only One there is no another God but only Him. This is a Islam fundamental that is common to Judaism and Christianism. This is very important to underline that we believe in the same God the Holy One, even though we have differences the unity of God is a common ground for a profound understand and dialogue
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
thanks prof. Pallavicini for the video, that give to us non Muslims concise summary about the five pillars of Islam. I have lived in Indonesia for more than 3 years (the most populated Muslim country), and I still missing the call for prayer that always remind me to be in His presence and worship Him with my heart and soul. Was a great experience and I could...
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
For me the most important part is that the pope founded the dialogue in the immense Love of God for humanity, and each person is invited to enter in this “colloquium” with Him. The Dialogue in this point of view is to enter in communion with the life of the holy trinity… it is a matter of relation and not dogma, hierarchy and exclusivity. Dialogue so is a...
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
Eclesiam suam, for me is very prophetic document. If we think about the contest, the council was a work in progress in vortices of ideas, discussions and conflicts. The pope through this letter express his concern about the openness of the Church to the world and invite all the hierarchy and all the Christians to dialogue with the world. A dialogue at 360°...
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
What we can do to promote pace?
First is important to understand that peace is not an intimate feeling or emotion, isn’t even the absence of conflict and war but is a process that we need to engage and workout. That’s way in order to be an instrument of peace we need a heart full of mercy, forgiveness, humility and love… these attitude is needed but is only... -
ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
The link between religion and power is very delicate and need always to be evaluated and purified. The risk is in both sides: religions can use power for its own interest and in the other way around political power can use religion for its interest of absolute power.
The history of the Catholic Church is full of examples of this: the colonization period,... -
Hi, Roberto. I like your point of view about the role of Holly Spirit in the interreligious Dialogue and how the Catholic Church is trying to open it visions and understanding the “sings of the time”. Yes I do agree that the Vatican II was a Kairos and many thing has changed since them. However, I feel that this document still quit rigid in some positions...
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The document “Christianity and world Religions” is a very important document for as Catholic that are engage in Interreligious dialogue. Many passages are complex and not easy to understand without further explanation.
For me the section ‘1.6 . about mission and interreligious dialogue helped me to understand the different positions (pluralistic... -
ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
I have experience wrong ways about dialogue in different ways:
First when I was in South East Asia I experience discrimination by muslins people. I was working in a NGO helping people after the Tsunami in Indonesia. Was so hard to get thrust form the people in the villages because they had the misconception that all the “foreigners” are American therefore... -
For me one of the most common wrong attitude in interreligious dialogue is a kind of “superiority complex” that is the based for prejudice and intolerance. When we talk about dialogue among the great world religion it seems a noble thing to work for it. However when the “other” is a traditional religion, indigenous religion, animist and so on … suddenly this...
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We are call to live the holy trinity live, to enter in this pericoresi of Love by loving our brothers and sisters. How great the design of God for us! How great is the dignity of the human person!
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@RobertoSignor Hi, Robert. Yes I do agree too that God save beyond the boundaries of the Church. It sounds so clear and simple... however many Christians still do not understand this openness, and try to encapsulate God to their own narrow minds. I think dialogue within the Catholic Church is very much needed today.
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@MelDeo. Yes I do agree that through out history we Christians have forget the core of our religion and political power has taken advantage and manipulate the message. We could see it in colonization, crusades and so on… that’s why we need to be conscious about our history and purify our memories. The Vatican II was a great step in forwarding the core message ...
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For me the main point is that the Cristian revelation is not a book but Jesus Christ that offer to us the possibility to be in communion in a reciprocal relation with the trinity. He lived and died for the whole human kind, therefore his message reach everyone and goes beyond the Church. This is for me the fundament for the interreligious dialogue in a...
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
The brief explanation about Christian history is great. Its is not easy to summarize in few paragraph a 2000 year of Christianity history. The question about Christianity as a possible threat for a peaceful coexistence for its’ doctrinal dogmas is an important question that push us to understand more the core of Christian message. For me any religion that...
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
This was a very deep week, thanks to prof. Meir for the materials but first for his thoughts and engagement in dialogue. For me his concept of tras differences is a new paradigm that can forward the dialogue towards new scenarios and development. The encounter with the Jew philosophers like Buber, Levinas, was also very enriching.
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
for me the most interesting part in dialogue theology is the idea that the aim of truth is peace. This for me is innovative… how many wars and violence humanity has perpetrated in the name of truth, in the name of God. Instead if the thermometer to understand my search for truth is how much I ‘m building peace and unity… the result maybe could be different.
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
I’m very fascinated by this new concept of trans-difference in the religious dialogue field. I have learned about trans- disciplinarily or trans-culturalism but I have never though that it can be a concept for dialogue theology. Prof Meir “trans-difference” concept make real the possibility to overcome divisions that arise from differences and look at the...
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
From my point of view, the Catholic Church has done a lot about interreligious dialogue as institution. However not many lay people are formed and engaged in this field. We need to improve our openness and sensibility to other religions, and have more formation.
My experience in South east Asia was very enriching and I have learned a lot. With the dialogue... -
ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
Roseinzweig: His own experience in dialogue with Christians make himself that conjunction that is part of his thoughts. The “AND” as a fundament of his dialogical theology make the idea of religion open and relative. An openness that can be a risk but that we have to assume in order to transcend our limited and finite point of view. Therefore, religion can-t...
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
Is very important for all religions to recognize that in their books there are versus that could make conflicts with other religions and in the same time is important to find out the dialogical interpretation that would contribute to develop an interreligious dialogue theology.
I really appreciate the work of prof. Meir in find out the elements of...
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
I'm very impressed by the richness of JEWIS principals and the kind of humanism that come out from this tradition. God in relation with human beings and in a relation that transforms the world. The principal of love to commandments sounds new and different because commandment here is the science of Love.
Very inspiring the plurality of interpretation “The 70... -
ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
I do agree with prof. Fabris that a true dialogue can be done only if the both parties agree upon sincerity and openness to the other. Dialogue is not a strategy to conquer and convert the other, is not syncretism or relativism… that’s why a true interreligious dialogue need people that are deeply rooted in its own religion but in the same time, open to learn...
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
This week was very interesting and full of new insights: the questions about religion and indifference, plurality and fundamentalism as something to address in order to develop a religious dialogue. Was also quite difficult to catch up with all the materials and discussion… in fact, I was not able to interact with the collegues. I do hope to do better this...
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
The part of the article that speaks most to me is the idea that the interreligious dialogue is between people and not the doctrine and concepts. It is from the fellows experience and deep roots in his own traditions that we can start dialogue. I do agree that the big challenge is to be integrally human, able to be in reciprocal relation with our human fellows.
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
I do agree that Western and Eastern religions give different explanation about pain and evil. But I would be careful in classify eastern religions like Buddhism, Confucianism … as a philosophy of life or a atheist religions. Millions of fellows of these traditions may be offended and will not agree with this classification. It is difficult to find out...
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
I think that evil is part of our human experience. I do not agree in the assessment that affirms that evil proof the no existence of God. Evil comes from our human conditions and therefore in many cases can be and should be overcome. Evils such as poverty, injustice, slavery etc… are human made, so we need to fight it in order to create human conditions to our...
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
Thank you prof. Fabris, the article is very inspiring. Hope is necessary to us human because without hope there is no future, no development no history, no pass to learn from but only the eternal present. Many religions underline the idea of the present as the secret to accomplish peace, serenity and personal realization… the experience that comes in living...
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The return to Religion... is a good o bad news? The answer maybe is more complex and prof. Fabris explanation open my mind to complexity. I'm very glad to follow this course and go deeper on theses issues.
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Ciao Roberto... siamo colleghi di corso.
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ANGELA MARIA BEZERRA SILVA made a comment
Dearest all! I’m Angela Maria, nick name Luce, I’m from Brazil,since 2006 I’m living in Italy. I have a ,Master Degree in Global Development and Social Justice and a second Master in Catholic Social Thought. At the moment I'm working at Sophia University here in Italy (FI).My interested in Interreligious Dialogue beginning from my experience in South East...
