The Necessities and Limitations of Inter-Religious Dialogue

Abstract

Inter-religious dialogue has been conceived as an antidote to all the problems of religious tensions, attracting resources and expectations.1 However, it has come short of these expectations. In fact, religious tensions are on the increase, despite increased inter-religious encounters.2 Hence, the research question: what exactly are our expectations of inter-religious dialogue and what are its limits? This work distilled out in two areas the necessities and limitations of inter-religious dialogue: liberalism in religion, and concatenation or practicalisation of inter-religious dialogue. It argues for caution on issues of religious truth, relativistic pluralism, equality / sameness of religions, etc. Inter-religious dialogue would perhaps have more success if not for the problems of inner strife and contradictions of theological perspectives. It proffered a solution in the ‘model of mutual enrichment’. This model checks our expectations of interreligious dialogue.

Review of Freedom of Religion or Belief (KBB) in the Implementation of the Inter-Religious Education Model at the Defense University

“…This teaching material should not only focus on theological aspects, but also cover history, culture, and ethics related to the religion and belief in question. In the learning process, lecturers and teaching staff must use methods that are inclusive and respect diversity, such as group discussions, case studies, and collaborative projects that involve students from various religious and belief backgrounds (Nweke, 2017;Shaver et al, 2016).…”

The Re-emergence of African Spiritualities: Prospects and Challenges

“…The re-emergence of African spiritualities, in the context of contemporary discourses on intercultural and interreligious relations in the secular world, would greatly benefit from the model of mutual enrichment . Kizito Chinedu Nweke (2017b: 147) argues that ‘religion does not only have the uphill task of repackaging and representing itself to a secular world, it equally lacks any other option but to seek communion with the more decisive secular world’.…”