Dialogue with the people of other faith

                           Reflection   paper                                        

Introduction

"Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel." As a Christian by birth we are evangelizer. Beyond any doubt, the work of evangelization should be carried on nobody should be deprived of the person and revelation in Jesus Christ. In this process of evangelization we must involve the reality of the plurality of religions. In order to carry out the evangelization dialogue with religions is suggested and evangelization is the mission of the Church. Dialogue with other religions is discussed bellow in some topics which are interrelated and more in the same directions of evangelization.

1. The Theology of Religions

All men form but of one community ...all share in a common destiny, namely God. This is the core of the theology of religions according to Vatican II. It reiterates the Catholic Church, reject nothings of what is true and holy in these religions. In addition, the Catholic Church exhorts the faithful to enter with prudence and charity in to discussion and collaboration with members of other religions. The Church is convinced of and committed to the proclamation of Christ who is the way, the truth and the life, she instructs Christians to acknowledge, preserve, and encourage the perpetual moral truths found among non-Christians and also their social life and culture. Common and connection in all the religions is salvation, and the return of creation as a whole back to God from whom it proceeded. Hence religions are not mere conceptual systems, stands by themselves, but different perspective of the same fact that every thing proceeds from God and returns to Him. The focus of our reflection is God. In God, we have our unity and the answer to the question of religions plurality.

2. Theology of Dialogue

It is the way to peace progress and prosperity and divine design for wholeness, fullness and holiness. The teaching of the Church obliges the Catholics to follow the mind of Jesus. Remaining faithful to our tradition and stating  it without ambiguity, we have to show respect  to other peoples convictions and show also a willingness to work with them for the good of all people. All human insight is not for selfish hoarding but a trust for creative communication. Each religions experience can throw light on different aspect of human life in its pilgrimage towards God, the ultimate goal.

Inter-Religious Dialogue

Inter religious dialogue is a approach between the people of different religions on particular issues in view of establishing common good .We can say, it is mutual good example and witness of life understanding each other, mutual appreciation of others religiosity without comparison with loyalty to the gospel in the fulfillment of its mission in the world, the church whose duty it is to foster and elevate all that is true, good , beautiful in the human community consolidates peace among men for the glory of God. Since God the Father is the beginning and end of all things. We are all called to be brothers and sisters; we ought to work together without violence and build up the world in a spirit of genuine peace. This process is particularly helpful in deepening the realization. The Church is emerging from self-centeredness towards a maturity that urges her to reach out to all religions and peoples of good will in service and love. Jesus asked Christian to love every body without any discrimination even those who do not believe. Christian must have dialogue of life with others in order to express their love. Inter-religious dialogue and racial harmony in South Asia has been characteristic scenario for a ling time since the arrival of Christianity and Islam in this area. For centuries thereafter the Hindus, Muslims Buddhists and Christians lived side by side in peace and harmony. Though there have always been some local conflicts between the people of different religions especially in Bangladesh, there were amicable solutions with the intervention of the people of good will belonging to the respective religions.

Purposes of dialogue

Dialogue is process where we can meet face to face with the people of different religions especially in Bangladesh we are living in side by side the Hindus, Muslims Buddhists and Christians. We hope they can live a peace and happy life. Now in the present context the people of Bangladesh are becoming fanatic and fundamentalist because they do not know much about the other religions that’s why they are not respecting people and religions .In this point as a Christian I can arrange a program of dialogue regarding inter-religious dialogue. It is a great chance to preach the gospel to the non-Christian; at least we can teach them moral and religious values. We can discuss the similar context on various religions such as the ultimate goal, moral teachings and the source of religions etc.  

Through inter religious dialogue some objectives can be proposed which develop our understanding own religion.

a. Super natural destiny: to evaluate the historical situation and reflectively express God’s eschatological salvific plan and the meaning of Christ in the context of religious pluralism.

b. Moral and religious values: to emphasis the values traditionally provided by religions.

c. Build up human community: religions emphasizes liberation to human mind and direct the attention to the unity, equality in one authentic human family and their responsibility  to give best for the good of all.

3. Theology of Mission

The genesis of the theology of mission is in the person and mission of Christ. Christianity is unique because it proclaims what is implicitly sought in every religion that the human race which one with a single history has effectively encountered God in Jesus of Nazareth. Christ at he centre of the Church’s mission .Following the footsteps of Jesus Christ the missionary church is duty bound to preach the Good News of the kingdom of God and invite people to conversion. As Jesus Christ told his disciples that go all over the world and preach the good news.

Conclusion

We who live in the world all we are brothers and sisters because the origin of our creation is same and we will return to the same goal. But in the recent years, the religious fundamentalism and fanaticism has been changing the situation and brings religious conflict especially in Bangladesh. As followers of Christ we can think regarding the problem and build peace in the Bangladesh as well as in the world. In this situation, let us respect each others religions and respect each others and develop our    moral and religious values and build up a human community.