Principles of Dialogue
Posted in Buddhism and Human Rights, Home work, MCU Assignment, Mutual Understanding, Religious inter-Dialogue
Participation
in a local interfaith organization is one of the better ways to get to know
people of other religions, because you not only find out more about other
religions, you also get to know people of differing faiths at the personal
level. In this time of dialogue, keep in mind the following guidelines:
Honesty
and tolerance:
dialogue shall be based upon honesty and tolerance. It requires effective
listening and learning, producing genuine engagement. Dialogue conducted in a spirit
of tolerance emphasizes that all people inhabit the same earth. This assumes
certain shared values such as the sacredness of life, the dignity of all human
beings and the integrity of creation and nature.
Free
expression:
Dialogue must assume equality of partners and create the space for free
expression of opinions, perspectives and beliefs, allowing for the integrity of
each culture, language and tradition.
Mutual
respect:
Dialogue must not aim at the conversion or defamation of the interlocutor, nor
may it aim at demonstrating the superiority of one's own religion over that of
others. It should not aim at eliminating differences, but rather at knowing and
respecting them. It should enable participants to explain their faith honestly
and clearly.
Practicing
fairness: Each
side must represent the beliefs of the other side in a way that members of the
other religion can affirm as accurate.
Expressing
empathy: Each
side must make an honest effort to appreciate the appeal of the other religion
to those who are attracted to it and to understand how the religion functions
for its believers and makes sense to them.
Avoiding
misuse of scripture:
In dialogue, you can't apply your own scripture to determine what's valid or
invalid about beliefs of other side. If you do this, no dialogue takes place
and each side quotes its own proof texts.
Avoiding
discrimination and misrepresentation of the faith: Dialogue aims at avoiding
discrimination and misrepresentation of the faith of the other, thus
encouraging better knowledge and understanding of the other. It helps prevent
conflict and the use of violence as a means of reducing tension and resolving
disputes.
Staying open to change and challenge: Participants don't want to simply repeat the party line of their religions
without snatching with what the other side says. Otherwise, no dialogue occurs
and two monologues that pass each other in the night.
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