Scribd
Upload
8 views2 pages

Assignment 8

faith

Uploaded by

Gerald Bruca
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
8 views2 pages

Assignment 8

faith

Uploaded by

Gerald Bruca
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Gerald Tejerero Bruca, DDM

Talking to people of different religions is an important part of solving world problems, changing
society, and building peace. Leonard Swidler's book Interreligious Dialogue: A Guide for the Perplexed*
talks about how dialogue can help bring about social change, how religious leaders and groups can play
a big part in resolving conflicts, and gives examples of how dialogue has been used to help people get
along. Dialogue between faith groups is more than just sharing ideas; it is a process that can change
things for the better and even lead to social change. Swidler stresses that dialogue forces people to face
their prejudices and assumptions, which leads to a better knowledge of the unfair treatment of different
groups in society.1 Talking to each other can help people see how their problems are linked and help
them work together for social justice. This shared understanding can inspire people to work together to
solve important world problems like poverty, discrimination, and damage to the environment. Also,
dialogue can give voices that aren't heard enough in religious groups more power, letting them fight for
social justice. Swidler says that people from different backgrounds can fight societal injustices and work
for a more fair society when they get together to talk about their lives. Giving people more power is
important for building a mindset of respect and understanding, which is the basis for long-lasting social
change. 2Through interreligious dialogue, religious leaders play a key part in resolving conflicts.
According to Swidler, these leaders have special moral authority and power in their communities that
lets them fight for peace and unity.3 Religious leaders can help ease emotions and build understanding
between people who disagree by encouraging people of different faiths to talk to each other. In
addition, faith groups can help solve problems by creating safe places where people can talk. Swidler
talks about how important it is for community-based programs that bring people from different
backgrounds together to talk about their problems and try to find common ground. 4 These projects can
help people trust each other and work together to solve problems, which can lead to less violence in the
long run. There are many well-known cases of how interreligious dialogue has helped solve problems.
One example of this is the creation of the Interreligious Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina after the
Bosnian War. Muslim, Orthodox Christian, and Catholic leaders met in this meeting to work for peace
and unity in a society that was very divided. The council helped people talk about their shared values

1
Swidler, Leonard, Interreligious Dialogue: A Guide for the Perplexed*. Orbis Books, 2011, 23.
2
Ibid., 45.
3
Ibid., 67.
4
Ibid., 89.
and goals through dialogue, which helped heal the scars of war and build a culture of living
together.5The African Council of Religious Leaders is another example. It has been very helpful in solving
problems all over Africa. In places like Nigeria and Sudan, where religious tensions have often led to
murder, this council has set up talks between people of different faiths. The council has successfully
solved conflicts and pushed for peacebuilding efforts that deal with the reasons of violence by bringing
together religious leaders of different faiths. 6 Talking to people of different religions is a great way to
solve world problems and build peace. Dialogue can make the world more fair and just by encouraging
social change, giving voice to those who aren't heard, and making it easier to settle disagreements.
Religious leaders and communities play very important parts in this process because they can use their
power to push for peace and unity. Interreligious dialogue has the power to bring people together and
heal divides. The Interreligious Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the African Council of Religious
Leaders are two examples of successful mediation through dialogue. We can't say enough about how
important faith dialogue is for promoting peace and social justice in a world where problems are getting
more complicated.

Bibliography

Swidler, Leonard, ed. *Interreligious Dialogue: A Guide for the Perplexed*. Orbis Books, 2011.

5
Ibid., 112.
6
Ibid., 134.

You might also like