Chapter II

CULTURE OF DIALOGUE

~- 1
e basicfoundation ofa cultu~e ofdi~logue: ~ewsappr
oach to live andpromote dialogue as
Th ession oflovefor a sustainable mter-rel1g1ou dialogue

tJntroduction
andpeace
.

ofDialogue before
This ch~pterpresents the basic c?ncepts ofthe Culture
mation as the two basic
presentmg personal transformation and social transfor
soul.
1
parts ofthis culture, like the relation between body and
spiritual experience and
It is important to understand the Culture ofDialogue as a
by some sectors of
not as a strategy or a form ofdiplomatic guideline used ·· ·
society.
for peace, ifthis dialogue
It is even different from a dialogue used in the search
external mechanism
doesn't reach a common good and it is done only as an
generate harmony in
_without the internal dimension oflove and respect that
society.
~ Thus, this culture ofdialogue can be cons
idered as an important element of"Peace
education" and a "vision ofPeace".
face them with greater and
In the culture ofdialogue we do not put issues aside, but
sformations.
more solid conviction based on personal and social tran
"common good", the
Moved by our own faith and the understanding ofthe
and spiritual dimensions.
Culture of Dialogue approach harmonizes the human
work sincerely for the
Thus, people with a specific faith and all the others who
gue and peace.
common good can even join in the same mission ofdialo

2. Culture of Dialogue
oach of dialogue that emphasizes the
Definition - The culture of dialogue is a holistic appr oneself, .w ith others and with
human and spir itua l dimensions oflife-in-dialogue with God, with
tions amo ng peop le ofdifferent cultures and
creation. It is a style oflife mar ked by deep er rela
a society where God's valu es and ethics are
religions which challenges them to buil d toge ther
harmony, solidarity andpea ce.
the guidingprin cipl es in mov ing toge ther towards

Thus:
ere hearts and minds believe in it,
(- Dialogue becomes a culture when many people of sinc
~e and promote it in all levels ofsociety.
unity in diversity in the midst of
- The culture of dialogue is an answer to the call for
a super religion or super culture. On the
pluralism in the world today. It does not aim to create
religions to know, understand, respect,
contrary, it invites people of different cultures and
of other cultures and religions, and see in
appreciate and learn from the beauty and uniqueness
the whole of creation.
others the sign of God's dialogue with humanity and with

(J'eace - - - - - - - - - - - - - 9
A Patli to Peace: }l fomzation rnanua[ on (J)iafogue ana
 2.1 The Whys and Hows ofthe Culture ofDialogue:

WHYs

DIALOGUE STARTS FROM GOD AND BRINGS PEOPLE BACK TO GOD

God is the center of the social and spiritual aspirations of all people. This basic
need reveals that God is in relation/dialogue with humanity. He starts dialogue
with us and He dialogues and relates with us constantly.

God has one style in relating with humanity: GOD'S DIALOGUE. This dialogue
finds clear manifestation in the plan of God and in His love, compassion and
mercy.

God likewise manifests His dialogue through His "presence" in the world in
different ways. This is the mysterious style of God. He is present in all cultures,
religions, peoples and the whole of creation. Thus, interreligious dialogue is a
great challenge to know each other's faith better - that faith that guides the
believer to God, trying to see in a positive way the presence of God in other .
religious traditions.

HOWs

Living a life-in-dialogue with God, with the self, with others, and with creation.
This is the framework of the SPIRITUALITY OF LIFE IN DIALOGUE.

Living and promoting the Culture of Dialogue: Path to Peace, thus, entering in a
process of personal and social transformation. This is an experience, a
commitment and a mission. ·

2.2 Proposed guidelines to understand and experience the Culture ofDialogue.

I .

Here we present a summary ofour presentation:

A) The three (3) stages ofspirituality:

1) God takes the initiative;

2) we respond;
3) our mission/vision is formulated.

B) Four pillars ofdialogue for a personal transformation:

1) dialogue with God;

2) dialogue with the Self;
3) dialogue with Others;
4) dialogue with Creation.

f (}'i iJ{C
· (o11ue a/la r
10 - - -- -- - - - -- - -JI <Patti to <Peace: }l formation manua{on (J)ia 0
 lize
C) Spe cia lpoi nts to und ers tan d and inte rna

I) Ch rist ian s in Dia log ue

2) Mu slim s in Dia log ue
3) Mo vin g Tow ard Interreligious Dialogue
4) . Spirituality and Pea ce

D) Eff ect s ofthe Cu ltur e ofDia log ue

1) Soc ial Transformation

Peacemakers Mission
2) Se~ chi ng for Pea ce in Mindanao and the
3) Ac tive -Ha rmo ny Ap pro ach
rmony
4) Res olu tion ofconflicts through Active-Ha

Note:
cho sen to hel p bet ter und ers tan d the
The App end ixe s in the sec ondpar t are
pre sen tati on ofthis man_ual

3.Abstract
TRANSFORMING PO WE R
CO NC EP TU AL iZA TIO N OF TH E E
OF TH E CULTURE OF DIALOGU
Fig. 1
Vbia aofP eace
eun -tRe allty Cult ure ofDl aloga &can Justice
Conflicts gradu ally make the Vhio n .Love
of Peac e the new realit y in Unity
~ the world.
Injus tices others
Othe rs

Fig. 2
CO D= Culture of Dialogue
PR= Present Reality
VP = Vision ofPeace
PT= Personal Transformation
ST= Social TlllDSformation
NPR = New Present Reality

ABSTRACT PRESENTATION: on one side ~d on the oth er sid e the Vision

of Peace. In
- We pre sen t the cur r~n t rea lity
Figure J
Cu ltur e of Dia log ue as an unp ort ant aspect to transform the present
the ~id dle we pre sen t the
ofPeace.
reality toward the "dr eam " of the Vision

A Patfi to Peace: JI Jonnation manua[on (J)ia

fogue ant!<Peace --------11
 Figure 2- Presenting different stages of interaction of the
different elements:
PR+ COD (PT )= Where a part of the Present Reality
2.1) (P~) is already influenced
by the Culture of Dialogue (CO~) m th~ stage of P~rsonal
Transformation (PT). Thus, reality basically remams
the
same, but people start to be transformed. . .
2 2) VP+ COD (PT )= Where a part of the Vision of Peac
e (VP) remams sttll ~ vision
· to be achieved, but the influence of the Culture of Dialo
gue
(COD) is inspiring people to move towards Perso
nal
Transformation (PT), although these people cannot
yet
influence society significantly.
2.3) NPR = VP + COD (ST) The center of the abstrac_t
represents the N_ew Pre.sent
Reality (NPR), where the Vis10n of~eace (VP) 1s _sustamed
by the COD - Social Transformation (ST). It 1s alwa
ys
nurtured by the COD - Personal Transformation (PT). Th~r
e
still remains an area of the PR and an area of the VP whic
h
are not influenced to a large extent by those who believe
and
live a life-in-dialogue. Thus, the New Present Reality (NPR
)
of Peace still has shades of the Old Reality. But one has
to
accept the fact that the full Vision of Peace can be achie
ved
only in the life to come.

4. Ten Elements of the Culture of Dialogue

I. The Culture ofDialogue is a vision inspired by God's dialo

gue with humanity.
Peace is basically a "vision in progress". For us here the "Vis
ion of Peace"
becomes closer to the present reality ifwe are able to build
a Culture ofDialogue
in Society.

2. The Culture ofDialogue is a mission/orpeoples ofsincere

hearts.
The Culture ofDialogue is a mission if it becomes an expe
rience oflife of many
who work together for the common good, living dialogue
with sincere hearts.
3. The Culture ofDialogue is an experience oflife-in-dialogu
e as a style oflife.
"Life-in-dialogue" is an inclusive expression to highlight
the importance ofthe
spirituality oflife in dialogue with God, with the self, with
others and with
creation. This spirituality becomes a style oflife that help
s to answer all the
forms of dialogue.

4. The Culture ofDialogue is a commitment towards inter-

and intra- cultural and
religious dialogue.
This element of the culture of dialogue reminds us that
dialogue must be holistic
and has to embrace all forms of dialogue, including the
dialogue. intra and inter religious

12 - - - - - - - - - - - - - J l <Patli to Peace:
Jl fonnation manua{ on (J)ia{ogue ana~eace
 d r, . h ,I' l
5. The Culture ofDial ogue is a challenge rooted in the cu/tu
a~ zt of~eo f e. .
This element of Culture of Dialogue emphasizes the ::
of dialogue accepti·n poth e dc~ffio m mgbm
cultures and religious elem•ents. ' g t erences, ut
• · th en Rule oflove.
discovenng e com mon asptratton that we find in the Gold
on common ethics and
6. The Culture of Dial ogue is a search for peac e base d
values.
The human family has common aspirations that we fmd
in the basic values and
gue we have to give
ethics_ of each person. In _our journ ey of Culture of Dialo
basic principles of the
attention to values and ethics and share with our life the
Culture ofDi alog ue.

formation.
7. The Culture ofDial ogue is a jour ney through education and
ing formation and
The Culture of Dialogue needs to be sustained also by ongo
along the way.
education. This will help in identifying new signs of the times
ofpeace.
8. · The Culture ofdialogue is a habitat to nurture the vision
to us. To grow in an
A habitat is always a favorite place to nurture things dear
e to live the spirit of
experience of dialogue with others we have to nurture our desir
rd a vision ofpeace.
~ e and build peace moving from the present reality towa
cially with the less
9. The Culture--(),[ dialogue is a path way to solidarity, espe
privi lege d ,
ially a pathway to
The Culture of dialQgue is not only a concept, but espec
ent has to be always
solidarity, especially wltb the less privileged. This elem
sustained in the different-deci._sions we make in life.
ofsociety.
10. The Culture ofdialogue is a hope 'ro.. bring God to the center
Thu~, w~ are called
The Culture of dialogue reminds us of the centrality of G~d.
This. wdl help 1:1s
to overcome the dichotomy of separating God from hfe.
other side_ to avoid
spiritually on one side to avoid . "se~ularism" _on the
that are m contrast
"radicalism", two opposite temptat10ns m 'Qur society t~day
the good elements of
with the Culture of Dialogue as an expe rienc ~o harmonize
life.

JI. Patti to Peace: J1. forma tion manua[ on <Diafogue ana(]'eace - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 3