WHY ECUMENISM AND INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE?

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For a long time religions have been perceived to be consultants on matters pertaining peace in our States. However, with this era the cup seems to have turned upside down pouring honey which was source of sweetness. This aspect is losing its meaning from day to day with religions remaining to be more of political arena chasing after their opponents. It goes beyond my expectations to think of conflict among those who are expected to be elements and preacher of peace. The big question for reflection remains, what will happen when the predator becomes the prey of the prey? This is a call for both religious leaders and the followers to read the signs of time and make a step towards transformation.




This leads me to question our motivations of following Christ as Christians in the first place. St. Paul in his first letter to Corinthians is categorical about the slogans that “I am for Paul, I am for Apollos, I am for Cephas, or I am for Christ” (1Corinthians 1:10-13). I have a feeling that this is what is happening today and cause of our divisions as Christian. Some of the shepherds do take an advantage of their “ignorant and naïve” flock to impose their view about other denomination. The aim may be to keep the flock in that denomination, but in the long run the consequences may be unbearable. There is a danger once the flock starts to perceive other denominations to be practicing idolatry or demonic. With our generation, I see a serious threat to our salvation and search for Christ I a sense that, a number of us Christians are losing our goal of search for Christ and instead invest much of our time running after our fellow human beings and especially those of other denomination and whom we consider to be our enemies, which is a shame. I do think that there is a state of emergency and which call us all to awake from our slumber and reexamine our directions and conscious. As St. Paul challenges us, we ought to question whether it was our priest or pastor and who instils in us the spirit of divisions, who died for our salvation? Answering this question may help us to make good choices in life.

On the other hand, there is a need of inter-religious dialogue in our current generation. Looking on the rate at which the world is changing with advancement in technology, it really affects all of us regardless of our religion. For example, the global warming is not selective of religion and hence, it implies that whether Christian, Muslim, Jew or of any other religion do suffer in the same way. Therefore, we need to embrace the dialogue for social action. It remains a big pity for our brothers and sisters who knowingly or unknowingly decide to give a blind eye to the fact that we share humanity. In some situations, it is not hard to find a Muslim and a Christian who are neighbors but do not dare to meet and discuss issues which concern them as neighbors on bases that they do not belong to the same religion. The fact that one prays on Friday, another one on Saturday and the other on Sunday does not deny the fact that we share humanity. It is always encouraging to find a Muslim and a Christian collaborating in different activities.

The central aim of engaging in inter-religious dialogue or ecumenism should not be to convert people to our religion or denomination (proselytism), but ought to respect each other’s choice of religion. This can in fact widen the gap between the parties and create more tension than understanding. Entering in inter-religious dialogue with a wide-minded can be of help in coming out of our naïve perception and stereotypes about the other religions. It really beats my understanding as to why we should be having misunderstanding when I venture on each religion’s golden rule because they all target at promoting harmonious human relationship. I do think that most are the times when we are driven by our stereotypes without first listening or reading about the other religions’ golden rules and so think ours is the only one which is human. If we enter in a dialogue with the other religions and dispose ourselves to knowledge we will be able to speak one voice. In the dialogue we should aim at unity but not uniformity of all human beings. I have a feeling that all religions can co-exist provided they are in the spirit of love for one another and in it our creator will be glorified and His will done.
URBANUS O.K MUTUKU

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