Dialogue: The Way Forward

From the Age of Monologue to the Age of Global Dialogue

The Study of Religion in an Age of Global Dialogue, Leonard Swidler and Paul Mojzes

The Need for Dialogue

In the past

Peoples lived in relative isolation from each other

Most people interacted with his or her own culture

Today

Globalization

Possibilities of nuclear, ecological or other catastrophic devastation

The Need for Religious Dialogue

Our religion or ideology:

is comprehensive

is the most fundamental area we differ from one another

Is the most likely area to pose threat to one another

Examples: Northern Ireland, Israel, Tibet, Middle East….

Dialogue: A Critical Need

If humankind is to survive on this planet, we must move from Debate to Dialogue.

We must move from absolutes to seeing our root symbols and metaphors as symbols and metaphors.

Dialogue: A Way of Thinking

Thinking about the ultimate meaning of life

Thinking about how to live accordingly

Thinking beyond the absolutes

Thinking about the ways all humans need to think about the world and its meaning now

 

Thinking about what we can learn from each other

Not rejecting each other’s meanings

Not seeing each other’s meanings as fantasies and fairy tales

Dialogue: Its Meaning

Dialogue:

Is a conversation between two or more persons with differing views

Has the primary purpose that each person will learn from the other so that he or she can learn and grow

Is not a debate where we intend to defeat our opponent

Deep Dialogue With Critical Thinking

More than conversation

We stand our position

At the same time we seek self-transformation through opening ourselves to the other who thinks differently

We think clearly and carefully

The Continuum Principle

1. Destructive Dialogue

Elements are polarized against each other

2. Disinterested Dialogue

Elements are tolerant of each other

3. Dialogical Dialogue

Elements learn from each other

4. Deep Dialogue

Elements are mutually transformed

Class Practice

A Question for dialogical dialog

Is the human being primarily good or evil?

 

STUDY GUIDE FOR FINAL EXAM

Study Guide for Final Exam in RST 101, spring 2008

Be prepared to understand and match the following:

Empiricism

Alan Richardson

Soren Kierkegaard

Faith

The religious need

The Self

Salvation

Grace

Eschatology

Dialogic dialogue

Revelation

Polytheistic Deism

Numinosum

 

Be prepared to write an essay in a blue book on the following:

  1. Name the three major dimensions of General revelation (different ways of knowing God) and explain and give an example of each.
  2. What is the place of religious tradition in human culture?
  3. Carl G. Jung talks about the goal of psychic maturity.”  What must happen between the ego and the Self for this to occur?  What is an experience of the Self like to an individual?
  4. Compare and contrast evil in Hinduism and Christianity
  5. Give the positive aspect and limitation of the following stages of faith:  Reflective Faith, Conjunctive Faith, and Universalizing Faith
  6. What are dialogue and its meaning?