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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 MojzesThe 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:
- Name the three major dimensions of General revelation (different ways of knowing God) and explain and give an example of each.
- What is the place of religious tradition in human culture?
- 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?
- Compare and contrast evil in Hinduism and Christianity
- Give the positive aspect and limitation of the following stages of faith: Reflective Faith, Conjunctive Faith, and Universalizing Faith
- What are dialogue and its meaning?