Interreligious Dialogue in Our Pluralistic Age: A Perspective of Nostra Aetate

Against the back-lash of interreligious squabbles in our socio-religiously embittered society; this book blatantly rejects pathology of intolerance among our world religions and proposes pluralistic mindset and mutual collaboration among them. It offers our pluralistic society a witty Interreligious dialogue-pattern which is non-judgmental and yet, a peace-oriented program. It highlights a pluralistic-mindset in our world of stack differences where pathology of intolerance seems to have gripped the moral integrity of the world religious traditions. It argues that despite the myriad of stack differences of human existence; what unites us are still more important than things that disunite or divide us. Consequently, it contends that interreligious dialogue is not about doctrinal or organizational commonalities/uniformity neither is it all about common grounds. It is rather all about co-existence i.e. unity in diversity. The author, therefore, maintains that authentic dialogue implies an interfaith co-operation and collaboration in the realization of natural human ethical values.

The book, therefore, advances an interfaith collaboration and co-penetration which targets common good of all. Common good with enriching implications whereby everyone has something to learn, gain and are transformed by the encounter. Consequently, its logic subsists in the fact that humanity is connected to one common citizenry and so common good of all must be given priority for an authentic coexistence to materialize. The novelty of this book lies in its emphasis on a pluralistic mind-set which expresses acceptance of the "other" without controlling, manipulating or defining him with our own standards and values. It proposes a dialogue of communications rather than mere acceptance of the other. It recommends peaceful-synchronicity, a "life together among religions, a "relationship that recycles peace" and aims at creating a community of communities. It therefore, projects inimitable proposals of Nostra Aetate, especially as it recommends respect and pluralistic mind-set among religions and cultures of the world.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The author of this book, Rev. Fr, Joseph Dozie Udeze (Ph.D.) is a systematic theologian with many years of tutoring experience on sociology of religion and systematic theology. He holds a B.A.(Philosophy), B.A.(Theology), M.A. (Comparative Religion), M.A.(Theology) and Ph.D. Systematic Theology. He attended University of Calabar Nigeria, Duquesne University Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and Seton Hall University South Orange New Jersey U.S.A.