Religions for Peace or Religion of Peace? Some Reflections on the Trends in the Development of Inter-Religious Dialogue
https://doi.org/10.24833/2541-8831-2022-1-21-62-76
Abstract
In the increasingly entangled, interdependent, and digital world, religion is still of utmost importance, and for some societies worldwide, it plays a critical role. The new reality poses novel challenges: the issues we face today call for an investigation into current trends in the dialogue of religions. In this way, followers of various religions willing to cooperate to solve major problems of religious diversity would have reference points with which to compare themselves. Regarding the goals and objectives of social development, the conceptual foundations and the most effective strategies for inter-religious dialogue and communication need to be studied. This objective can best be served by conducting a case study of inter-religious contacts and the most recent trends in this area. This paper is devoted to studying the experience of a global inter-religious dialogue, the so-called religion of peace phenomenon, which emphasizes peace and prosperity. One of the most common practices of the religion of peace is joint prayers of members of different religions, which has entered the agenda of international forums on religion. An important source of information for the study was the author's first-hand experience participating in inter-religious events, including the 10th World Assembly of Religions for Peace – the largest inter-religious organization in the world – in Lindau, Germany, 2019. Four main types of interreligious dialogue are described – polemical, cognitive, peacemaking, and partnership. It is noted that partnership and peacemaking dominate modern intercultural dialogue: helping the underprivileged, maintaining moral values and justice, integrating migrants, protecting the environment, etc. At the same time, the significance of polemical and cognitive (theological) types fades. Thus, the author concludes that intercultural dialogue is becoming a tool for the increasingly peaceful coexistence of religions as social institutions and therefore increases their positive social influence.
About the Author
S. V. Melnik
Institute of Scientific Information for Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Sergey V. Melnik –Cand. Sci. (Philosophy), Head of the Philosophy Department
51/21 Nakhimovsky Prospekt, Moscow, 117418
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Review
For citations:
Melnik S.V. Religions for Peace or Religion of Peace? Some Reflections on the Trends in the Development of Inter-Religious Dialogue. The Russian Journal of Cultural Studies and Communication. 2022;1(1-2):122-135. https://doi.org/10.24833/2541-8831-2022-1-21-62-76
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