Philosophies of interreligious dialogue: Practice in search of theory

Abstract

In this article, I discuss how insights from Martin Buber’s and Emmanuel Levinas’ philosophies of dialogue have enlightened my own experience of inter-faith dialogue in Norway. Central perspectives here are Buber’s notion of ’the realm of the between’ and Levinas’ emphasis on asymmetry and vulnerability. Some other philosophers’ reasonings about dialogue are also considered, from the overall perspective of ’practice in search of theory’. In connection with a distinction be-tween different types of dialogue (’spiritual’ and ’necessary’), the difference between government initiated ’dialogue’ and initiatives originating from the faith communities (i.e., civil society) are discussed. The last part of the article analyses the notion of ’(mutual) change’ which is often brought forward when discussing the aims of interfaith dialogue. In this connection, religious education in school is also considered as a possible arena for dialogue—and ’change’.

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