The reasons for dialogue

“Religious beliefs must not be understated as if they were moralist or archaic, people shouldn’t be discriminated on the basis of their religious beliefs. Religious values ought to play a role in the establishment of living standards, such as Sunday rest. Inter-confessional and interreligious meetings ought to be promoted at all levels: it’s important to highlight the social role of religion by integrating it within the educational environment”. These are some of the claims put forward in the final statement of the 83rd Social Week in France that ended November 23 in Lyon to the presence of 4000 people and of various European delegations. Thus the document answers the question posed during the three-day workshops: “Religions, a hope or a threat to contemporary society?”. Along with the message, that enjoyed the contributions of participants in the 6 forums addressing the role of religion in the different social areas – political, economic, educational, scientific and cultural – Jews, Muslims and Christians drew up an interreligious declaration. The Message. “Renewed dialogue is possible between societies and religions – states the document – On the one side societies, marked by unprecedented freedoms and occasional disquieting potentials, are gradually distancing themselves from the clichés whereby religions are confined to the private sphere. On the other, religions view themselves as minorities and no longer hold claims upon public life”. Christian-based values such as “fraternity and special care for the poor, the quest for the common good, the defense and the protection of the environment” can respond to “the painful contradictions experienced throughout contemporary societies”. “Christian faith responds with fraternity to the intolerance for diversity, which is increasingly viewed as a threat”. In order to respond “to societies’ annihilating violence that many no longer identify with, it is necessary to pave the way to the integration of weaker brackets. Thus the poor ought to be given primary attention”. “The fear triggered by the risk of environmental degradation is not sufficient to bring about a change of attitudes, rather, new lifestyles ought to be implemented: the spirit of service and sobriety based on the love for our neighbor is the fruit of religious experience”. The change of attitude must correspond to “a new testimony of the ever-nourishing Word”. “In a world marked by increasing diversity, ecumenical and interreligious testimony on major issues is an encouragement to dialogue. It isn’t a communication exercise. It’s a conversion of the heart, a rediscovery of the spirit operating within us and throughout society”. The Declaration. “As representatives of the monotheistic religions we feel the responsibility of speaking a common word”. Thus begins the interreligious declaration that affirms: “the principle separating the political and the religious realms is the prerequisite and the precondition for peaceful religious and political experience. However, this prerequisite isn’t a neutral stance, rather, it ought to be accompanied by respect and by a yearning for mutual knowledge and recognition, even though we don’t share the same faith or beliefs”. The urgent task, participants stated in the declaration, is to “spread the dialogue between the faithful and with our non-faithful brothers”. To this regard, the declaration appeals to recover “the meaning that many of our coevals seek” in the midst of “countless anxieties” whereby man is viewed as an “economic consumer”, with an approach “free of affectation and complexes”. In full awareness of their responsibilities, religions have a special message for our societies that ought to highlight “the sacredness of all human beings and of life; equal dignity of men and women, and the reception and acceptance of the stranger; people in difficulties that must be helped and respected; the family as fountainhead of humaneness, that we are all responsible for, in person and as a community. Lastly, The Creation, which should never be neglected nor venerated. Instead, it must enjoy the ongoing commitment of mankind in appreciation of the gift that was bestowed upon them”. The declaration finally concludes that faith “in God” enables us “to voice our protests before legal or social decisions that we believe jeopardize justice or the sacredness of the human person. However, this quest for justice must also apply to our own actions. At times our communities convey a weak or false image of justice and of God’s mercy. We thus affirm our daily commitment to abide by God’s expectations”.