Wednesday, October 24, 2007
GETTING TOLERANCE RIGHT
Catholic News Service reports on a conference that put "a young rabbi and a young Catholic theology professor" together as they traveled to Rome, with the intent they should get to know each other's religion better. This young theology professor and young rabbi now hope to "launch a dialogue and joint social projects" between their two congregations.
Speaking of the conference, Gunther Lawrence who organized it said "It has been an unbelievable success. There has been great enthusiasm to expand this kind of dialogue." The hope is that this sort of dialogue will expand via local parishes and synagogues.
At the grass roots level the Catholic faith is not well known. I have been posting passages from Jewish writers that explain what the Jewish faith teaches. Its cosmology is quite different from Catholic cosmology. What is to be gained by confusing further Catholics who are not well grounded in their faith with ideas such as reincarnation and self-salvation?
The article indicates that
Jesuit-run Xavier University in Cincinnati sent six representatives to the conference, including a Catholic student and a Jewish student who were blogging about their experience.
Michael Loban, the Jewish student, posted the comments he made to the conference, including his view that "dialogue is not about trying to change the other side; it is about challenging your own views, taking in what others have to offer and using it to become wiser, to become a stronger, better character."
Maggie Meyer, the Catholic student, said she had told the conference that she hoped her peers would share her commitment to dialogue, which she believes is a natural expression of being a good neighbor, of "being loving, open-minded folks."
Christ told us to evangelize the world. Are these young people evangelizing when they believe that "dialogue is not about trying to change the other side"? Or are they practicing syncretism in believing that it is about "taking in what others have to offer and using it to become wiser"?
Do we believe that Jesus Christ provided the wisdom that we need to live as God wishes, or do we believe that we must borrow wisdom from other faiths?
Is this a program of tolerance to bring peace to the world or a program of syncretism? Before forming a conclusion, consider what I blogged yesterday about a Catholic who is finding good things in Rav Michael Laitman's Kabbalah courses.
When Christ returns, will there be any faith in the world?
Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!
