Interfaith
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The terms interfaith or interfaith dialogue refer to cooperative and positive interaction between people of different religious traditions, (ie. "faiths") at the both the individual and institutional level. "Interfaith" is distinct from syncretism or alternative religion, in that dialogue often involves promoting understanding between different religions to increase "tolerance" towards others, rather than to sythesize new beliefs.
The term interreligious relations refers to relationships between religions, (rel. comparative religion).
Important events in the history of interfaith dialogue
The history of interfaith dialogue especially between religions eminating from the religion of prophet Abraham (see Hanif) goes back to before the 20th century. Some recognize the 1893 Parliament of the World's Religions as the birth of formal interreligious dialogue worldwide.However, the recent and strong appearance of it is due by Fethullah Gulen's movement. The Interfaith dialogue movement has gathered much interest after the 1960s. In 1965 the Roman Catholic Church issued the Vatican II document Nostra Aetate, instituting major policy changes in the Catholic Church's policy towards non-Christian religions. In the late 1960's interfaith groups joined around Civil Rights issues for African-Americans and later were often vocal in their opposition to the Vietnam War.
The interfaith dialogue movement has been popularized and reformulated by M. Fethullah Gulen (1938-), a well-known Turkish scholar. The approach is based on the belief that the religions have a lot in common. It is because of the unique source of the religions: God. They have many factors to unite them at least on moral issues rather than to divert them from each other.
Interfaith dialogue in different religions
Sikhism
One religion, which was founded on principles of interfaith, is Sikhism, whose founders have since 1469 defined and preached the rule of interfaith dialogue and interfaith respect. A Sikh by definition must respect and accept all other world religions.This is what the SGGS says regarding the different spiritual routes:
| “Without the Lord’s Name, life is worthless. Through doubt, the people are being destroyed. One who recognizes that all spiritual paths lead to the One shall be emancipated. One who speaks lies shall fall into hell and burn. In the entire world, the most blessed and sanctified are those who remain absorbed in Truth. One who eliminates selfishness and conceit is redeemed in the Court of the Lord. ((9))" |
| SGGS page 142 |