Interreligious dialogue

[Dave]

I sometimes hear traditionalists claim that the Church shouldn't participate in religious dialogue because, according to them, it's a novelty and that interreligious dialogue = compromise. First of all, dialogue doesn't equal compromise. In fact, all conversion begins with dialogue! Dialogue is an absolute necessity if we want to spread the truth and convert the nations. Nor is dialogue a novelty. Anselm dialogued with the atheist, Aquinas dialogued with the heretic (by virtue of proposing false beliefs), and Athanasius dialogued with the Arians and the Jews. Of course, some might say they [i]converted[/i] them rather than dialoguing with them, but as I said earlier, dialogue can't be separated from conversion. If you want to defeat the heretic, you need to adequately understand his arguments, and if you want to do that, you have to actually come to the table and talk with him.

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

[quote name='Dave' date='Apr 10 2006, 05:28 PM']I sometimes hear traditionalists claim that the Church shouldn't participate in religious dialogue because, according to them, it's a novelty and that interreligious dialogue = compromise.  First of all, dialogue doesn't equal compromise.  In fact, all conversion begins with dialogue!  Dialogue is an absolute necessity if we want to spread the truth and convert the nations.  Nor is dialogue a novelty.  Anselm dialogued with the atheist, Aquinas dialogued with the heretic (by virtue of proposing false beliefs), and Athanasius dialogued with the Arians and the Jews.  Of course, some might say they [i]converted[/i] them rather than dialoguing with them, but as I said earlier, dialogue can't be separated from conversion.  If you want to defeat the heretic, you need to adequately understand his arguments, and if you want to do that, you have to actually come to the table and talk with him.
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Dialouge in the means of trying to convert a person is different from Ecumenical dialouge.


traditionalist are for converting people to catholicism, and bieng charitable and all that jazz.


but their is a difference between ecumencial dialouge, and dialouge meant to convert somone. ecumenical dialouge places faith at the lest common denominator. it justifies heresy, schism, of whatever. it leads to scandal, and relegious indiffernetism, wherer as Dialouge meant for conversion, is just that. it is a means to convert someone to the church.

[Fidei Defensor]

[quote name='Extra ecclesiam nulla salus' date='Apr 10 2006, 06:39 PM']Dialouge in the means of trying to convert a person is different from Ecumenical dialouge.
traditionalist are for converting people to catholicism, and bieng charitable and all that jazz.
but their is a difference between ecumencial dialouge, and dialouge meant to convert somone. ecumenical dialouge places faith at the lest common denominator. it justifies heresy, schism, of whatever. it leads to scandal, and relegious indiffernetism, wherer as Dialouge meant for conversion, is just that. it is a means to convert someone to the church.
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You clearly do not understand what ecumenical dialouge is then.

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

[quote name='fidei defensor' date='Apr 10 2006, 05:42 PM']You clearly do not understand what ecumenical dialouge is then.
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is that your rebuttal?

[Fidei Defensor]

[quote name='Extra ecclesiam nulla salus' date='Apr 10 2006, 06:48 PM']is that your rebuttal?
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No, it is just an observation that I decided to voice outloud

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

[quote name='fidei defensor' date='Apr 10 2006, 05:50 PM']No, it is just an observation that I decided to voice outloud 
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ohhh ok then

[Fidei Defensor]

[quote name='Extra ecclesiam nulla salus' date='Apr 10 2006, 06:52 PM']ohhh ok then 
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Speaking of , how have you been lately?

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

[quote name='fidei defensor' date='Apr 10 2006, 05:57 PM']Speaking of  , how have you been lately?
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im ok. i need to go to confession. hopefully i will go tomorrow night, or good friday.

how are you?

[Fidei Defensor]

[quote name='Extra ecclesiam nulla salus' date='Apr 10 2006, 06:58 PM']im ok. i need to go to confession. hopefully i will go tomorrow night, or good friday.

how are you?
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I will pray that you get the opportunity.

I am doing okay. I would like to get to confession as well. I havent been in lately, havent had the chance.

[Dave]

The dialogue the Church participates in is for converting others. Also, interreligious dialogue has nothing to do with ecumenism. Ecumenism applies to Christians of different faiths. And its goal is also to convert.

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

Funny you say that... because its been working so well.... i remember lots of converts after Assisi.....


Not

[Dave]

How do you know there weren't any converts? Did you ask John Paul II? Did he say no?

Edited April 11, 2006 by Dave

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

the news would if any important leaders converted.

[Dave]

You seem to forget conversions rarely occur overnight.

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

[quote name='Dave' date='Apr 10 2006, 06:45 PM']You seem to forget conversions rarely occur overnight.
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you seem to forget interreligious dialouge is a novelty.

[Socrates]

This is a silly debate. The terms need to be clearly defined. There is nothing wrong with "inter-religious dialogue" in the sense of Catholics speaking with those of other religions in order to tell them the Truth of the Faith.
This does not mean watering down the faith or religious indifferentism.
Yes, this can be abused, like anything else, but if done properly, it can plant the first seeds of conversion.

Simply labeling something a "novelty" and then condemning it accordingly is a silly practice.

[jasJis]

It's silly to debate with children as equals. You'd never get them to bed.

[dspen2005]

[quote name='Extra ecclesiam nulla salus' date='Apr 10 2006, 06:40 PM']the news would if any important leaders converted.
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so the only important conversions are those reported in the media, right???

[Brother Adam]

Imagine Sam's surprise when an entire rite of the Orthodox Church humbly accepted that they were wrong and came into full communion with the Catholic Church through ecumenical dialogue.

Even interreligious dialogue is fruitful, not for the lowest common denominator, but to identify what we agree with in order to fully identify what we disagree with. Religious dialogue gets very complicated, it is not basic apologetics and takes time.

Decree on Ecumenism. Read it. Know it.

Enough Said.

[Jaime]

Nicely put Adam