Reflections: Religion - a force for peace, justice

Sydney
3 February 2002

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Reflections: Religion - a force for peace, justice

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Reflections: Religion - a force for peace, justice

By Fr Bruce Duncan CSsR

The meeting of leaders of the major world religions at Assisi on January 24 took another giant step to demonstrate what needs to be done if religion is to be an effective force for peace.

When John Paul II first invited leaders of world religions to a meeting at Assisi in 1986, he was strongly criticised that this could confuse Catholics about the Church's claim to a unique status and lead to syncretism. Even Cardinal Ratzinger publicly criticised the meeting.

However, the Pope thought it vital that world religions develop much more positive relations, honouring the consciences of all who seek God or the divine through various historical and cultural avenues. John Paul hoped this would lead to better under- standing among religious traditions, opening up a growing dialogue about how they see religious truth.

At the same time, he insists that such a warming of relationships among different religions must recognise the uniqueness of how each tradition perceives God. Such perceptions are not always compatible, and so questions about the competing truth claims of the many religions are not neglected.

John Paul is of course not subscribing to religious relativism, that one religion is as good as another. On the contrary, he has repeatedly asserted the Church's belief that Christ enshrines the fullness of God's Revelation.

But presumably most other religious leaders would hold a similar view about their own traditions. Jewish and Muslim leaders, for instance, strongly represented at this year's meeting, would insist on the unique truth claims of their religious beliefs. One would hardly expect anything else.

The key point here is that though religious traditions may understand God or the divine differently, the religious conscience of all must be respected as a God-given right. This right is not just to be conceded grudgingly, but honoured with reverence, for however well or inadequately different religions articulate their beliefs, in a person's religious conscience the mystery of God is most intimately involved.

However, recognising that the truth claims of the many religious traditions are indeed so different, and that what various traditions call 'God' may be problematic for others, after their joint meeting the religious leaders at Assisi dispersed to pray or recollect in a way authentic to their traditions.

The Pope considers this inter-religious reverence and dialogue essential for world peace. Clearly we Catholics are invited at this time to develop better understandings of other religions, particularly Judaism and Islam, so that we can clear away the caricatures and misconceptions of the past.

Moreover, the world religions must co-operate more closely to focus global energies and resources on removing the social injustice, scandalous economic inequity and political oppression which cause fundamentalism and its terrorist offshoots to fester.

It is not enough to reject violence. World religions must throw their combined weight into the struggle to eradicate hunger and poverty, and establish a more just social order. The God of Jesus would expect nothing less.

Fr Bruce Duncan co-ordinates the social justice studies program at Yarra Theological Union in Melbourne and works with Catholic Social Services Victoria.