The Church and People of Other Faiths
Freedom and Responsibility. Joint Theological Explorations by Christians and Muslims
Visiting Pabelan Islamic boarding school, Indonesia, June 2009 (left to right) Rev. Thomas Kangeizi (Tanzania); Rev. Saliba Rishmawi (Jordan); Rev. Abdi Tadese (Ethiopia); Kiai Haji Ahmad Amin (Indonesia). Copyright: Elis/ICRS |
In light of increasing social tensions related to growing religious fundamentalism, Christian and Muslim leaders and organizations have intensified their efforts to bring about peace and justice in the world. Joint theological explorations by Christians and Muslims help us to understand one another and strengthen our commitment to the common good.
From 15 to 20 June 2009, twenty-three Christian and Muslim scholars gathered in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, for an international dialogue consultation under the theme, "Freedom and Responsibility. Joint Theological Explorations by Christians and Muslims." The event, jointly organized by the LWF Department for Theology and Studies, the Center for Religious and Cross-Cultural Studies (CRCS) and the Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies (ICRS), took place at the University Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta (Indonesia), and explored more deeply the anthropological and theological dimensions of the notion of freedom and responsibility. The participants concluded that in light of God’s gift of freedom to all, human beings are called to act as God’s khalifa (God’s agents) of freedom on earth.
Participants also explored the critical and self-critical potential in the respective understandings of freedom and responsibility for identity and mutual relations as well as the common good of society. The specific challenges with regard to the three contested areas of religious freedom, gender equality and HIV and AIDS were discussed in light of the two faith traditions. Some of the consultation's deliberations were open to the general public.
Please click here for further information about the June 2009 conference and a list of contributors .
Interfaith Relations
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One of the major challenges facing churches today lies in the area of religious pluralism. In the recent DTS publication, Deepening Faith, Hope and Love in Relations with Neighbors of Other Faiths [Please click to order, CHF 16, USD 14, Euro 10, plus postage and packing], writers from different parts of the world develop theological reflections arising from their specific interreligious engagement and research.
Faith, hope and love are seen as three basic dimensions in interreligious encounters that can be constructively engaged and further deepened. The book seeks to deepen commitment to and theological discernment within interreligious relations. Contributors include: Hazel O. Ayanga, Barbara Bürkert-Engel, Paul S. Chung, Helene Egnell, Johannes Ehmann, Detlef Görrig, Anne Hege Grung, Göran Gunner, Risto Jukko, Emi Mase-Hasegawa, Kristin Johnston Largen, Friedrich Schweitzer and Martin Lukito Sinaga.
Past Study Programs
Christians and Muslims in Conflict and Peacemaking
Situations of tension between Christians and Muslims prompted a study program on "Interfaith Dialogue: Conflict and Peace." The program focused on the key question: What role does religion play in conflicts, in the overcoming of conflicts and in the healing of differences for the sake of peaceful coexistence? Read more
Christian Muslim Relations: Joint Action for the Common Good
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) promotes dialogue and diapraxis (joint action for the common good) between Christians and people of other faiths. In the book, Dialogue and Beyond: Christians and Muslims Together on the Way [Please click here to download the publication (1,021 KB)], Christian and Muslim scholars discuss issues of common concern. (Link requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) 
Spiritualistic Movements as a Global Challenge for the Church
“Spiritualistic” has been defined as the multi-faceted belief in a vital force within living beings, a supernatural, divine, incorporeal being-anima, a "spirit"-animating the body. Adherents of spiritualistic movements believe that the spirits of the dead survive mortal life, and can communicate with the living. Read more
For further information, please contact Rev. Dr Martin Sinaga.
