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Inter-Religious Dialogue Can Heal Our Divided World – OpEd

(UCA News) -- In a world defined by division, inter-religious dialogue has never been more urgent. Recent events in India illustrate this reality with stark clarity, with Christians seeking protection during Lent in northern Uttar Pradesh state while Hindu-Christian tensions rise in central Chhattisgarh state. There have also been protests against an anti-conversion law in Arunachal Pradesh in the northeast region. These incidents demonstrate what happens when religious communities remain isolated from one another but also present opportunities for transformation through genuine dialogue. With approximately 84 percent of humanity identifying with religious traditions, faith remains a powerful force that shapes world views and motivates action. Yet this influence can both inspire compassion and justice or reinforce prejudice and exclusion. The Global Peace Index 2024 reveals that peacefulness is at its lowest point in a decade, with religious intolerance contributing to conflicts in nearly two dozen countries. India's challenges reflect broader global patterns. In 2024 alone, over 840 documented incidents of persecution against Christians occurred nationwide, with Uttar Pradesh recording the highest state total at 209. Across continents, rising nationalism often intertwines with religious identity, positioning some faiths as threats to national character. Digital spaces exacerbate these divisions, with social media algorithms rewarding inflammatory content over nuanced understanding. For Christians, inter-religious dialogue represents not merely a pragmatic necessity but a theological imperative. The Second Vatican Council's declaration Nostra Aetate (from Latin, ‘in our time’) recognized that wisdom and truth exist within diverse religious traditions. Pope Francis has consistently championed this approach, emphasizing that "dialogue is not a betrayal of one's identity but an expression of fidelity to it." His Document on Human Fraternity, co-signed with Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb, reminds us that authentic faith leads toward human solidarity rather than division. This theological foundation matters profoundly for Christians facing persecution. When faith communities engage in genuine dialogue, they create relationships that can prevent violence. The protection Christians sought in Uttar Pradesh becomes more attainable when interfaith bonds already exist. Similarly, the recent cancellation of a potentially violent march through Christian villages in Chhattisgarh demonstrates how intervention can prevent religious conflict — though, ideally, community relationships would make such interventions unnecessary. Critics sometimes suggest inter-religious dialogue requires compromising core beliefs or muting prophetic witness. Experience proves otherwise. Authentic dialogue creates space not for abandoning values but for articulating them more clearly and living them more faithfully. When Church leaders in Manipur created the "Mourning and Forgiveness" program following communal violence, they demonstrated how Christian principles of reconciliation could benefit society broadly. The Manipur Peace Fund encouraged citizens to contribute toward peace education, translating Christian commitment into practical action transcending religious boundaries. Through respectful engagement with others, Christians rediscover the revolutionary nature of Jesus' teachings on human dignity, care for the vulnerable, and reconciliation. Christians stand more firmly for justice when they recognize justice-seekers in other traditions. They advocate more effectively for human rights when they form coalitions across religious lines. They protect religious freedom more securely when they defend it for all faiths, not just their own. Educational initiatives consistently prove effective in building bridges. When theological institutions integrate inter-religious experiences into the curriculum, they prepare religious leaders who navigate diversity with confidence rather than fear. Collaborative service also creates powerful bonds. During India's Covid-19 crisis, many churches opened facilities to all community members regardless of religion, creating goodwill that transcended theological differences. Institutional relationships between religious leaders create channels for addressing tensions before they escalate. Yet grassroots connections may prove even more valuable in creating social resilience. A pastor in India's Nagpur city, who used a Hindu college hall for worship, exemplifies how ordinary believers can build bridges through daily interactions. Environmental challenges have created new opportunities for interfaith collaboration. The 2024 Inter-Religious Declaration on Climate Action brought together leaders from 19 religious traditions, demonstrating how shared concern for creation can unite diverse believers. For Christians, care for creation represents a core theological commitment. When Christians engage other faiths around ecological responsibility, they express this theological vision while building partnerships that benefit all people. This ecological dialogue carries special resonance in India, where traditional religious cosmologies often include profound respect for the natural world. Hindu reverence for rivers, Muslim teachings on humans as creation's stewards, and indigenous spiritual connections to landscapes can complement Christian understandings of creation care. The alternative to dialogue is not merely silence but often violence. When religious communities remain isolated, stereotypes flourish, and dehumanization becomes possible. The rising persecution statistics in India and elsewhere demonstrate the consequences of failed dialogue. Yet, even amid challenges, promising initiatives emerge as organizations train dialogue facilitators and interfaith harmony events proliferate. For Christian communities facing hostility, dialogue represents both principled witness and practical wisdom. By engaging other faiths respectfully while maintaining a clear identity, Christians fulfill their calling to be salt and light. They create conditions where persecution becomes less likely and stand for human dignity, justice, peace, and creation care in ways that transform not just individual lives but entire societies. The path forward requires courage, commitment, and creativity — moving beyond platitudes to meaningful engagement with religious difference. In a world where isolation breeds conflict, dialogue offers a pathway toward reconciliation, renewal, and restoration of our broken world. *The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official editorial position of UCA News.