Love, responsibility, otherness: Finnish church leaders and interreligious dialogue

Authors

• Ruth Illman The Donner Institute

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30674/scripta.67305

Keywords:

Suomen evankelis-luterilainen kirkko, Finland, Authority, Other, The, Leadership, Religious, Concord, Religions -- Relations, Dialogue (Theology), Ecumenical movement, Philosophy and religion, Buber, Martin, 1878-1965, Interviewing

Abstract

In this article, the author will focus on the subject matter addressed in this appeal, i.e. peace and dialogue. The aim is to analyse how these Christian leaders view the role of religions, and especially interreligious dialogue, in creating and promoting peace. The author will begin by presenting the Peace Appeal and the interviews which form the empirical material upon which the research is based. The author will then concentrate on five issues which emerge from the analysis of this material as being especially important: the question of peace, love and reconciliation in a religious perspective; the question of otherness in interfaith dialogue; the relationship between dialogue and mission; the question of God’s presence in other religions; and personal responsibility and action. Emphasis is placed on presenting and analysing the empirical material, but the topics are also tied to a theoretical framework based on current thoughts within moral philosophy and the dialogue philosophy of Martin Buber. The discussion is, in conclusion, summarised with the help of the three notions which form the topic of this article: love, responsibility and otherness.