The Christian and World Religions: Dominus Iesus
We Catholics stand within the Christological House with other Christians among the worldwide human community. This mansion is among many others, as Jesus reminds us. The decor is Christed, the furniture bespeaks the incarnational mystery, and our very vision across the world-wide yard is through a Christological lens. But look across the yard we must. Indeed , we need to step out and meet our neighbors, knowing they live in another mansion and use another lens.
Since Vatican II, several theologians have made this outstretched hand the major thrust of their theological work. What they have learned and what they have begun to craft in new language is unfortunately not referred to in Dominus Iesus. The language we use within our own house is used instead.
Unfortunately, although clear enough to us, its meaning is a puzzle to our neighbors. They think we mean exactly what we say, no more, and from the reception of the document it is clear that the dogmatic language we have been accustomed to in the past is not sufficient as we try to talk with our neighbors.
It may be helpful as we begin this Christological consideration in light of World Religions to meet our neighbors. The following is a very brief introduction, including the central value or emphasis for the group.
PRIMAL Traditions (tribal): the connection of the human with nature
SINO Traditions (Confucian, Taoist, Shinto): proper relationship among humans
INDIC Traditions (Hindu, Jain, Zoroastrian, Buddhist): clarifying consciousness
JUDAIC Tradition: the Holy moving in history and law
CHRISTIAN Tradition: the Holy comes to meet us in the human (incarnation)
ISLAMIC Tradition: total submission of the human to the Holy
Firmly committed to its Lord as the Savior of all, the Christian then moves into the preparation for evangelization…listening. This preparation, being the listening Church, prepares her for the first act of evangelization: dialogue. And so, we must begin…to learn to talk to the neighbors, for without dialogue, we cannot open our treasure, the Christ, to them.