PLURALISM AND INTERCULTURE

Today space and time are being shaken by science and technology and the encounter between peoples and their traditions is becoming increasingly troubled, creating clashes between civilisations and problems of coexistence. We are subjected to political, religious and cultural fanaticism to such an extent that we are understandably longing for universal understanding. A typical example of this mentality is the syndrome of the global village. However noble the intention may be, it is still the result of the colonialist mentality. And yet there is a hunger for true understanding:
“We cannot live in a compartmentalised world. The other becomes a problem precisely because they invade my life and cannot be reduced to my way of seeing things. If one extreme is to think that we are right and the others are wrong, the other extreme is to believe that we are all suited to a type of global village.” Between these two extremes we increasingly find the words pluralism and interculturality, which represent a third approach, the basis for universal understanding. Interculturality is neither cultural relativism (all cultures are equally valid) nor the fragmentation of the human nature. Respect for human dignity demands cultural respect, which is inseparable from mutual knowledge -without which we would fall into the temptation to impose our own culture as the model for human coexistence. In our modern-day age the proliferation of studies on peace and of the associations for its promotion open the way for hope, and the dialogue between cultures, civilisations and religions is a positive sign. Through this book, the author insists on the need to overcome the dichotomies imposed by the classifying genius of the West in order to clarify each kind of problem. Overcoming does not mean cancelling the differences but rather transcending analytical thought, not through mere synthesis but through a holistic approach which allows for the indispensable plurality of cultures.

INDEX OF ORIGINAL TEXTS IN VOLUME VI, PART 1

Introduction: it contains a revised part of “The Pluralism of Truth” in World Faiths Insights, XXVI, New York- London 1990, 7-16.

“Myth of pluralism: the tower of Babel. A meditation on non-violence” in Cross Currents, New York 1979, pp.197-230, from a talk given at the University California, Santa Barbara.

“The Defiance of Pluralism”, Soundings, Knoxville 1996, Vol. LXXIX, 1-2, Spring/Summer, pp.169-191. “Religious Identity and Pluralism” in «A Dome of Many Colours – Studies in Religious Pluralism, Identity, and Unity» (ed.) A. Sharma e K.M. Dugan, Trinity Press International. Harrisburg, Pensylvania 1999, pp.23-47. Originally written as a contribution for the Centenary of World Parliament of Religions, Chicago 1993.

“Religious Pluralism: The Metaphysical Challenge”, in Religious Pluralism, ed. by L. S. Rouner, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, pp. 97-115.

“The Gospel and Cultural Plurality: “Evangelio y pluralidad cultural” in «Sufi», n.3 (2002); revision of the Prologue to L. Mazzocchi and J. Forzani, Il Vangelo secondo Giovanni e lo Zen (vol. II) Dehoniana, Bologna 2001.

“Pluralism, Tolerance and Christianity”, orig. vers “Pluralism, Toleranz und Christenheit“, (ed.) H. Schomerus, Abendländische Akademie, Nürnberg 1961, pp.117-142.

“The Interpellation of Religious Pluralism. Catholic Theology of the Third Millennium”; orig. vers La interpelación del pluralismo religioso. Teología católica del III milenio, ed .by J.M.Vigil, L. E. Tomita and M. Barros, Por los muchos caminos de Dios.IV. Teología liberadora intercontinental del pluralismo religioso. Agenda Latino-americana, Quito 2006, pp. 156-167.

“Some Notes on Syncretism and Ecleticism Related to the Growth of Human Consciousness” in B.A. Pearson, Religious Syncretism in Antiquity Essays. Scholars Press, Missoula 1975, pp.47-62.

“From a Plurality of Religions to a Religious Pluralism”; orig. vers. De una pluralidad de religiones a un pluralismo religioso inVV.AA «Fe Adelante», CRISLAM/Darek & Nuyumba, Madrid 1988. pp.38-46.

“Ecumenic and critical ecumenism”; orig. vers. Vers un cumenisme ecumènic in «Questions de vida cristiana», n. 140, pp. 80-86, Montserrat 1988 and Ecumenisme crític in «Questions de vida cristiana», n.144, pp. 120-123, Montserrat 1988.

“Three Important Intercultural Interpellations”; orig. vers. Tres grandes interpretaciones de la interculturalidad in «Interculturality, Gender and Education», Iko, Frankfurt am Main e London 2004, pp. 27-44. Inaugural talk by the author held at a Congress of Intercultural Philosophy at the Olavide Cultural Center in Carmona.

“Intercultural Anthropophany “; Orig. vers. Antropofania intercultural. Identitad humana y fin de milenio in «Thémata». n. 23, Sevilla 1999, pp.19-29.

“Towards a Theory of Intercultural and Interreligious Liberation”; Orig. vers. Hacia una teología de la liberación in Interculturalidad, diálogo y liberación, in H. Kung, J.J. Tamayo-Acosta and R. Fornet-Betancourt, Interculturalidad, diálogo religioso y liberación,Verbo Divino, Pamplona 2005, pp.61-68. Inaugural talk by the author held at IV Parliament of , Barcelona 2004 .

“Rising Sun and Setting Sun” ; orig. vers. Soleille levant et Soleil couchant, in «Diogène», n° 200, Octobre-Décembre, Paris 2002, pp. 5-16.

“The Other is Part of Us”; orig. vers L’altro fa parte di noi in R. Panikkar, M. Cacciari, J.L. Touadi, Il problema dell’altro. Dallo scontro al dialogo tra le culture, L’altrapagina, Città di Castello 2007, pp. 9-26.

Peace and interculturality. A philosophical reflection; orig. text Pace e Interculturalità. Una riflessione filosofica, Jaca Book, Milano 2002 (riprinted 2006).