Michael Amaladoss’ Background; A call to dialogue

1. Introduction

2. Michael Amaladoss' Background; A call to dialogue
Michael Amaladoss was born in 1936 in Tamil Nadu India . He is a member of the Society of Jesus. He is a Professor of Systematic Theology at Vidyajyoti College of Theology in Delhi , and the Director of the Institute for Dialogue with Cultures and Religions, Chennai , India . He is also a well known international speaker and writer, and has written extensively on issues of mission and liberation Theology. More than 20 books and over 300 articles have been written by him in various languages (German, English and Hindi). Most of these books and articles are connecting with the Asian context. His present job is a lecturer at the East Asian Pastoral Institute (EAPI).

There are three explicit books in which he talks about the Interreligious Dialogue. They are Making All Things New; Dialogue, Pluralism and Evangelization in Asia ; Walking Together: the Practice of Inter-Religious Dialogue; and Making Harmony, Living in a Pluralist World. In his book,’ Walking Together’, he explores the authentic calling of Christianity to dialogue. To be a Christian means to be ready to handle this responsibility. He, therefore, strongly encourages the theologians in Asia to comprehend this essential calling by integrating this positive attitude to other religions in the context of the Reign to which God is leading all peoples.[5] This is simply to say that in a multi-cultural and pluralistic society like Asia , all people are invited and challenged to move out of their cultures and ideologies to welcome and embrace the ‘other’.

Interreligious Dialogue for Amaladoss, therefore, is the “way” to build up “a long bridge” on which we can “walk” to meet (relate) with other people who have different religions and cultures from us. The possibility of building the bridge also can break down the ‘wall of individualism’, which can be a great hindrance for implementing Interreligious Dialogue. In doing this, it will be discovered what Michael Amaladoss called a ‘community of communities’ because there is no more a conglomeration of individuals, but it is a variety of ethnic, cultural and religious groups. In this sense, the goal of Interreligious Dialogue is precisely to build up a public entity that is multi-religious.[6]

4. Meaning, goals and Three Faces of Interreligious Dialogue
4.1. Meaning
4.2. Goals
4.3. Three Faces of Interreligious Dialogue
4.3.1. Dialogue and Liberation
4.3.2. Dialogue and Cultures
4.3.3. Dialogue: as an Interreligious Encounter
5. Forms of Interreligious Dialogue
6. Obstacles to Dialogue
7. Theological Reflection and Conclusion
Bilbiography