The Philosophical and Theological Aspects of Interreligious Dialogue: A Catholic Perspective

Contents: Introduction. 1. The philosophical and theological foundations of interreligious dialogue. 2. Dialogue in the encyclical `Ecclesiam Suam' of Pope Paul VI. 3. The relation of the church to non-christian religions in `Nostra Aetate' and other documents of the Vatican II. 4. Interreligious dialogue in the document `Dialogue and Mission'. 5. Interreligious dialogue in the document `Dialogue and Proclamation'. 6. The current state of interreligious dialogue. Conclusion. Appendex. Bibliography. Index.

This study presents the official teachings of the Catholic Church on interreligious dialogue as enshrined in the documents `Ecclesiam suam' (1964) of Pope Paul VI, `Nostra aetate' and other documents of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), `Dialogue and Mission' (1984), and `Dialogue and Proclamation' (1991), with some reflections on the philosophical and theological foundations of interreligious dialogue, and the present state of dialogue in the Catholic Church. The study can be used as resource material by students of Catholic theology, Catholic dialogue groups and individuals involved in the practice of interreligious dialogue. It is also proposed to anyone who may be interested in knowing what the Catholic Church teaches about interreligious dialogue, be they non-Catholics, followers of other religions, or even non-believers.