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.
Contents
Abbreviations
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
J. Kuruvachira is Professor of Philosophy of Religion, History of
Religions, and Interreligious Dialogue at the Salesian Pontifical University, Rome. He has
a Doctorate in Philosophy from the Gregorian University, Rome, and a Master's degree in
Roman Catholic Theology from Pavel Florensky School of Theology and Ministry, California
(Euclid consortium).
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