Manual for Inter-Religious Dialogue Manual for Interreligious Dialogue - Chemchemi Ya Ukweli
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MANUAL MANUAL The Writers Allan Kalafa Kefa (BA Div-Bread of Life Bible College) is a Pastor, Mentor and life Coach. He is also a trainer and MANUAL in charge of program development at Visionaries Inc- a consultant on Organizational development and leadership development. INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE INTER-RELIGIOUS INTER-RELIGIOUS Ombuge .M. Moses (BA Sociology) is a trainer in participatory approaches and theatre in peace building and an expert in DIALOGUE Drama for conflict transformation. He works with youth and children using drama and film for behaviour change. In Cooperation with: MANUAL FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE MANUAL FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE - CHEMCHEMI YA UKWELI A Publicati on of: Chemchemi Ya Ukweli The Active Non-Violence Movement in Kenya Civil Peace Service Kenya Waumini House P.O. Box 14370-00800 Nairobi-Westlands, Kenya Tel: +254 2 4446570, 4442254 Email: [email protected] Website: www.chemichemi.org Illustrations by Mwangi Gikonyo Printed by: Franciscan Kolbe Press P.O. Box 468 00127 Limuru 2012 Email: [email protected] ii MANUAL FOR INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE MANUAL FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE - CHEMCHEMI YA UKWELI TABLE OF CONTENTS Acronyms .................................................................................................. vi Acknowledgement ..................................................................................... vii Forward .................................................................................................... ix Introduction ................................................................................................1 SECTION 1: Basic concepts and definitions ....................................................................5 Basic concepts and definitions ...................................................................6 Active non-violence and interreligious dialogue ..............................................6 The real practitioners of the spirituality of ANV ..............................................7 What is dialogue? ................................................................................ 11 The dialogue of life – ............................................................................ 15 Dialogue that searches for common causes – ................................................ 16 Academic dialogue – .............................................................................17 Dialogue of religious experience – ............................................................ 18 Brief history and current state ................................................................. 18 What is the importance of inter religious dialogue? ........................................ 25 Promotion of unity in diversity ............................................................... 26 Promotion of peace .............................................................................. 28 Getting knowledge and developing skills .....................................................29 Mutual spiritual enrichment ....................................................................30 Apologetics and Interreligious Dialogue ..................................................... 32 Interreligious Dialogue in Islam ............................................................... 33 A recognition that God is the One to Guide ................................................. 34 A Christian Biblical Basis for Interreligious Dialogue ..................................... 35 The Hindu position on dialogue ............................................................... 38 Baha’i Faith ....................................................................................... 40 Benefits of IRD ................................................................................... 41 Conceptual challenges and obstacles to interreligious dialogue .......................... 43 Lack of understanding of own and other religions .......................................... 43 Fear of losing identity ............................................................................44 Prejudice and stereotypes ....................................................................... 44 Causes of stereotypes ............................................................................ 45 MANUAL FOR INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE iii MANUAL FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE - CHEMCHEMI YA UKWELI Religious prejudices .............................................................................. 45 Overcoming stereotypes ........................................................................ 46 Disagreement over the role of religion in society ...........................................46 Perceived lack of expertise ..................................................................... 47 SECTION 2: THEMATIC AND CONCEPTUAL PRINCIPLES OF IRD ................ 49 Thematic and Conceptual Principles of IRD................................................. 50 Important Considerations: ...................................................................... 53 Notes on Usage ................................................................................... 55 Some Principles for the Interreligious Dialogue ............................................ 56 Session 1 ........................................................................................... 58 Session 2 ........................................................................................... 62 Session 3 ........................................................................................... 67 Session 4 ........................................................................................... 72 Session 5 ........................................................................................... 79 Session 6 ........................................................................................... 85 Session 7 ........................................................................................... 90 Session 8: .......................................................................................... 94 THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF AN IRD TRAINING WORKSHOP: What a facilitator needs to know. ..................................................................... 98 Before starting the dialogue… ................................................................. 98 A Knowledge of your own religion...........................................................100 Knowing your fears, limits and expectations ...............................................100 Using Deep Listening Skills ....................................................................102 Dialogue and Effective Change ................................................................104 Practical preparations for a workshop .......................................................105 Dietary requirements ...........................................................................107 Muslim Dietary Practices: .....................................................................107 Christian Dietary Practices: ...................................................................108 Hindu dietary practices .........................................................................109 To the Facilitator: ................................................................................111 Methods of Training .............................................................................113 1. Stimulate curiosity and a desire to learn .................................................125 2. Facilitate the sharing of knowledge between participants .............................126 iv MANUAL FOR INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE MANUAL FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE - CHEMCHEMI YA UKWELI Develop basic management skills .............................................................128 The Experiential Learning Cycle .............................................................130 Preparation by Participants ....................................................................132 Motivation to Learn .............................................................................133 Distractions to learning – Finance ............................................................135 Workshop Management Problems ............................................................138 ANNEX ..................................................................................................142 1. Summary of the Religions ..................................................................142 2. Bibliography ...................................................................................145 MANUAL FOR INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE v MANUAL FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE - CHEMCHEMI YA UKWELI Acronyms AGEH Arbeitsgemeinschaft Entwicklungshilfe ANV Acti ve Non-Violence CYU Chemchemi Ya Ukweli CPS Civil Peace Service IRD Inter-Religious Dialogue MDG Millennium Development Goals OFM Franciscans Friars Minor P.B Peace Building TOT Training of Trainers ZFD Ziviler Friedensdienst vi MANUAL FOR INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE MANUAL FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE - CHEMCHEMI YA UKWELI Acknowledgement Chemchemi Ya Ukweli through the Inter-Religious Dialogue (IRD) STEERING COMMITTEE expresses its words of thanks and appreciation to its Development Partners: The Civil Peace Service (CPS) funded by the Germany Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development for funding the project; The Franciscan Friars Minor (OFM) for living the Principals of Active Non-Violence and Inter-Religious Dialogue; Pastor Allan Kefa and Mr. Moses Ombuge for editing research and com-