Why dialogue? Christian engagement in interfaith relations

Abstract

For nearly 2000 years the primary stance of Christianity and Christians towards other faiths and their peoples was to treat them as radically ‘other’ and the targets of evangelical mission. During the 20th century a sequence of dramatic changes occurred, principally through the ecclesial organs of the Roman Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches, even though many Christians (and others) are by no means adequately aware of them. In this paper I briefly review the nature of, and reasons for, this change and discuss some of the key issues and problems that have arisen.