Islamic Approaches in Multicultural and Interfaith Dialogue

Vol. 1, No. 1 (2022), pp. 47~58 DOI: https://doi.org/10.59029/int.v1i1.5 Islamic Approaches to Multicultural and Interfaith Dialogue M. Aris Rofiqi1*, Mochamad Ziaul Haq2 1 2 Universitas Pancasakti, Tegal Universitas Katolik Parahyangan, Bandung * Corresponding Author, Email: ARTICLE INFO Keywords: Dialogue; Integrity; Interfaith; Inter-Religious; Culture; Philosophia Perennis Global Ethic. Article history: Received 2022-10-18 Revised 2022-11-17 Accepted 2022-11-21 ABSTRACT Humans are created with diverse ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. Thus, dialogue experience has become a part of the experiences in daily life. Dialogue expresses an essential aspect of human beings, such as listening and responding sincerely to each other and building bonds between them. It emphasizes different perspectives, attitudes, and openness. Similarly, Interreligious dialogue refers to a positive relationship with reciprocity and cooperation among followers of different religions. This dialogue communicates thoughts and hearts between different faiths people to build a common goal. In building interfaith dialogue, several approaches can be applied where the participants can become open, accept and respect different truths. The purpose of dialogue in Islam is not to change one's beliefs but to open up space and opportunities for others to express their religious beliefs and practices. Islam teaches that every human being has the right to choose and practice his religion. Dialogue can be realized without changing our faith; we can even hold on to our faith. This research applies qualitative methods through contextual analysis. ABSTRAK Manusia diciptakan dengan latar belakang etnis, agama, dan budaya yang beragam. Dengan demikian, pengalaman dialog telah menjadi bagian dari pengalaman kehidupan sehari-hari. Dialog untuk mengekspresikan aspek penting manusia, yaitu mendengarkan dan menanggapi satu sama lain dengan tulus untuk membangun ikatan di antara mereka. dialog menekankan pada perbedaan perspektif, sikap, dan keterbukaan. Demikian pula, Dialog antaragama mengacu pada hubungan positif dengan sikap timbal balik dan kooperatif di antara para pengikut agama yang berbeda. Dialog ini mengkomunikasikan pikiran dan hati antara orang-orang yang berbeda agama untuk untuk membangun tujuan bersama Dalam membangun dialog lintas agama, beberapa pendekatan bisa diterapkan dimana para pelaku dialog bisa menjadi terbuka, menerima dan menghormati kebenaran yang berbeda. Tujuan dialog dalam Islam, bukan untuk mengubah keyakinan seseorang tetapi untuk membuka ruang dan kesempatan bagi orang lain untuk mengekspresikan keyakinan dan praktik keagamaannya. Islam mengajarkan bahwa setiap manusia berhak untuk memilih dan menjalankan agamanya. Dialog bisa diwujudkan tanpa harus mengganti keimanan, bahkan kita bisa berpegang teguh terhadap keimanan kita. Riset ini menerapkan metode kualitatif melalui analisis kontekstual. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA license. EISSN: 2985-301X https://www.journal.integritasterbuka.id/index.php/integritas Integritas Terbuka, Vol. 1, No. 1 (2022): 47-58 1. 48 of 58 INTRODUCTION A progressively current concern today is dialogue among adherents of various religions. Humans live in varied traditional, spiritual, and ethnic settings. Daily, we intermingle with other faith and people in the shape of neighbors, colleagues, contacts, and classmates. Therefore, Interreligious experiences have developed into a portion of everyday life experiences (Vineeth, 1994). Inter-religious dialogue is essential to maintain harmonious relations and peaceful coexistence between communities' beliefs. There have been countless awful occasions in world history (Elius, M., Khan & Nor, 2019). We realize that each religion educates comprehensive affection and proclaims compassion for other human beings. Still, regarding religious conviction, we see numerous dreadful violations resulting in countless innocent people's demises (Defend rights, 2016). We have to figure out the roots of these problems and discover solutions that collectively bring societies from various spiritual and national settings to create significant contributions over interfaith dialogue designed for the better benefit of humankind. Inter-religious dialogue is essential for reducing inter-religious strains that are overcome between peoples worldwide (Haque, 2010). In a meeting (council) held at the Vatican in 1962-1965, the Catholic Church reviewed its stance and relationship with other religions. Then a document called the Decretum de Ecclesiae Habitudine and Religiones Non-Christians was published, more commonly known as Nostra Aetate. (Nostra Aetate, 1966) The official document states, among other things, that the Catholic Church does not deny the existence of truth and holiness in religions other than Christianity (Ecclesia Catholica nihil eorum, quae in his religionibus vera et Sancta sunt, reicit), that these other religions are reflections of the light of the truth that illuminating all of humanity (haud raro referunt tamen radium illius Veritatis, quae illuminat omnes homines). However, it is still emphasized that Jesus Christ is the only way [salvation], the only truth, and the only life (Annuntiat vero et annuntiare tenetur indesinenter Christum, qui est 'via et veritas et vita' [Gospel Yohannes (John) 14.6] through which only humans can live fully and fully religious life (in quo homines plenitudinem vitae religiosae inveniunt). Despite its ambivalence, it appears that the Church wants to give the impression that her attitude has changed from being exclusive to inclusive. However, she still believes that Christians can only achieve salvation. This study applies qualitative methods through contextual examination. Data were composed of the Qur'an and Sunnah (Prophetic behaviors) and supported by various journal articles and scientific books. In Addition, the perspectives of contemporary thinkers are also used in analyzing and understanding the spirit of interfaith dialogue in Islam. 2. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 2.1. Dialogue Definition The term "dialogue" comes from the Greek, dialogos. Dia implies "thru" and logo implies "word." Therefore, dialogue can be understood similarly to somewhat occurring "thru words" (David, 2017). Furthermore, dialogue can be interpreted as conversation, chat, discussion, and meeting amongst two or more people or parties to communicate and understand each other and to attain mutual benefits (Karim & Saili, 2009). Dialogue with this definition emphasizes good communication between people from different cultures and beliefs to reduce misunderstandings and ignorance between people of religions. The definitions of dialogue diverge for each individual, liable on the perspective and background of each individual and the nature of the encounter they face. For Kimball (1991), a Western theologist, dialogue is described as conversation, a method of communication through d (...truncated)