Christianity and Other Religious Traditions: A Historical View
The New Evangelization
To suit the new evangelization in the new millennium, in 2000, the whole Church re-launched the commitment to evangelization. This was a special impetus in efforts to reflect on the evangelization of youth. Proof of this is the World Day of meeting young Christians that have been developed throughout the world and have always been attended by the Pope. This went well with a line begun by Paul VI: the Church to make a more universal reflection of different cultures and peoples. On the other hand, this new missionary effort also sought to address the growing influence of sects, especially in Latin America. At the end of the 20th century, the global weight of the Catholic Church has shifted from Europe to Africa, America, and even Asia, areas where there is a flourishing and vitality of Christian communities.
Maimonides (1135-1204)
Moses Maimonides was born in Cordoba into a family of rabbinical judges. He was a philosopher, scholar of the Torah, and a Jewish-Spanish doctor. In philosophy, his great work is the Guide for the Perplexed, written in Arabic and later translated into Hebrew. This is a guide for those who vacillate between the teachings of the Jewish religion and the doctrines of Aristotle’s philosophy. After reviewing the main points that seem to oppose religion and philosophy, he shows that there is no contrast, that is, he provides a reconciliation between faith and reason. This work influenced medieval Christian philosophy, especially in St. Albert the Great and Thomas Aquinas, who met through a translation that was made into Latin.
Ramon Llull (c. 1232-1315)
Ramon Llull was born in Palma de Mallorca, into a Catalan family who had come to the city after its conquest by Jaime I. From a young age, he was related to the court environment. He married Blanca Picany and had two children. During this time, he led a worldly and licentious life and took to writing poetry in the troubadour style. At thirty years old, he had a strong spiritual experience of encounter with Christ from which he changed his life, leaving the court and his family. He made a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela and dedicated himself intensely to study and contemplation. He learned Hebrew and Arabic and studied intensely the Muslim and Jewish traditions. His intention was missionary: to know well these traditions to preach the rationality of the Christian faith. He intended conversion by way of love and without any coercion or violence. His intention was to show the truth as understood by the Christians, a waiter so expensive that even the more radical Muslims could accept. In addition to many religious works, he also wrote a novel, Blanquerna, and his own spiritual biography.
Living Traditions
Christianity, a religion born as a minority in the splendor of the Roman Empire, became over the centuries a predominant religion in Europe. Later, it followed the entire political and cultural expansion that came out of this continent. That Christianity had two major divisions: the Orthodox and the Protestants. Today, together with Catholics, they form the great family of Christians. In addition to Christianity, in the world there are communities of Jews established in many countries. The Muslim religion, which emerged in the 7th century, has spread worldwide. On the other hand, there are other religions, especially those from the Far East, present in today’s society. Today, the Catholic Church lives in the midst of this plurality of religious traditions and works tirelessly for cooperation and dialogue with them all.
The Ecumenical Commitment
The division between Christians is contrary to the will of Jesus; it is a serious fault. In his farewell, Jesus prayed to the Father: “I pray that all may be one, as you are in me and I in thee, so the world may believe that thou hast sent.” Vatican II encouraged the commitment to the Church with the ecumenical work, that is, to promote and strengthen the actions aimed at the unity of all Christians. As requested by the council, all Christians are called to foster unity, which means:
- To live true to the Christian faith, renew personal follow-up of Jesus and the life of the Church for greater fidelity to the gospel.
- Consider non-Catholic Christians as brothers who believe in Jesus himself.
- Know the causes of separation, but mostly what common beliefs exist.
- Working together in world evangelization and the pursuit of justice and peace.
- Ask God to help restore unity.
Interreligious Dialogue
In different religions, we find perceptions of divinity, even the Father. Faced with other religions, the Catholic Church is committed to:
- Knowing them better and understanding them in-depth by eliminating any bias.
- Letting them know their faith and values of the Christian experience, as well as being enriched by the values they have.
- Along with them, witnessing to the value of religious experience against materialism, consumerism, and a mindless life.
- Working together for justice and peace in the world, eliminating all religious motivation for the differences and conflicts between people and peoples.