In What Sense Can Inter-Faith Dialogue Contribute to Inter-Faith Peace?

Schmidt-Leukel, Perry

Abstract

“No peace among the nations without peace among the religions. No peace among the religions without dialogue between the religions.” This famous statement by the Swiss theologian Hans Küng (1928– 2021) has been met with both enthusiastic approval and critical scepticism. The paper inquires into the complex connection between religious conflict potential, identity constructs, in-group out-group mechanisms and interreligious peace. It suggests that while there is no guarantee, an open-minded theological dialogue has the potential to overcome reciprocal negative biases, may induce a new understanding of religious identity and can transform universalist claims. Although peace is not its primary goal, dialogue can nevertheless make a genuine contribution to it.