Oasis of Peace - an Arab/Jewish village showing peace is possible The phrase used in the title of this blog is taken from a German Lutheran theologian called Oscar Cullman and is quoted by Cardinal Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, in the book he co-authored with Rabbi Skorka of Buenos Aires, "On Heaven and Earth". The chapter in which the quote occurs deals with conflict. While the media likes to paint pictures in black and white, putting different sides in opposition to one another, seeking out sensational animosities, favouring conflict rather then reconciliation, the situation is always more complex. Each side brings to the situation its own history, its own understanding of itself and the other, its own story through which it interprets events. Achieving peace and reconciliation is a long and hard process and there are many parts of the world where it almost seems impossible. This weekend the press was full of stories of people of different faiths fighting one another, of different factions within faiths competing for dominance. How is the world and religion to resolve conflict and animosity? It is in trying to answer this question that the Pope refers to Oscar Cullman. " He ( ie. Cullman) says we should not seek that everyone from the outset affirm the same thing, but instead he proposes that we walk together in reconciled diversity... .. he asks that we not throw rocks at one another but rather that we continue walking together ........ It is the way of advancing the resolution of a conflict with the virtues of all, without nullifying the diverse traditions or falling into syncretism. Each one from their identity, in reconciliation, seeking the unity of truth"(On Heaven and Earth p.217).
Two things had made this statement stand out for me when I read it. One was a friend talking about receptive ecumenism which encourages different Christian denominations to listen to one another, to learn from one another's wisdom, to be open to the gifts that the other has to offer, to recognise a unity that already exists without demanding agreed statements on church governance or order - all approaches used in interreligious dialogue.
The other was watching a film on the Israeli - Palestinian conflict. ' 5 Broken Cameras' told the story of the resistance of a Palestinian village Bilin to the building of the separation wall. It is stark in its realism and it is not possible to watch it without feeling the pain of the Palestinian people. While it is right that Palestinians should tell their story the conflict was seen in black and white terms with no account of the complexities of the situation. It was hard to see how reconciliation will ever be possible. And yet there are people working for peace in that troubled land which is so sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims. How I wish we could hear more about that.
Two things had made this statement stand out for me when I read it. One was a friend talking about receptive ecumenism which encourages different Christian denominations to listen to one another, to learn from one another's wisdom, to be open to the gifts that the other has to offer, to recognise a unity that already exists without demanding agreed statements on church governance or order - all approaches used in interreligious dialogue.
The other was watching a film on the Israeli - Palestinian conflict. ' 5 Broken Cameras' told the story of the resistance of a Palestinian village Bilin to the building of the separation wall. It is stark in its realism and it is not possible to watch it without feeling the pain of the Palestinian people. While it is right that Palestinians should tell their story the conflict was seen in black and white terms with no account of the complexities of the situation. It was hard to see how reconciliation will ever be possible. And yet there are people working for peace in that troubled land which is so sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims. How I wish we could hear more about that.
RSS Feed
