Conflict and turmoil occurs when there is a lack of tolerance for the space of others or where their boundaries are not respected. Within a multi-cultural and multi-religious environment where common 'space' is often shared, we need to ensure that the respective space and boundaries of each individuals or religious faith has to be respected and guarded from unreasonable invasive impingement.
The first part of this two-fold task calls for the creation of space. What does it man to 'create-space'? God gave us to choo0se between right or wrong, to freely accept Him as well as the reverse. It is only within such space that allows for the true freedom that one can speak of Love.
We can also find strong correlation between creating space and extending hospitality. "Hospitality is not change people, nut to offer them space where change can take place." - Reaching Out, Henri Nouwen. Such hospitality, according to Nouwen, transform hostility to friendship.
Creating space also means taking risk, especially the risk of becoming vulnerable. When persons are defensive and guarded, then relationship with others are often hindered if not made impossible. Creating space means learning to trust the other.
Ultimately, when we create space for others to be themselves, we also create space for God. God is our ultimate Host - the one who provides common space for all humanity to meet, interact, dialogue and commune.
But creating space alone is insufficient for fostering interfaith harmony. Creating space needs to be matched by respect for limits and boundaries. If one fails to respect the limits of space created, then one can either lose one's own identity to the other or wholly absorb the identity of the other into ours. Failure to respect limits and boundaries erode the uniqueness of each religious tradition. Failure to respect space is often the cost for strife and conflict.
As Christians, it is our mission to continue working for interfaith harmony through authentic dialogue and collaboration with others. It is a challenge to constantly take the risk of making space for the other whilst ensuring that the space of everyone, including ours is respected and defended.
Hope you learn something from this article and try to apply it in your lives.
The first part of this two-fold task calls for the creation of space. What does it man to 'create-space'? God gave us to choo0se between right or wrong, to freely accept Him as well as the reverse. It is only within such space that allows for the true freedom that one can speak of Love.
We can also find strong correlation between creating space and extending hospitality. "Hospitality is not change people, nut to offer them space where change can take place." - Reaching Out, Henri Nouwen. Such hospitality, according to Nouwen, transform hostility to friendship.
Creating space also means taking risk, especially the risk of becoming vulnerable. When persons are defensive and guarded, then relationship with others are often hindered if not made impossible. Creating space means learning to trust the other.
Ultimately, when we create space for others to be themselves, we also create space for God. God is our ultimate Host - the one who provides common space for all humanity to meet, interact, dialogue and commune.
But creating space alone is insufficient for fostering interfaith harmony. Creating space needs to be matched by respect for limits and boundaries. If one fails to respect the limits of space created, then one can either lose one's own identity to the other or wholly absorb the identity of the other into ours. Failure to respect limits and boundaries erode the uniqueness of each religious tradition. Failure to respect space is often the cost for strife and conflict.
As Christians, it is our mission to continue working for interfaith harmony through authentic dialogue and collaboration with others. It is a challenge to constantly take the risk of making space for the other whilst ensuring that the space of everyone, including ours is respected and defended.
Hope you learn something from this article and try to apply it in your lives.
God bless everyone, have a great week ahead :)
Love,
Lionel
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