The Necessity For Dialogue

Got this article form my church bulletin:

The word "dialogue" derives from two roots:"dia",which means "the word", or more specifically, "the meaning of the word." Thus the image one gets is of a river of meaning flowing around and through those who are participating in the dialogue.

Dialogue is one of the most effective means in the struggle against negative conditioning, prejudice and fanaticism. But in order for any dialogue to be effective, certain qualities are needed: Sincerity, humility and interest. Sincerity is needed because this is what moves the heart. Humility is needed because this is what makes one person value another. Interest is needed because it is the source of all question.

In his book, Dialogue, the Art of Thinking, William Isaacs writes the following:"Dialogue is altogether a very different way of talking. Generally, we think of dialogues as "better conversation," but there is much more to it. Dialogue, as defined, is a conversation with a center, not sides. It is a way of taking the energy of our differences and channeling that energy toward something that has never been created before. It lifts us out of polarization and into a greater sense of the commonalty, and is thereby a means for accessing the intelligence and coordinated power of groups of people."

Why dialogue?

Firstly, by engaging in dialogue with others we can reduce tensions, conflicts, and even wars. It is known that through the ages, religious, cultural, and ethnic differences have led to misunderstanding, hostility and conflict. The root of conflict is ignorance and ignorance is the source of prejudice. To get to know each other through dialogue is essential for the establishment of world peace.

Secondly, in today's world there are over 6,000 communities and as many distinct languages. Such differences naturally lead to a diversity of vision, values, beliefs, practices, and expression; all of these naturally, deserve equal respect and dignity. Through dialogue, we can promote better understanding of and creative cooperation among cultures and religions, while acknowledging and accepting their differences.

Thirdly, technology has expedited globalization and made distant countries seem like neighboring towns. Progress in communication and transport technology during the 20th century has enabled us to overcome geographical boundaries and has revolutionize our way of living. the world is now linked to such an extent that local event cannot take place without having an impact on the international community and vice versa. the world has become like a village. But this village is very diverse and includes many cultures, faiths, and traditions.

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