Be aware of contribution
of other religions

Bishop Paul Nguyen Van Hoa
Nha Trang, Vietnam

Click here for VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION

Prepared for internet by Vietnamese Missionaries in Taiwan

We live in an Asia, where the vast majority of the population belongs to ancient, non-Christian cultural and religious traditions. This fact poses several problems.

I. Christological problems

We are used to looking at Christ from an ontological point of view. Contact with non-Christian Asia invites us to look at him in other respects as well, especially from the cosmic and historical point of view.

Next, we Christians assert with St Paul that Christ Jesus is the only Mediator between God and man (1Tm 2:5). However, it seems to us that an exclusive Christocentrism is not the right way to become aware of the positive contribution of other religious founders to the spiritual life of humanity and does not favour interreligious dialogue.

II. Ecclesiological problems

Vatican II affirms that all those living according to their conscience can achieve eternal salvation even if they do not know the Gospel of Christ (Lumen gentium, n. 16). This idea invites us to look upon the Church not according to external visible signs, but according to the dimension of mystery, that is, that the Church is first of all redeemed people.

III. Missiological problems

We should reflect upon certain new methods of evangelization such as dialogue between believers of different religions or collaboration in charitable activities.

Another important problem we face is inculturation in the areas of theology, liturgy and sacred art.


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