Religionen Quellen des Friedens

Just recently I was invited with two Indonesian colleagues (a male theologian and a male painter) by Mission 21 (a Christian mission organization based in Basel, Switzerland) to participate in its campaign on 'Religionen Quellen des Friedens' (Religion Source of Peace). For two weeks the three of us separately, and in several occasion jointly, visited German-speaking local congregations of Reformed Church in some areas in Switzerland. Besides giving lectures and speech mainly on the theme of "Women, Religion, and Peace" I was also taking part in the discussion focusing on the question of "Christian and Islam relations." Two issues, 'Minaret and Church Tower" and "Women's Work for Peace Accross Religious Boundaries" evidently gained much attention during our encounter. Questions ranged from "whether the church in Indonesia has bells" to "what should be done in the daily life of Swiss people to respond to the new challenge of their becoming a multicultural society." One woman was sharing her impression of encountering a Muslim woman who refused to accept her greetings. Still another woman sharing about her long friendship with Muslim women in her neighborhood and finding herself to be an active participant in an inter-religious group in her area that focuses on introducing different cultural practices and religious teachings among religious groups in order to create a peaceful transition in their community.

It is evident that inter-religious dialogue/encounter in Switzerland is still at an early stage in its process of connecting people in order to live together in such multicultural society in comparison with inter-religious dynamics in Indonesia. But, one thing remain critical to be discussed that is about the question of "Christian self-understanding" vis-a-vis the understanding of "the other." It is a crucial question in any multicultural society where Christians are searching for ways to be relevant and authentic in the midst of the challenges of such society.