Growing in Christian self-identity through understanding interreligious dialogue in the light of ‘otherness’ : reconciling Rahner's and Von Balthasar's perspectives on pluralism

Abstract

Religious pluralism has come to play a major determining role in shaping Christianity and challenging its core identity. Hence, the Catholic Church must necessarily and urgently rediscover and redefine Christian self-identity. Interreligious dialogue in today's pluralistic world can benefit a lot from Rahner' s pneuma-Christocentrism and Trinitarian perspective. At the same time Balthasar's methodology for an apology of Christianity helps us approach this dialogue with a clear and profound sense of identity. We must advance to the point of redefining, challenging and reassessing our Christian self-identity that has long been distorted and fragmented. The focus is on a thorough analysis of Rahner' s and Von Balthasar's respective theological positions on the issue. Dialogue and witness seem to be a must for both. However, while Rahner sustains that dialogue tills the soil allowing witness to flourish, Von Balthasar gives primacy to witness, believing that it will in tum make dialogue a reality. The two theologians are in dialogue, with different but complimentary perspectives. Their divergencies bring out different insights which in their diversity and richness provide a model for interreligious dialogue that safeguards the sense of identity and the sense of mission of the Catholic faith and belief. This model has its roots in Scriptures and also in the existential and humanistic approaches that dominated the postmodern era. It is also very cautious of the perils posed by relativistic and syncretistic influences.