Cultivating Interreligious Dialogue as an Effective Peace-Building Mechanism in the Academe

Efforts are underway to introduce and/or strengthen peace education in the Philippine educational system, an endeavor that necessarily includes interreligious relations as a program component, especially in consideration of the diverse religious profiles of many stakeholders in the academe. This article contributes essential Scriptural and pastoral backgrounds that undergird the Catholic approach to and method of dialogue. It explores the possibilities for incorporating both ecumenical and interreligious dialogue in the training and formation of Filipino students, a move encouraged by sociologists and academicians. The article revisits the dimensions of dialogue that promote active relationships, the common pursuit of goals, respect for other people's beliefs, and the sharing of people's experiences of God. Originally delivered at a 2023 national conference sponsored by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU), this paper incorporates the concerns and contributions of conference participants representing various institutions of higher learning.