Ismael Quiles S. J. interreligious and intercultural dialogue as an experience of love

Abstract

According to Ismael Quiles, interreligious and intercultural dialogue itself must be based on the "dialogue of love". The "dialogue of love" is triadic and is constituted by an essential or in-sistential self-affirmation, a recognition of the other and by an intercommunication in which there is a reciprocal acceptance of each other as "self" or "in-sistence". On this basis, we propose three models of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, which do not necessarily exist in a pure state, but are manifested in a combined or nuanced way. The three models are called respectively: unconscious, conscious, and holistic or integrated. The holistic or integrated model accounts for the dialogue of love and, although in its purity it is unattainable, it is presupposed in the other models. Moreover, the holistic or integrated model requires, to be understood and exercised, a committed ascetic and loving labour on the part of each individual, culture and religion.