Written by: Gerardette Philips, RSCJ, Ph.D

“The discourse on pluralism is an almost perennial issue within the discourse of religion, almost as old as the axial era in the history of humankind. Despite the fact that this discourse is at the very heart of  the religious discourse, there has not been, to my knowledge, a middle way of thinking that can satisfactorily act as an alternative view between the two extremes : exclusivism and radical pluralism that would entail relativism. By taking the cases of two of the most prominent thinkers among Islam and Catholicism -- Sayyed Hossein Nasr and Hans Küng  -- this work by Sr. Gera has paved the way for a very productive discussion that would pave the way for a more acceptable resolution to the old age discourse.”

Haidar Bagir Lecturer The Islamic College and Director Mizan Publishing

“This is a challenging book. Sr. Gerardette Philips brings together two religious masters who, precisely in their very different approaches, show how religions, while staying faithful to their creeds, can become a united force in promoting peace and understanding in a world threatened by shallow secularism  on the one hand and religious fanaticism on  the other. Hans Küng challenges religions to put their weight behind four essential demands of post traditional ethics: rejection of violence as a means to resolve conflict, solidarity with the poor, religious tolerance, and rejection of all discrimination of women. While Sayyed Hossein Nasr opens the transcendental unity of the religions. Together, they challenge us to a new experience of religion that make it possible that the different religions work together, in deep respect towards each other, for a more human and just world.”

Franz Magnis Suseno, SJ Professor Sekolah Tinggi Filsafat Driyarkara

"An oasis in the vast desert ! A powerful enlightening approach for a dialogue that roots to the very core of religious traditions, sincerity, integrity and its uniqueness. From a spiritual person who dedicates her entire life in the field, this book is truly fundamental for realizing a world of peace and compassion beyond Muslim-Christian community."  

Arif Samil, Life Coach & NLP Master Practitioner MINDINSIGHT coaching, training & consultancy

“A genius breakthrough towards a genuine dialogue between Muslims and Christians is unprecedentedly formulated in the concept of OPEN INTEGRITY, by which Sr. Gerardette Philips offers a new way of dialogue synthesizing Küng’s Global Ethics and Nasr’s Perennial Philosophy, resulting in confirming one’s own religious identity and recognizing others’ religious belief. For those who want to be a true believer while engaging in the authentic dialogue, this book is a must.” 

Dr. Anton Subianto OSC, Provincial of the Order of Holy Cross, Indonesia.

“Timely and significant! Open Integrity is an approach if we desire true dialogue among followers of religions and if we want our world to be free from suspicion, fear and pain. A prophetic voice invites us at this moment to return to the truth of ourselves and take seriously the truth of the other.”Yusuf Daud, Sufi Master Mishkatul Anwar Thaha

It is imperative that pluralism should not stop at discourse. It must be translated into a tangible presence in the pluralistic society we live in. In fact, even this is not enough. We need a vision and ideas to respond to the challenges of the globalization process  that is beyond what we ever imagined.  What is shared by Sr. Gerardette  in this important work, no doubt, is vital and highly timely. It  enriches our notions for participation in  building mutual understanding as citizens of the world. Djohan Effendi, Activist of Religious Pluralism and Interfaith Dialogue for Peace Movement in Indonesia.

There is only one humankind.  It is defined by factors such as nationality, ethnicity, race, culture and religion. Yet these factors have caused tension or conflict in the history of humankind, particularly in relations between religions.  Often it seems that these factors offer nothing to human civilisation.  But in reality, these factors have a positive contribution to humanity and this can also be said of religion.  There is evidence to prove this; this book by Sr Gerardette highlights the work of two experts, Prof. Hans Kung and Prof. Seyyed Hossein Nasr that substantiate such a view.  This shows that people of different religions need not clash because of their differences, but in fact through creative dialogue are able to develop and foster common humanity.  This book is worth reading for anyone with goodwill to promote our mutual peace and wellbeing. Andreas A. Yewangoe, General Chairman of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia.

Berbagai persoalan telah menghantam bangsa kita. Teror yang menghantam WTC di Amerika Serikat, imbasnya masih dirasakan oleh kita sampai sekarang, baik dengan cara terang-terangan, maupun tersamar. Berbagai persoalan seperti korupsi, tetap membandel. Kemiskinan masih saja menjadi masalah yang cukup krusial dialami sebagian besar bangsa kita, dan seterusnya. Kita juga makin lama makin kehilangan kepekaan untuk malu, sementara kebohongan sudah merupak virus mematikan yang menguasai bangsa kita sekarang. ketika saya menuliskan artikel-artikel ini, saya tidak menduga bahwa dewasa ini pun kita masih tetap mengalami hal yang sama, atau setidak-tidaknya mirip.

Kita berharap bangsa kita akan segera sembuh dari berbagai penyakit memalukan ini. hanya dengan demikianlah kita bisa melanjutkan perjalanan ziarah kita ke masa depan. Kalau tidak kita akan menjadi bangsa yang gagal.

This book was written as a dissertation for Ph.D’s program at Department of Religious Studies, School of Social Inquiry, Faculty of Arts, Deakin University, Australia. For this dissertation the writer got The Isi Liebler Prize for advicing religious tolerance.

The Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have so far been known and understood openly, comprehensively, limited only to certain levels. What and how the actual relations of the three religions are and what the meaning of these relations is in the context of religions on a worldwide scale have still not been understood by many people. Specifically in the context of Indonesia, the real understanding of the relation of these religions have still been extremely vague. Still so many people consider Judaism as the precisely the same as Christianity, so that they easily consider these two religions identical, whereas they are different. Judaism is different from Christianity, and vice versa.

This short of understanding exists, not only in the level of common people, but also in a part of the level of theological intellectuals, the theologists. This incorrect and wrong understanding needs to be straightened, and the right understanding needs to be socialized. Apparently these three religions are wealthy of their own perspective for the discourses developing in the society at the moment, i.e: plurality, identity, and gender. There must be much more wealth that is owned by each of these three religions, that is related one another, according to the connection of their histories, traditions, and religious lives. This book expresses the perspective meant with the hope that the understanding as well as the religion discourse of the readers are enriched.

Penulis: John Hick

Buku ini memaparkan konsep John Hick tentang pluralisme religius. Konsep ini merupakan tanggapan terhadap dua pandangan tentang relasi agama-agama, yakni eksklusivisme dan inklusivisme. Bagi Hick, setiap tradisi religius memiliki perbedaan, antara lain tentang realitas historis, transendensi dan konsep keselamatan. Setiap tradisi religius juga dibentuk oleh kebudayaan, pengalaman, pemikiran dan spiritualitas yang berbeda-beda, dan masing-masing itu baik, sejuah memberikan pengaruh moral dan spiritual bagi pengikutnya.

Sebagai seorang teolog Kristen, Hick memandang konsep tentang Putra Allah sebagai bahasa metaforis dan puitis, namun tradisi Kristen telah mengubah puisi ini menjadi prosa, akibatnya, yang bersifat metaforis itu telah berubah menjadi bersifat metafisis. Berkaitan dengan tradisi religius lain, Hick mengemukakan perubahan penting dalam pandangan orang Kristen yakni konsep Kristosentris yang berubah menjadi Teosentris. Dalam kerangka demikian ini orang Kristen dapat belajar dari tradisi-tradisi religius lain di seluruh dunia. Dalam konteks lebih luas, pluralisme religius memang menuntut adanya ruang untuk saling belajar dan bukan saling menyerang.

Kata Pengantar: Djohan Effendi.
xxii, 244 halaman
Institut DIAN/Interfidei, Cet. I, 2008
ISBN: 979-8726-35-4
Bahasa Indonesia

Diskriminasi di Sekeliling Kita: Negara, Politik Diskriminasi dan Multikulturalisme Istilah "diskriminasi" rupanya telah akrab di pendengaran kita. Keakraban tersebut kadang bermata dua, pada satu sisi menyadarkan kita ternyata di sekeliling kita masih ada ketimpangan dan ketidakadilan. Di sisi lain karena berbagai tindakan diskriminatif telah menjadi bagian dari habitus kita, hal itu membuat kita acuh tak acuh saat mendengarnya.