T THEOLOGy In THE LIFE OF THE CHuRCH L Vol. 2 C 2 D e e p Churches are facing complex interreligious realities. These require e n a multidimensional approach that addresses theological as well i n as societal aspects. In this book, faith, hope and love are seen as g F three basic dimensions in interreligious encounters that can be a i constructively engaged and further deepened. Given this starting t h point, writers from different parts of the world develop theological , H reflections arising from their specific interreligious engagement o p and research. The intent of this book is to deepen commitment to e and theological discernment within interreligious relations. a n d Contributors include: Hazel O. Ayanga, Barbara Bürkert‑Engel, Paul S. L o Chung, Helene Egnell, Johannes Ehmann, Detlef Görrig, Anne Hege v e Grung, Göran Gunner, Risto Jukko, Emi Mase‑Hasegawa, Kristin i n Johnston Largen, Friedrich Schweitzer and Martin Lukito Sinaga. R e “The contributors provide valuable insights for theologians, la Deepening church leaders and all those who must engage theologically with t i o interreligious realities today.” n Rev. Dr Shanta Premawardhana, Director, Inter-religious Dialogue and Cooperation, s Faith, Hope and Love w World Council of Churches, Geneva, Switzerland. i t h in Relations The editor, Simone Sinn, is the theological associate in the Department for N e Theology and Studies, LWF, Switzerland. i g with Neighbors h b o r of Other Faiths s o f O t h e r F a i t h s The Lutheran World Federation 150, rte de Ferney CH‑1211 Geneva 2 Switzerland ISBn 978‑3‑905676‑60‑0 LWF The Lutheran World Federation – A Communion of Churches DTS-TLC02-Cover.indd 1 5/24/2011 3:33:09 PM DTS-Studies-201002-text.indd 10 02/03/2011 15:55:18 PM Deepening Faith, Hope and Love in Relations with Neighbors of Other Faiths Simone Sinn, Editor on behalf of The Lutheran World Federation DTS-TLC02.indd 1 31/01/2008 01:43:01 PM Deepening Faith, Hope and Love in Relations with Neighbors of Other Faiths Editorial assistance and layout: LWF-DTS Design: LWF-OCS Artwork on cover: LWF/OCS. Photos: © Nathalie Pahud-Briquet Copyright 2008 The Lutheran World Federation All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in articles or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior permission. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Lutheran World Federation Published by The Lutheran World Federation 150, rte de Ferney, PO Box 2100 CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland Printed in Switzerland by SRO Kundig ISBN 978-3-905676-60-0 DTS-TLC02.indd 2 31/01/2008 01:43:01 PM Contents 5 Foreword 7 Introduction Simone Sinn Lutheran–Muslim Relations: Past and Present 19 Martin Luther and Islam Johannes Ehmann 31 Christian–Muslim Dialogue in the North Elbian Evangelical Lutheran Church Detlef Görrig 37 Beyond Toleration. Toward Deeper Relationships with Muslims A Consultation Message to Churches of the Lutheran Communion (LWF) Societal Challenges for Interreligous Relations 47 A Long Road to the Neighbor. Notes from an Indonesian Christian Martin Lukito Sinaga 55 Hospitality in the Context of Interfaith Relations Hazel O. Ayanga 61 Interfaith Encounter in a Multireligious Society Göran Gunner Identity and Faith Formation 75 Children and Youth Growing up in the Presence of Many Faiths: Implications for Christian Education Friedrich Schweitzer DTS-TLC02.indd 3 31/01/2008 01:43:01 PM  Deepening Faith, Hope and Love in Relations with Neighbors of Other Faiths 85 Searching for Identity amid Neighbors of Other Faiths in Japan Emi Mase-Hasegawa Women in Interreligious Dialogue 97 Christian–Muslim Dialogue: A Gendered Arena. A Norwegian Experience Anne Hege Grung 103 The Discourse at the Margins: A Feminist Approach to Religious Plurality Helene Egnell Reimagining Salvation and Hope 111 Rethinking Salvation: Christian Soteriology in Light of Interfaith Dialogue Kristin Johnston Largen 129 When Abraham’s Children Leave Home. Toward a Dialogue of Hope Barbara Bürkert-Engel The Triune God in Interreligious Dialogue 147 The Doctrine of the Trinity and the Theology of Religions in Postmodern Society Risto Jukko 157 God’s Act of Saying: Trinitarian Self-Communication Paul S. Chung 175 Contributors DTS-TLC02.indd 4 31/01/2008 01:43:01 PM  Foreword In 2004, an overall initiative was begun by the Lutheran World Federation’s Department for Theology and Studies under the title, “Theology in the Life of Lutheran Churches: Revisiting Its Critical Role.” One of this program’s central objectives is to deepen and expand how theology is understood and pursued in relation to today’s pressing challenges in different contexts around the globe. Rather than just talking about theology, the overall intent has been to do constructive theological work in relation to those challenges. Seminars have gathered theologians in different parts of the world: in 2006 in Arusha, Tanzania, and in Breklum, Germany; in 2007 in Höör, Sweden, and in St Paul, USA. In 2008, seminars have been planned in Hong Kong, China, and in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. A concluding seminar will be held in 2009, in Augsburg, Germany. The first book in the Theology in the Life of the Church series, Being the Church in the Midst of Empire: Trinitarian Reflections, was published in late 2007. This second book in the series grew out of the seminar in Breklum, Germany, where the focus was on Christian–Muslim relations. Here, however, the set of authors and scope have been expanded to include theological reflections on interreligious relations in general. The Department for Theology and Studies has been addressing inter- faith relations since the mid 980s, with various studies, consultations and publications, most recently, Bridges instead of Walls. Christian–Muslim Interaction in Denmark, Indonesia and Nigeria.2 It is hoped that this new book will provoke Christians, as they pur- sue interreligious relationships today, to engage in deeper theological reflections, rather than assuming these are to be avoided. The editor, Rev. Simone Sinn, appropriately focuses on faith, hope and love as basic dimensions of our Christian identity. All three dimensions are at stake in interfaith relationships: Who is the God we believe in? How do we want to live together with our neighbors? What vision do we have for our society and for the future? She insists that, from a theological point of view, there needs to be an integrated perspective, where faith, hope and  Karen L. Bloomquist (ed.), Being the Church in the Midst of Empire: Trinitarian Reflections (Minneapolis: The Lutheran World Federation/Lutheran University Press, 2007). 2 Lissi Rasmussen (ed.), Bridges instead of Walls. Christian–Muslim Interaction in Denmark, Indonesia and Nigeria (Minneapolis: The Lutheran World Federation/Lutheran University Press, 2007). DTS-TLC02.indd 5 31/01/2008 01:43:02 PM  Deepening Faith, Hope and Love in Relations with Neighbors of Other Faiths love deepen and mutually enhance our interreligious relationships. The authors, writing from out of their own areas of concern and expertise, together indicate how the different aspects of this come alive and need to be pursued in various venues. May the writings here provoke your own further theological reflections and a deepening of relations with neighbors of other faiths. Karen L. Bloomquist Director Department for Theology and Studies The Lutheran World Federation DTS-TLC02.indd 6 31/01/2008 01:43:02 PM  Introduction Simone Sinn The quest for good interreligious relations Today, many churches are concerned to develop and deepen relations with people of other faiths and interreligious relations are a priority for churches at the local as well as the international level. Also in the public sphere, there is a general recognition that good interreligious relations are vital. This prominence and sense of urgency have an ambivalent ef- fect on the matter itself. On the one hand, interreligious relations are no longer subject to the expertise of a few committed persons and a growing number of people are becoming actively involved in dialogue processes. On the other, such prominence leads to a very heated atmosphere and people easily become nervous as they feel the need to find quick solu- tions to complex problems. While an increased public awareness of the importance of interreligious relations is desirable, some caution is necessary with regard to the accompanying haste and breathlessness. Building relationship among neighbors of different faiths is a long-term process that involves serious commitment and vision. In this process, we must first define what we actually mean when we speak of “good” interreligious relations. What are the criteria for such good rela- tions? In order to answer this, we might easily draw on other realms that are influential in the public sphere. In economic relations, a criterion for a good relationship would be profitability; in political relations, the criteria would be security and freedom. The economic and political aspects of interreligious relations are undeniable. Nevertheless, drawing primarily on these realms would be shortsighted. As we search for a criterion for good interreligious relations, we have to remain, first of all, within the religious realm proper and engage theological and ethical aspects of the notion of “good.” Peace and justice are concepts that might immediately spring to mind. Numerous interfaith events at all levels are dedicated to these themes and have considerably influenced interreligious efforts. A theme recently  For example, the Inter-Faith Action for Peace in Africa (IFAPA), see www.lutheranworld.org/ Special_Events/Peace_Summit/IFAPA-20050425.html DTS-TLC02.indd 7 31/01/2008 01:43:02 PM  Deepening Faith, Hope and Love in Relations with Neighbors of Other Faiths put forward by Muslim leaders was the concept of love of God and love of neighbor, which was developed as the key theme in their October 2007 statement, “A Common Word between Us and You.”2 This important docu- ment links scriptural, theological and ethical considerations with regard to Christian–Muslim relations and can be seen as a starting point for more in-depth hermeneutical, theological and ethical reflections. Faith, hope and love as the hallmarks of good relations This publication seeks to lift up the interrelatedness of faith, hope and love in interreligious relations. It argues that this interconnectedness is a hallmark of “good” relations between people of different faiths. Thus, one underlying assumption of this book is that interreligious relations are not primarily to be judged by the outcome, as is often the case in economic and political relations, but are guided and sustained by faith, hope and love. These three basic dimensions include the relationship to God, the relation- ship to the future we envisage in faith and the relationship to fellow human beings. These relationships need one another, they do not stand alone. Bringing together these three dimensions is an alternative to two popular positions. According to one, we have to concentrate on common ethical val- ues and joint social action as the unifying bond so that we do not get bogged down in divisive theological differences. This position is reminiscent of a slogan used by some in the ecumenical movement: service unites, doctrine divides. Another position maintains that since religions are irreconcilably different, interreligious cooperation that neglects theological differences takes place on highly precarious ground; thus, peaceful coexistence is recommended rather than engaging one another’s faith. Interreligious dialogue processes, however, have shown that neither of these positions holds true. From a theological point of view, there needs to be an integrated perspective, where faith, hope and love are mutually enhancing. 2 See www.acommonword.com  Aasulv Lande speaks about the interrelationship of truth-dialogues, social dialogues and an “ultimate” dialogue: “Truth dialogues and social dialogues thus work interactively and cannot actually be distinguished. They are, however, vulnerable and intermediate attempts to reach determinate aims. I therefore look for an ‘ultimate’ dialogue, one that fundamentally reflects human existence and connects us with the ultimate, with God. This is not a dialogue to obtain peace and truth; it is rather a dialogue which reveals ultimate peace and truth.” Aasulv Lande, “Dialogue, for Heaven’s sake,” in John O’Grady and Peter Scherle (eds), Ecumenics from the Rim. Explorations in Honour of John D’Arcy May (Münster: Lit, 2007), p. 46. DTS-TLC02.indd 8 31/01/2008 01:43:02 PM