Introduction
Peter Phan in his book has welcomed all the diverse readers across the world to embrace elegance in religious pluralism all the time even at the period of postmodernism. Peter Phan himself is a theologian and subscribes to the catholic faith and he has highlighted many social and spiritual teachings that incorporate all religious pluralism. The book has indicated that religion should take into practice the intellectual, interpersonal, and cross-cultural fundamentals. This should be enriched with the untiring dedication to social justice and deliverance of the underprivileged.
Main body
The book indicates that religious pluralism and the acceptance of uncertainty are fundamental in getting closer to God. Postmodern possibilities of knowledge are all realist through all the means which are required in a means to embrace all the opportunities which are grace fulfilling. The faith and the different beliefs which we come across are fundamental in getting closer to God. Phan has appealed to us to apply all these concepts at the communal and individual level as we strive to be celestial in the acknowledgment of all the credentials of Vatican II and all the teachings in the church.
We should be respectful to grace and the heavens across the religious divide. People should be willing to embrace dialogue in a manner of comradeship and reciprocated esteem. There is a need for us to pay attention to the negative options of colonialism, regression, and religious violence and be able to have a ceasefire in synchronization with all the faithful.
Phan indicated that people of the current generation have become wise fools as they are after wisdom instead of the intellectual hegemony. There is a need for all people to utilize their religious values and way of living and fully utilize them first before expecting it to be done by others. Dialogue is very important in embracing and understanding our own beliefs. Phan indicates that people should love their traditions by having the self-driven urge to evaluate fundamentals. He indicated that people can be committed to various kinds of religions since what is observed and believed in are not to the contrary of the personal objectives and beliefs. Phan indicates that the Catholics have Jesus Christ as their focus personality and teachings. This has been indicated to be communally beneficial symbiosis which promotes reunion and acts of fairness other than syncretism.
There is also deliberation of the association of all the various types of interreligious dialogue across the regions in the world. Phan has indicated that the Asian type of religion is the best as a role model to others in the dialogue and the synchronization of harmony. This should be seen in all the regions and cultures in the world. Phan has highlighted that the interlocutors should be utilized in arriving at concrete differentiation of the distinctive initiators of the religion and the teachings against the traditions of the religious congregations which surround the teachings. To adore the church is making it an idol. Phan continued to indicate that the poor should not be ignored but should be liberated by all the religious dialogues. He dedicates fresh requests to all the people of the world to identify anti-Semitism in all the churches and across the world. He indicates that the Holocaust and many other cases of human genocide to be the main matters of theological manifestation and the interreligious dialogue for the modern-day. Phan has indicated that the Judaism and the Vatican II establishment of Catholicism is the best way and should be appreciated since they are also available to other denominations.
There is an indication in the last 3 chapters of the effects of worshipping in the modern days. This is in the perspective of inculturation and dialogue. This is mainly focused on Catholicism and many other religious customs. Phan indicates that the surface inculturation is superficial and fruitless. He further notes that the reader should be advised to concentrate on the widespread religiosity to be one of the detailed inculturations. He indicates inculturation as the distribution of authority and the poor in this scenario cannot be eliminated but they have to be made influential and changed as well in this process (Phan 203).
Conclusion
Phan has concluded by indicating a reflection on Rahner’s theology. This is the liturgy of the world which emphasizes that it’s in dialogue with life. This also has been indicated to be flowing from it instead of the opposite happening. This means that inculturation should also be one of the dialogues which flow from the lives of people. This should also include the common understanding of the way of people and their transcendent and divine. Phan has justified that unity in the diverse religious background is quite important in the quest for one stand. He indicates that the dialogue and inculturations are in danger at the same time over the violence and the religious rhetoric even though they are both vital.
Works cited
Phan, Peter C. Being religious interreligiously: Asian perspectives on interfaith dialogue. New York: Orbis Books, 2004.