I n t e r r e l i g i o u s Encounter was held i n t h e o u t s k i r t s o f !.luniZu under. Lhe spon- s o r s h i p o f t h e Nanzan I n s t i t u t e , drawing t o g e t h e r for the f i r s t time repre- s e n t a t

I

F O R I N T E R R E L I G I O U S E N C O U N T E R I N E A S T E R N A S I A

I

From March 4 t h t o I t h ,

1 9 8 2 ,

u Cmfererree o f Christicvr O r g ~ t z i m t i o r r s for.

I n t e r r e l i g i o u s Encounter was held i n t h e o u t s k i r t s o f !.luniZu under. Lhe spon- s o r s h i p o f t h e Nanzan I n s t i t u t e , drawing t o g e t h e r for the f i r s t time repre- s e n t a t i v e s o f

16

o r g a n z z a t i o n s frlom

8

c o u n t r i e s i n Eastern Asia.

The i d e a for t h e conference had been brewing for a couple o f years i n response t o t h e imbalance t h u t we -in Japan were f e e l i n g as our t i e s t o Emope and t h e United S t a t e s we12e y r o ~ ~ i n g strongerJ, 1d2iZe o w J t i e s t o Asiu were weak and unproductive. A f t e r seuerul months o f correspondence, we succeeded i n t r a c k i n g down a s i z a b l e number o f i n s t i t u t e s , c e n t e r s , and c o m i s s i o n s a l l dedicated t o t h e same g o a l s , each o f them responding en t h u s i a s t i c u l l y t o t h e c a l l f o r a meeting. Bringing t o g e t h e r people from t h r o ~ t g h o u t the whole o f Asia seemed too grand a s t e p t o begin w i t h ; and even i n r e s t r ~ i c t i n g i n v i ta t i o n s t o one s e c t i o n o f Asia , many s i g n i f i c n n t indiuidua l s carrly-L;ng on i n t e r r e l i g i o u s dialogue and r e s e a r c h without a supporfing o r g a n i z a t i o n behind them were i n p i n c i p l e excluded. Both d e c i s i o n s were d i f f i c u l t ones

t o make, b u t d i s t a n c e s and economics seemed t o r e q u i r e them. Almost a s an a f t e r t h o u g h t we dscided t o i n v i t e a r e p r e s e n t a t i z ~ e from t h e Federation of Asian Bishops ' Conferences

(I;'ABC),

and t o our embar~rassme~~t leilrrned t h a t an O f f i c e o f Ecumenical and l n t e w e l i g i o u s A f f a i r s had already been s e t up i n Taipei w i t h the expressed aim o r coordinating t h e i n t e r j ' u i t h e f y o ~ , t s o f t h e C a t h o l i c Church i n Asia. l'he head o f t h a t o j y i c e , Rev. A l b e r t Poulet- Mathis, n o t only agreed t o a t t e n d t h e Conference, bzit ~lelcomed the i n i l i a -

t i u e a s "a provident-icrl arrsiJez3 t o one o f our most earJnest wishes. "

The Raskob Founck~tion for C a t h o l i c A c t i v i t i e s i n t h e United S t a t e s w s approached w i t h t h e plan and generou5ly agyleed t o s p m a o r t h e Conference.

In t h i s wag a group o f s i x t e e n par+icipants ( s e e box or1 the following page) was assembled i n Taytay, R i z a l , u t t h e MaryhilZ RetreaL Center ri4n by t h e TmmacuZate Heart o f Mary Mission S o c i e t y (CICM).

The e n t i r e f i r s t day o f meetings was sperrt eschanging information, t h e various r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s a t t e m p t i n g t o o u t l i n e Lhe aims a ~ d a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e i r o r g u n i z a t i o n s , t h e problems t h e y face, t h e i r hopes for t h e futurae.

Along w i t h t h e v a s t amount o f doc~unentatiorr t h i s made u v a i l a b l e f o r t h e f i r s t

t i m e , a sporrtaneotis consensus o f tlre need for uo14.ing ~ o y e t h e r was formed.

P H I L l P P T N E S D o l o r e s S I K H

l ~ i s t i t l l t e of Oriental Religions and CuZtlrres

P e t e r GOWING

Dansa lan Neseareh Center

A d o l E o d e ~ 1 ~ 0 l . k

Past Asicln EJastorul I n s t i t u t e

MALAYSIA

----

+ A n t h o n y SELVANAYAGAM

~',:tlzoZic iri'asearvh Center

TA 1 WAN Y v e s LUGUIN

ti;cci

It::jtitlit€

for1 Chinese S t u d i e s T m t i t u i e

C J ~

East Asian S p i r i t u a l i t y

A l b e r t POULET-MATHIS

FABC

O f f i c e o f Eczmenical and I n t e r r e Z i y i o u s A f f a i r s

T H A I L A N D

M i c h a e l S e r i PHONGPHIT

7'ha-i Intz12r8e

l i

y-io~is Corrun-ission for Veve Zoptnent

I N D O N E S I A

M i c h a e l SASTKAPRATEDJA

Driyarkara I n s t i t u t e of Philosophy

HONG KONG S e b a s t i a n SHIN

Dioaesun Corrv~rission for' Non-Christian Religions

!la0 Fong Shun Ecumenical Centre

KOREA

--

K I M Sung-tlae

I n s

t h d e

J>OLI/J

TheoZogicuL Research

J A P A N

--

Raymond RENSON

Omkn:: Inc

t i l t l

t e fur Ite Zigious

re sear,::^

YUKI H i d e o

ACC

Ccnr el. f o r t h e Study of' Japanese keZigions

Thomas IkDIOOS

I n s t i t u t e for, OrientaZ Religions

J a n VAN BKAGT

J a n SWYNGE1)OUW J a m e s IlEISIG

flmzan 7 n s i i t u t e for Religion and Cultrtrle

The n e x t tw, days uerw given over t o a free d i s c u s s i o n of conunon uor4ing problems faced i n t h e c o n c r e t e o r g a n i z a t i o n o j' i n tez2r.e Ligious d i u Loguu, and u d e l i b e r a t e attempt t o urraizje u t s p e x i f l c prwposu"Z jbf'ol. c2osur. collulioral ion o i t h one another i n our1 corrunon a i m . 9'he f u l l r e p o i J t of t h e C o ~ ~ f e l m c e has been published i n t h e f i r s t i s s u e o f a new b u L l e t i n e n t i t l e d INl'EK.XELIGI0

(one o f t h e c o n c r e t e olitcornes of t h e s e m e e t i n g s ) . What f o l l o ~ d s below i s t h e l a s t t h i r d of t h a t r d p o r t , which we thought might be of' generu

L

i x t e r e s t t o t h e r~eaders of t h e Nan~arc BULLETIN. Copies o f t h e lorlger rJeport a r z a v a i l - a b l e upon r e q u e s t .

I s s u e s

T h a t n i g h t o n t h e v e r a n d a t h e g r o u p g a t h e r e d f o r a n o t h e r s e v e r a l h o u r s , t r y i n g t o d i g e s t t h e d a y ' s i n f o r m a t i o n b y t h i n k i n g o u t l o u d t o o n e a n o t h e r i n s m a l l e r c l u s t e r s . E v e n t u a l l y t h e c h a i r s t u r n e d t o f o r m a l a r g e c i r c l e a n d Rev. Gowing c a u g h t t h e mood. "1 h a d no i d e a t h e r e w a s s u c h a c t i v i t y g o i n g o n e l s e w h e r e . One g e t s s o b o g g e d down i n o n e ' s own 'show..

."

^And

f r o m t h e r e t h e d i s c u s s i o n t u r n e d t o conunon c o n c e r n s a n d i s s u e s w h i c h w e r e t o become c h e a g e n d a f o r t h e t ' o l l o w i n g d a y . R u n n i n g t h r o u g h o u t t h e con- v e r s a t i o n l i k e p o i n t a n d c o u n t e r p o i n t w e r e two c o n t r a s t i n g i n t e r e s t s : t h o s e c l o s e s t t o t h e o f f i c i a l C h u r c h e s w e r e c o n t i n u a l 1 . y c o m i n g b a c k t o t h e n e e d t o p r o m o t e t h e i d e a o f d i a l o g u e i t s e l f a n d t o f i n d ways t o t r a i n Cllurch l e a d - e r s f o r t h e s a s k , w h i l e t h o s e e n g a g e d i n t h e w o r k i t s e l f w e r e a n x i o u s t o d i s c u s s c o n c r e t e i s s u e s e n c o u n t e r e d i n d i a l o g u e . I n t h i s way o n e b y o n e t h e b i a s e s h i d d e n i l l t h e n o t i o n s o f " d i a l o g u e , " " i n t e r r e L i g i u u s , " " i n s t i t u t e , "

a n d e v e n " A s i a n " came up f o r c o n s i d e r a t i o n . The q u e s t i o n s w e r e not: ilew t o a n y o f t h o s e a s s e m b l . e d , b u t somehow t h e y s e e n r d tc t a k e o n a n u r g e n c y and a v i t a l i t y t h e r e w i t h s o olany i n d i v i d u a 1 . s f r o m s o many d l f t ' e r e n t s e t t h g s a l l e n g a g e d i n t h e s a m e g o a l s . E x l l a u s t i o n f r o m t h e d a y ' s w o r k g r a d u a l l y c l a i m e d i t s t o l l a n d t h e g r o u p t h i n n e d o u t , 1 . e a v i n g a f e w l a t e - o w 1 . s t o s o r t o u t a n a g e n d a f o r t h e n e x t m o r n i n g - w h i c h i t h a d a l r e a d y become b y Lhe t i m e t h e l a s t l i g h t s wenc o u t .

A f t e r a h e a r t y b r e a k f a s t t h e m e e t i n g s w e r e o n c e aga1.n u n d e r w a y . K e v s . Van B r a g t a n d Swyngedouw, who c o - c h a i r e d t h e d a y ' s d i s z u s s i o n s , b e g a n by o u t - l i n i n g a number o f m a j o r i s s u e s a n d e x p r e s s i n g t h e h o p e t h a t t h e t a l k s w o u l d l e a d t o c o n c r e t e p r o p o s a l s o n t h e f o l l o w i n g d a y . C o n d e n s i n g e i g h t h o u r s o f

t a p e s i n t o a few p a g e s i s e d i t i n g enough, and I w i l l n o t c o m p l i c a t e m a t t e r s f u r t h e r by imposing any o r d e r on them o t h e r t h a n L O t r a c e t h e flow of i d e a s a s t h e y emerged around t h e main q d e s t i o n s p u t f o r t h :

I .

I n t e r r e l i g i o u s dialogue i n Asia seems t o be c a r r i e d on l a r g e l y by non-Asians.

Ndt

o n l y t h e r e p o r t s o f the p ~ ~ e v i o u s day but t h e very com,ml,osilion of' t h e yr80up c o n f i ~ n i s th i s . I s dialogue i t s e l f ' an Asian concept? Might it n o t be tllczt t h e Western pre- f'erdence for a

" C ~ O C

des i d d e s " needs t o be rpplaced i n Asia by an v r i e n t n t i m t o a "corrciliatory a t t i t u r l a " ?

2 .

LhhZogue, c t l e a s t i n our area o f Asia, seems euerywhere t o be t h e i n i t i r l t i o e o f C h r i s t i a n s . Does this mean t k a t no need i s f e l t o u t s i d e o f t h e C h r i s t i a n community?

O r

per+~zps t h e need i s * present bz.+t, not uriticulated? Could it 5e t h a t t h e C h r i s t i a n c a l l for1 dialogue i s a l e s s s u b t l e but no l e s s aggrassive imposition than the straightforward preaching o f C h r i s t i a n i t y a s t h e s o l e

wuy

t o saZvation?

From a C h r i s t i a n p e r s p e c t i v e , i t was a g r e e d , d i a l o g u e i s i n d e e d a p r i o - r i t y and one t h a t b e l o n g s t o t h e v e r y n a t u r e of o u r b e l i e f , however l p n g i t h a s been i g n o r e d . One member mentioned t h a t i n p r o f e s s i n g f a i t h i n t h e D i - v i n e a s p e r s o n a l we commit o u r s e l v e s t o a n i n t e r p e r s o n a l a p p r o a c h t o r e l i g i o n , whereas t h e i m p e r s o n a l AbsoluLe common t o many Asian r e l i g i o n s d o e s n o t s o r e a d i l y make s u c h a demand. O t h e r s p o i n t e d o u t t h a t t h e c a l l t o d i a l o g u e a r i s e s from s o u r c e s o u t s i d e of t h e s p h e r e of r e l i g i o n , f o r c e s t h a t a r e c r e a t - i n g a g l o b a l community and sweeping r e l i g i o n s a l o n g i n t h e p r o c e s s w i l l y - n i l l y

.

One p o s i t i v e aspecL of t h e C h r i s t i a u i n i t i a t i v e can be s e e n i n J a p a n . F o r w h i l e i t i s t r u e t h a t J a p a n i s a world l e a d e r i n i n t e r r e l i g i o u s d i a l o g u e i n t h e WCRP and e l s e w h e r e , w i t h o u t a C h r i s t i a n p r e s e n c e t h e r e l i g i o n s of J a p a n seem t o l a c k Lhe m o t i v e t o t a l k w i t h one a n o t h e r . During t h e t r i p t o Europe w i t h t h e B u d d h i s t monks, many of t h e nionks a d m i t t e d t h a t i t was t h e f i r s t t i m e t h e y were t a l k i n g t o members of o t h e r s e c t s . The growth of t h e World F e d e r a t i o n of Euddhism i s n o t t o b e i g n o r e d , b u t t h e i r i n i t i a t i v e s re- p r e s e n t o n l y a s m a l l parL of t h e w i d e r p i c t u r e .

One c o m p l i c a t i n g f a c t o r i n a s s e s s i n g t h e r o l e o f C h r i s t i a n s i s t h a t i n l a n d s where t h e y a r e i n t h e m i n o r i t y , C h r i s t i a n s t e n d L O b e l o n g t o t h e m i d d l e c l a s s e s which g i v e s them a n a L u r d s u p e r i o r i t y and b e t t e r b a s e of o p e r a - t i o n s f o r dia:ogue. Even i f t h e s p i r i t of V a t i c a n I1 and WCC commitmen: S O

d i a l o g u e h a s o n l y b e e n weakly d p p r o p r l a t e d by C h r i s t i a n l e a d e r s , Lhey a r e i n a p r i v i l e g e d p o s i t i o n t o assume t h e l e a d e r s h i p . Another i s t l ~ a t C h r i s t - i a n t h i n k e r s i n A s i a who m i g h t b e l o o k e d t o f o r l e a d e r s h i p have by and l a r g e b e e n e d u c a t e d i n t h e West and c a r r y back w i t h them a g l e a t number of i n t e r - p r e t a t i v e models and o r g a n l z a t i o n d l i d e a s f o r e i g n t o t h e A s i a n r e a l i t y . The r e s u l t i s t h a t programs t h e y h e l p t o s t a f f and e s t a b l i s h do n o t b r e a k f r e e o f t h e d e p e n d e n c i e s t h a t h a v e p l a g u e d C h r i s t i a n e d u c a t i o n i n A s i a t h e s e many c e n t u r i e s .

A s o n e o f Lhe A s i a n members p o i n t e d o u t , t h e t r a n s l a t i o n of r e l i g i o u s r e a l i t i e s i n i o a c a d e m i c i s s u e s i s f a r more i m p o r t a n t For f o r e i g n e r s t h a n f o r t h e A s i a n s t h e m s e l v e s . One d o e s n o t f e e l t h e need t o do r e s e a r c h on o n e ' s own l i v e d i d e n t i t y s p o n t a n e o u s l y , and when t h a t need i s i n t r o d u c e d , i t c r e a t e s a f a l s e s e n s e of c u l t u r a l s u p e r i o r i t y i n t h e o u t s i d e r who w i t h v e r y l i t t l e e x p e r i e n c e a t a l l t a l k s much more " i n t e l l i g e n t l y 1 ' o f Llle r e l i g i o u s s e n s i t ~ v i t i e s of a g r o u p of p e o p l e t h a n t h e y c a n o f t h e m s e l v e s . I f this I n t u r n s p a r k s a s e n s e of i n f e r i o r i t y i n t h o s e who h a v e o n l y t r u s t e d their u n r e f l e c t i v e , c u l t u r a l i n s t i n c t s , t h e d i a l o g u e t h a t r e s u l t s c a n o n l y be a f a l s i f i c a t i o n o f l i f e . I n t h i s same r e g a r d m e n t i o n was mdde of t h e f a c t t h a t t h e d r i v e t o " d i a l o g u e 1 ' i s i n f a c t q u i t e a modern phenomenon, and n a t u r a l l y a t t r a c t s t o i t s e l f a l l t h e b i a s e s t h a t h o l d v e r b a l . , s y s t e m a t i c exchange a s of g r e a t e r v a l u e t h a n a c t u a l l i v e d e x p e r i e n c e . The f a c t t h a t W e s t e r n e r s i n t e r e s t e d i n d i a l o g u e b r i n g a n agenda t h a t i s backed up by a

f i n a n c i a l s e c u r i t y and a s t r o n g i n s t i t u t i o n a l conunitment c a n n o t b u t have a n i n t i m i d a t i n g , e f f e c t a l l i t s own. But t h e f a c t r e m a i n s : 1.ike p s y c h o l o g i - c a l t e s t s c r e a t e d i n Europe and a p p l i e d t o Asi.a, i n t e r r e l i g i o u s d i a l o g u e h a s n o t been imported t o A s i a a s a v a l u e - f r e e e x e r c i s e i n human conm~uni- c a t i o n . The s p i r i t o f t o l e r a n c e and i n t e r p e n e t r a t i o n and c o n c i l i a t i o n t h a t comes most n a t u r a l t o t h e A s i a n may o f f e n d t h e I k s t e r n s p i r i t of r i g h t e o u s - n e s s , b u t i t is t h e o n l y b a s e on which t o found a t r u l y A s i a n d i a l o g u e .

The f a c t t h a t C h r i s t i a n s a r e more e x p e r i e n c e d a t d i a l o g u e a s t h e y u n d e r - s t a n d i t f r e q u e n t l y c r e a t e s a s e n s e of i n e q u a l i t y i n t h o s e of o t h e r r e l i - g i o n s . Some h a v e s i m p l y withdrawn from t h e i n i t i a t i v e s o f t h e C h r i s t i a n s , whi-ch p r o v o k e s a s t i l l g r e a t e r s e n s e of u r g e n c y among t h e l a t t e r . Some h a v e j o i n e d w i t h o u t any c o n v i c t i o n t h a t t h e y m i g h t h a v e something t o l e a r n o r t o change b e c a u s e of t h e e x p e r i e n c e . I n e i t h e r c a s e , t h e a v o i d a n c e of c o n f r o n t a - t i o n may b e i o t e r e r p r e t e d by che C h r i s t i a n p a r t n e r a s a l a c k of c o n v i c t i o n , when j u s t a s o f t e n i t i s an a t t e m p t t o p r o t e c t c o n v i c t i o n s from t r i v i a l i z a t i o r ? .

I n s p i t e o f t h e niauy e x a m p l e s t h a t w e r e o f f e r e d i n i l l u s t r a t i o n , t h e p o i n t k e p t coming b a c k t h a t , when a l l i s s a i d a n d d o n e , d i a l o g u e r e m a i n s a b a s i c C h r i s t i a n conunltment. I f t h e V a t i c a n C o u n c i l h a s e n c o u r a g e d u s t o l i v e I n

t h e c o n t e x t o f w h a t i s t r u t h f u l a n d v a l u a b l e , w h e r e v e r i t may b e , o u r f a i l u r e s a t d i a l o g u e s h o u l d n o t c o i . p r o m i s e t h i s demand b u t r a t h e r r e m i n d u s o f t h e c u l t u r a l o v e r w e i g h t t h a t k e e p s u s f r o m r e a c h i n g t h e i d e a l o f t r u e C h r i s t i a n d i a l o g u e .

R e t u r n i n g t o o n e o f t h e t o p i c s t h a t h a d b e e n t a l k e d a b o u t t h e p r e v i o u s e v e n i n g , s e v e r a l members s p o k e o f t h e n e e d t o r e c o g n i z e t h a t t h e r o o t c a u s e s f o r c u r r e n t i n t e r e s t i n d i a l o g u e a r e n o t t o b e found i n o u r i n h e r i t e d

t h e o l o g i c a l a p p a r a t u s b u t i n phenomena t a k i n g p l a c e i n t h e s e c u l a r i z a t i o n o f c u l t u r e . Driven i n t o s i m i l a r p r e d i c a m e n t s o f l o s i n g t h e i r o n c e d o m i n q n t c u l t u r a l p o s i t i o n s and h a v i r i g t o s u r v i v e i n a p l u r a l i s t i c w o r l d , many r e l i - g i o n s h a v e n a t u r a l l y t a k e n t o t a l k i n g w i t h o n e a n o t h e r . W h i l e t h i s i s n o t e v e r y w h e r e t h e c a s e ( t h e Muslim-dominated c o u n t r i e s c a n b e c o n s i d e r e d a n e x c e p t i o n )

,

i t i s some t h i n g t h a t t r a n s c e n d s d i f f e r e n c e s o f E a s t a n d W e s t , N o r t h a n d S o u t h . T h i s i s s a i d n o t t o c a s t s k e p t i c i s m o v e r m o t i v a t i o n s f o r d i a l o g u e , buL t o a v o i d t h e d a n g e r s o f c o n f u s i n g c a u s e s wiLh e f f e c t s .

At t h i s p o i n L t h e c h a i r i n t r o d u c e d two more q u e s t i o n s :

3.

Even ~ z t h C h a i s t i a n domination o f the d i a l o g ~ t e , i t i s only a small rninor?ity i n t h e C h r i s t i a n c o m m n i t y t h a t f e e l t h e need for d i u l o g ~ l e a t a l l . As hud been s t a t e d sever*crZ t ~ r n e s , the Asian Bishops themselves do n o t a s a group show a fimn votronitment t o i t s 7mportanc?t?, and a t t h e gr3ass-roots l e v e l there s e e m t o be L i t t l e c a l l cornit~g fkom t h e L'htrches f o z ~ them t o t h i n k otherwise.

How deep i s t h e need j'or dialogue f e l t w i t h ~ n C i i r i s t i a n i t y ?

4 .

I s bhe a c t i v i t y i n dialogue going on aL pllesent merely a pavsing

fabhion t o which we might expect a t u c k l a s h and t h e n i t s disap- peLtrurwe !or

sotne

Llnirrg e l s e ?

P i c k i n g up t h e t o p i c o f r e l i g i o u s p l u r a l i s m o n c e a g a i n , o n e o f t h e g r o u p o f f e r e d t h e s o b e r i n g i m p r e s s l o u t h a t d i a l o g u e a n d ecumenism, i n s p i t e o f t h e i r c r i t i c a l f a c a d e , c a n e a s i l y become w a l l s t o p r o t e c t r e l i g i o u s t r u t h f r o m t h e h o s t i l i t i e s o f a s e c u l a r , s c i e n t i f i c s o c i e t y r a t h e r t h a n come t o g r i p s w i t h i t . I n a way, Lhe i n t e l l e c t u a l d i a l o g u e t h a t g o e s o n among a c a - d e m i c s o f v a r i o u s r e l i g i o n s 1s t h e s a f e s t p l a c e t o s t a n d , b u t i t i s a s t a n d - p o i n t r e s e r v e d f o r a v e r y few. l h e p o i n t o f a l l o w i n g d r a l o g u e t o f i l t e r down f r o m i t s a i r y h e i g h t s t o t h e l i v e d r e a l i t y o f r e l i g i o u s men and women i s n o t

m e r e l y i n o r d e r t h a t t h e r i c h e s o f i n s i g h t b e s h a r e d w i t h a l l , b u t a l s o i n o r d e r t h a t i t become a f u l . l y

h i s t o r 2 , k u l

r e a l i t y . The e x a m p l e was b x o u g h t up o f l i b e r a t i o n t h e o l o g y , w h i c h h a s o f t e n b e e n a c c u s e d o f m e r e l y i m p o r t i n g i d e a s f r o m E u r o p e a f t e r t h e y h a d o u t l i v e d t h e i r t i m e i n t h e i r p l a c e of: b i r t h . The f a c t i s t h a t t h e s e i d e a s w e r e p u t t o work i n p r a x i s i n t h e T h i r d W o r l d , and i t was t h i s p r a x i s t h a t g a v e them t h e i r d i s t i n c t i v e c h a r a c t e r . Soine- t h i n g l i k e t h i s m i g h t a s w e l l h a p p e n w i t h n o t i o n s o f d i a l o g u e i m p o r t e d f r o m a W e s t e r n e l i t e a n d s a v e i t f r o m becoming e i t h e r a t a c t i c o f s u r v i v a l o r a f o r e i g n i m p o s i t i o n .

At t h i s p o i n t t h e d i s c u s s i o u b r o k e o f f t o welcome A r c h b i s h o p M a r i a n o G a v i o l a , c h a i r m a n o f t h e FAHC, who had d r i v e n i n from L i p a t o a d d r e s s t h e a s s e m b l y . He e x p r e s s e d h i s g r a t i t u d e t o e a c h o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s r e p r e - s e n t e d f o r t h e work t h e y w e r e d o i n g a n d f o r t h e i r e f f o r t s t o come t o g e t h e r i n c l o s e r c o o p e r a t i o n . A t t h e same t i m e , h e a p o l o g i z e d f o r t h e a p p a r e n t n e g l e c t o n t h e p a r t o f t h e A s i a n h i e r a r c h y toward t h e i r w o r k , e x p l a i n i n g t h a t i t was f i r s t n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e B i s h o p s t h e m s e l v e s t o become a w a r e o f t h e p r o m i s e o f i n t e r r e l i g i o u s d i a l o g u e i n o r d e r t h a t t h e y m i g h t p r o m o t e i t o u t o f c o n v i c t i o n a t a l l l e v e l s o f C h u r c h l i f e . He w e n t on t o n o t e t h a t t h e s e e d s o f t h e Word h a v e b e e n s c a t t e r e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e g r e a t r e l i g i o n s o f t h e w o r l d a n d t h a t o n l y h o n e s t d i a l o g u e f a i t h f u l t o b e l i e f i n t h a t Word c a n h e l p

t o r e c o v e r them. T h i s may b e g i n w i t h common c o n c e r n s o f s o c i a l j u s t i c e and human d e v e l o p m e n t , b u t f r o m t h e r e i t must g o h i . g h e r , and d e e p e r , i n t o f a c i n g

common p o i n t s a n d d i f f e r e n c e s . T h i s becomes more n e c e s s a r y i n A s i a b e c a u s e b e f o r e t h e a d v e n t o f Mao T s e - t u n g A s i a was c a l c u l a t e d t o h a v e b e e n 9% C h r i s t -

t i a n , w h i l e now t h e f i g u r e i s c l o s e r t o 3 % . We n e e d t o Eind new ways t o r e c o v e r t h e g r o u n d we h a v e l o s t , A r c h b i s h o p G a v i o l a u r g e d . "We d u n o t ques- t i o n o r condemn t h o s e who h a v e grown a t o u r e x p e n s e , b u t s h o u l d e m u l a t e them a n d t a k e them a s a n e x a m p l e o f r e a l m i s s i o n a r y work t o w a r d s o u r cormon God and F a t h e r . "

One o f t h e a s s e m b l y was q u i c k t o p i c k up t h e p r o b l e m and i t s r e l e v a n c e t o o u r d i s c u s s i o n s , n o t i n g c h a t t h e f a i l u r e of t h e Clrurchcs t o s u p p o r t d i a l o g u e , a t l e a s t t h e s o r t o f d i a l o g u e we w e r e t a l k i n g a b o u t , w i g h t b e t r a c e d b a c k t o a d i f f e r e n c e i n m o t i v a t i o n : n a m e l y , t h e i r g o a l o f c o n t i n u e d e x p a n s i o n f o r t h e C h u r c h e s , T h e WCC a n d t h e S e c r e t a r i a t f o r N o n - C h r i s t i a n s a r e b o t h con- v i n c e d o f t h e e n o r m o u s i m p o r t a n c e o f d i a l o g u e from a g l o b a l p e r s p e c t i v e . Rut t h e CCA and l o c a l B i s h o p s ' C o n f e r e n c e s h a v e done l l t t l e o r n o c h l n g . A s l o n g a s t h e g o a l i s t o " g i r d o u r s e l v e s " f o r t h e c l a s h w i t h o t h e r n o l e s s a g g r e s s i v e l y

o r i e n t e d m i s s i n n a r y r e l i g i o n s , t h e r e c a n b e n o d i a l o g u e i n t h e f u l l s e n s e o f t h e word. Whether -it is l ~ l s t o r y t h a t i s p u s h i n g u s t o g e t h e r , and w h a t e v e r word o r s e t o f t h e o r e t i c a l e x p l a n a t i o n s o n e may u s e t o s p e a k o f d i a l o g u e ,

l o o k i n g a t o u r s e l v e s ~ l l i ~ l l g h t h e e y e s o f o t h e r r e l i g i o n s c a n o n l y be a n en- r i c h m e n t i n t h e l o n g r u n . But t h i s r e q u i r e s of u s t h a t we l a y down o u r arms fro111 t h e b a t t l e f u r size and nu:~:bers t h a t h a s i n s p i red most m i s s i o n a r y work i n A s i a .

A t t h i s p o i n t one of t h e g r o u p o b s e r v e d t h a t altltough s u p p o r t by t h e Churches i s cc:i-tiii111y wel.come, t h o s e engaged i n d i a l o g u e o f t e n cannc>t a c t a s o f f i c i a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of t h e i r Churches. To do s o would r e s t r i c t d i a - l o g u e t o a n e x c h a n g e o f I n f o r m a t i o n . But d i a l o g u e i s a c r e a t i v e b u s i n e s s and Itas r u l e s o f i t s own which i n c l u d e t h e freedom t o experinrent w i t h new ways o f t l t i n k i a g . From t h e s i d e of t h e o f f i c i a l Chu.rches, t h o s e a c t u a l l y engaged i n d i a l o g u e may b e s e e n a s i n s t r u m e n t s o f Church p o l i c i e s and g o a l s ; b u t Eor t h o s e on t h e i n s i d e c o n s c i e n t i o u s r t e a s r e q u i r e s al.ms t h a t e x t e n d beyond t h e c o n c r e t e r e a l i t y o f t h e C h u r c h e s , i n t o a r e a s where t h e Churches have y e t t o t r e a d .

Two f u r t h e r q u e s t i o n s were t h e n posed f o r d i s c u s s i o n :

5.

Ciii~sn the w.ii!e var.iety of' s i t u a t i o n s i n Asia, i u the need for d-iL~logae pe~hups felt. more i n some countries bhan i n others?

PerSmps the s.ingle greatest factor hers s e e m

l;o

be the presence o r L:~SL'?WZ of

Mus

tinw , wi th whom dialogtre i s the most d i f f i c u l t .

6 .

Diuloyw, i n s p i t e of - i t s high i d e a l s , i s by no nteans exempt

jS~fi.utrr

sxpZoi.tation o r trraniptllation b y s t a t e or religious leaders

jbr~

their1 o m prestige or polil;ioal a i m . Wight not the wag we choose our pur.tners for d-ic*Zogue u l s o be a f f e c t e d here?

lie

~ % c t o i t h s been t.ke most i n s t i t u t i o n a l l y , economical Zy, cnd theore- -t.-lo;lZZy

^{i ; . ~} i d t i

lsirsil rleligious t~*aditiorzs t h a t have attracted the uttcnt-iuri of' the L'irristiun CIz~~mhes.

The f a c t t h a t a r i s e s most i m m e d i a t e l y o u t o f t h e i n f o r m a t i o n exchanged t h e p r e v i o u s J a y , i t was u o t e d , i s t h a t t h e c h o i c e of p a r t n e r s i s s e v e r e l y l i m i t e d by t h e facilities and s t r u c t u r e s s e t up f o r d i a l o g u e . \!here t h e emphasis i s on r e s e a r c h , r e l i g i o n s v i t h o u t a c o n s c i o u s l y d e v e l o p e d t h o u g h t s t r u c c u r e a r e of i n t e r e s t o n l y a s o b j e c t s o f s t u d y . O r a g a i n , i n a s i t u a t i o n a s d i f f i c u l t a s t h a t f a c e d w i t h the M~lslims, o n e r u n s t h e r i s k o f g a t h e r i n g a b o u t o n e s e l f

" s e l e c t d i a l o g l i e f r i e n d s " who h a v e enough s i m i l a r t r a i n i n g and e d u c a t i o n t o make discussic.w f r u i t f t ~ l , w h i l e t h e o v e r a l l e f f e c t would b e t o c u t o n e s e l f

o f f from t h e r e a l i t y of I s l a m . I f we l e a v e o u r s e l v e s f r e e t o c h o o s e , we i n v a r i a b l y c h o o s e o u r f r i e n d s . The q u e s t i o n t h e n becomes w h e t h e r i n s u c h dialogue-and t h i s e x t e n d s beyond t h e Muslim question-one h a s r e a l l y come i n t o u c h w i t h a n o t h e r r e l i g i o n o r o n l y c o n f i r m e d o n e ' s own e x p e c t a t i o n s . Those who j o i n h a n d s f o r common s o c i a l aims a r e o f t e n , i n t h i s s e n s e , c l o s e r t o r e a l d i a l o g u e e v e n i f d i f f e r e n c e s of f a i t h a r e a l l o w e d t o r e s t between t h e b r a c k e t s of t o l e r a n c e .

One o f t h e g r o u p s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e way around t h i s dilemma i s n o t t o widen o u r b a s e t o i n c l u d e d i a l o g u e a t a n e a r l y s t a g e w i t h f o l k r e l i g i o n s and p o p u l a r r e l i g i o s i t y , b u t t o deepen t h e c o n t a c t s we a l r e a d y h a v e i n p r e p a r a t i o n f o r s u c h e n c o u n t e r s a t a l a t e r cime. I n t h i s same v e i n i t was a l s o p o i n t e d o u t t h a t i n t h e same way t h a t C h r i s t i a n s engaged i n d i a l o g u e f e e l t h e need t o p r e s e n t a u n i f i e d f r o n t t o t h o s e o f o t h e r r e l i g i o n s who would o n l y b e c o n f u s e d by t h e s e e m i n g l y minor d i f f e r e n c e s t h a t h a v e s e p a r a t e d u s , t o n much emphasis on r e s p e c t i n g t h e d i f f e r e n c e s w i t h i n Buddhism o r I s l a m o r Hinduism and s o f o r t h from one c o u n t r y t o a n o t h e r o r one s e c t t o a n o t h e r may r e s u l t i n a n u n n e c e s s a r y s d a t t e r i n g oE a t t e n t i o n a t t o o e a r l y a s t a g e , and p r e v e n t a n y t h i n g of g e n e r a l s i g n i f i c a n c e from t a k i n g p l a c e .

S e v e r a l examples were o f f e r e d o f t h e ways i n which p o l i t i c a l manipula- t i o n o f i n t e r r e l i g i o u s m e e t i n g s c a n t a k e p l a c e w i t h o u t one n o t i c i n g what i s g o i n g on, t h u s i m p e r i l l i n g f u t u r e e f f o r t s a t d i a l o g u e . The main problem h e r e was coming up w i t h c r i t e r i a . I n t h e c a s e o f f i n a n c i n g , f o r e x a m p l e , i t was n o t e d t h a t t h e r e h a 8 been a r a t h e r l a x a t t i t u d e t a k e n towards t h e h e l p and p r o t e c t t o n o f t h e m a j o r r e l i g i o n s , w h e r e a s when a newer, theoretically weak, and p e r h a p s c u l t i s h r e l i g i o u s movement i n v i t e s o u r p a r t i c i p a t i o n some-

t h i n g w i t h i n u s r e c o i l s and c a l l s t h e i r money "bad." Whlle i t would b e n a i v e t o s u p p o s e t h a t f i n a n c i a l h e l p i s v a l u e - f r e e p h i l a n t h r o p y , on t h e o t h e r hand t h o s e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r d i s t r i b u t i n g f u n d s and p r o v i d i n g a s s i s t a n c e a r e o f t e n p o s s e s s e d of i n f o r m a t i o n and s t a n d p o i n t s w o r t h c a r e f u l a t t e n t i o n .

F i n a l l y t h e c h a i r t u r n e d t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e " i n s t i t u t e s " f o r d i a l o g u a : 7. !low

irrrportant a r e teaching and research i n s t i t u t e s

f o r

t h e ooeralZ

aims o f i n t e r ~ ~ ~ e l i g i o t t s encounter? What should t h e i r r o l e be?

To b e g i n t h e d i s c u s s i o n , i t was o b s e r v e d t h a t t h e g r o u p was composed o f i n d i - v i d u a l s c o n n e c t e d w i t h v a r i o u s forms of o r g a n i z a t i o n s , w h e r e a s a c t u a l a c a - demic i n s t i t u t e s i n v o l v i n g t h e j o i n t e f f o r t s of t h o s e from d i f f e r e n t f a i t h s a r e few. C l e a r l y t h e p l u r a l i t y o f models h a s t o b e c o u n t e d a s something p o s i t i v e , b u t s i n c e s e v e r a l o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s seemed c l e a r l y t o be a t a

p o i n t o f n ~ a k i n g c l w i c e s f o r a f u t u r e d i r e c t i o n , i t would seem i m p o r t a n t t o a s s e s s t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s o p e n .

The example o f t h e

Uansulm Research Ce?zter

was b r o u g h t up a s a model f o r a t r u l y i n t e r r t ~ l i g i o u s l y s t r u c c u r e d i n s t i t u t e , where n o t o n l y t h e work b u t t h e a c t u a l a d l n i n i s t r a t i o n was a s h a r e d v e n t u r e . Movements i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n were s a i d t o b e Caking p l a c e .in Korea. One member o f t h e gruup r a i s e d d o u b t s a b o u t t h i s form o f c o - s p o n s o r s h i p , f a v o r i n g c o o p e r a t i o n among o r g a n i z a t i o n s s p o n s o r e d s e p a r a t e l y by t h e v a r i o u s r e l i g i o n s o r C h u r c h e s . Keturni.ng t o an e a r l i e r t o p i c , t h e v i e w was e x p r e s s e d t h a t i f one d o e s rmt r e p r e s e n t one t r a d i t i o n a s a n i n s t i t u t e o r o r g a n i z a t i o n , d i a l o g u e c a n n o t b e e x p e c t e d t o go anywhere. 'I'he o p p o s i t e o p i . n i o n was t h e n e x p r e s s e d thii t a l t h o u g h o f f i- c i a 1 s t a t e i n e n t a of b e l i e f and p o l i c y a r e n o t u n i m p o r t a n t , t h e s t a n d p o i n t .' from which t h e y a r e made i s n o t t h a t o f d i a l o g u e b u t of c o n f e s s i o n of one t r a d i t i o n . 'l'his d o e s n o t mean however, a s someone e l s e was q u i c k t o p o i n t up, c h a t o n e d o e s n o t welcome t h e s u p p o r t of o n e ' s Church. "Sometimes 1 f e e l l i k e a a ~ o t h e r l e s s c h i . l . d , " ^Ilr went o n , "a l o n g , l o n g way from home."

The F A N ' S p l a n t o t r a i n " a n i m a t o r s f o r d i a l o g u e " was q u e s t i o n e d a t t h i s p o i n t a s s o r n e t t ~ i n g a r t i f i c i a l p r e c i s e l y b e c a u s e 1 t a t temprs t o m e l t , t h e s t a n d p o i n t o f d i a l o g u e i n t o Church p o l i c y . One l e a r n s d i a l o g u e , i t was s a i d , by doirrg i t , n o t by beiriy

trained

t o d o i t . I t t a k e s y e a r s t o be- come e v e n mi1dl.y s e n s i t i v e t o t h e f e e l i n g s of t h o s e from o t h e r r e l i g i o n s , and t h i s i s t h e o n l y r e a l t r a i n i n g t h a t c a n produce r e s u l t s . l l e r e a g a i n t h e q u e s t i o n was r a i s e d : What i f we t r a i n o u r s e l v e s l e g i o n s o f l e a d e r s f o r d i a l o g u e w h i l e t h e r e l i g i o n s we hope t o d i a l o g u e w i t h d o n o t undergo s i m i l a r t r a i n i n g ? Does t h i s not: c o n f i r m t h e s u s p i c i o n s of a new a g g r e s s i v i t y i n t h e C h u r c h e s ? N o n e t h e l e s s , t.he FABC aim co s e n s i t i z e p e o p l e i n t h e Asian Churches c a n b e s e e n a s s o n i e t l ~ i n g im p e r a t i v e t o t h e d i a l o g u e inasmuch a s i t s e r v e s t o c o u n t e r c u r r e n t a t t i t u d e s , t o h e l p Church l e a d e r s u n l e a r n models of b e i n g u ~ i s s i o n a r y t h a t p r o d u c e i n t e r r e l i . g i o u s f r i c t i o n . The Hishops o f I n d o n e s i a , i.t was n o t e d , f a v o r " e x p o s u r e " o r " t r a i n i n g " a t s p e c i f i c a l l y C h r i s t i a n cen- t e r s . O t h e r exanupJes o f t h i s were g i v e n , s u c h a s t h e l'aiz8 b r o t h e r s i n B a n g l a d e s h who b e g i n by l i v l n g among t h e M u s l l n ~ s b e f o r e chey l e a v e f o r more i n t e n s i v e t r a i n i n g . P e r h a p s t h e most i m p o r t a n t t h i n g h c r e , one oE t h e group summarized, was t h a t any p r e p a r a t i o n f o r d i a l o g u e h a s t o b e wary of redu- c i n g t h e rel.igi.on of o u e ' s p a r t n e r t o s o m e t h i n g t h a t c a n b e s t u d i e d a t second- hand w i t h o u t a c t u a l . 1 ~ e x p e r i e n c i n g i.ts v i t a l i t y t h r o u g h f i r s t h a n d d i s c i p l e - s h i p .

P r o p o s a l s

The f i n a l m e e t i n g s were g i v e n t o c o n s i d e r i n g c o n c r e t e ways i n which t h e v a r i o u s o r g a n i z a t i o n s a s s e m b l e d and t h e common i s s u e s t h a t c o n c e r n them m i g h t s u g g e s t c o l l a b o r a t i o n i n t h e f u t u r e . On t h e b a s i s o f t h e by now c o n v e n t i o n a l l a t e - n i g h t v e r a n d a d i s c u s s i o n of t h e p r e v i o u s e v e n i n g , s e v e r a l b r o a d a r e a s w e r e p r e s e n t e d t o f o c u s a t t e n t i o n , and t h e f o l l o w i n g p r o p o s a l s w e r e a r r i v e d a t :

1. The World C o u n c i l o f Churches i n c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e C h r i s t i a n C o u n c i l of Churches i n S i n g a p o r e h a s p u b l i s h e d a p r e l i m i n a r y c a t a l o g u e of i n t e r - r e l i g i o u s i n f o r m a t i o n f o r A s i a , b u t i t was f e l t t h a t s o m e t h i n g more d i - r e c t l y aimed a t d i s s e m i n a t i n g t h e i n f o r m a t i o n made a v a i l a b l e a t t h e p r e - s e n t c o n f e r e n c e was n e e d e d . The OEIA a g r e e d t o s e r v e a s a c l e a r i n g h o u s e f o r t h e d o c u m e n t a t i o n and t o p u b l i s h i t a s one o f t h e FABC Papers.

2 . I n a d d i t i o n , i t was f e l t t h a t a r e g u l a r b u l l e t i n f o r t h e exchange of i n - f o r m a t i o n m i g h t b e i n a u g u r a t e d , t o s e r v e a s a means o f k e e p i n g c o n t a c t w i t h o n e a n o t h e r , t o make new d o c u m e n t a t i o n a v a i l a b l e , a d t o s o l i c i t h e l p Eor one a n o t h e r ' s p r o g r a m s . S i n c e no s i n g l e o r g a n i z a t i o n r e p r e - s e n t e d a t t h e c o n f e r e n c e c o u l d b e e x p e c t e d t o t a k e t h i s upon i t s e l f i n i s o l a t i o n , t h e g r o u p d e c i d e d t o form i t s e l f i n t o a Netuork of C h r i s t i a n Organizations for I n t e r r e l i g i o u s Encounter i n Eastern Asia and t o p u b l i s h s u c h a b u l l e t i n t w i c e a y e a r . [The t i t l e f o r t h e b u l l e t i n , d e c i d e d sub- s e q u e n t t o t h e c o n f e r e n c e , i s t o b e INWR.HELIC;lO, and i t s f i r s t number s l a t e d f o r - s p r i n g o f 1 9 8 2 . ] The Nanzan Insti-tzrte a g r e e d t o assume t h e t a s k f o r a p e r i o d o f t h r e e y e a r s , a f t e r which i t would p a s s i n t o t h e h a n d s o f one of t h e o t h e r member o r g a n i z a t i o n s . The b u l l e t i n i s t o b e d i s -

t r i b u t e d t o a l l i n t e r e s t e d p a r t i e s , though i t w i l l r e m a i n p r i m a r i l y a n o r g a n of l i a i s o n f o r t h e Network.

3 . The group a g r e e d t o b e g i n e x c h a n g i n g j o u r n a l s and n e w s l e t t e r s w i t h one a n o t h e r and t o k e e p e v e r y o n e i n f o r m e d o f new p u b l i c a t i o n s t h a t c o u l d noc b e o f f e r e d g r a t i s . A t t h e same t i m e , t h o s e c e n t e r s t h a t h a v e more expe- r i e n c e w i t h p u b l i s h i n g e x p r e s s e d a w i l l i n g n e s s t o b e o f h e l p t o t h e o t h e r s . I n p a r t i c u l a r , t h e Nanzan I n s t i t u t e o f f e r e d t o r e v i e w m a t e r i a l r e l a t e d t o t h e d i a l o g u e between r e l i g i o n s E a s t and West f o r i t s E n g l i s h - l a n g u a g e s e r i e s o E Sttcdies i n Religion and CuZtrtre. The FABC Papers were a l s o announced a s a p o s s i b l e o u t l e t f o r i n f o r m a t i o n and i d e a s t h a t might

b e o f i n t e r e s t n o t o n l y t o A s i a b u t t o t h e West as w e l l .

4 . I n a d d i t i o n t o i n f o r m a t i o n on e d u c a t i o n a l p r o g r a m s t o b e g a t h e r e d f o r p u b l i c a t i o n b y t h e OE'LA a n d new i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t would b e r e p o r t e d i n t h e b u l l e t i n o f t h e N u t ~ o ~ k , t h e g r o u p e x p r e s s e d g e n e r a l i n t e r e s t i n s u p p o r t i n g t h e o n g o i n g a t t e m p t s o f t h e O E I A t o o r g a n i z e s e m i n a r s a n d c o n f e r e r ~ c e s f o r i n t e r r e l i g i o u s e n c o u n t e r . A s e r i e s O L h e l p f u l a n d de- t a i l e d p r o p o s a l s w e r e c i r c u l a t e d anlong t h e a s s e m b l y by Kev. P o u l e t - t i a t t i i s w i t h t h e r e q u e s t f o r c o o p e r a t i o n i n d r a w i n g up g u i d e l i n e s a n d s e r v i n g a s r a s e a r c l ~ c o n s u 1 t a n t . s i n t h e f u t u r e .

5 . The q u e s t i o n o f f u n d i n g I s a d m i t t e d l y a d i f f i c u l t o n e , b u t t h e g r o u p a g r e e d i n p r i n c i p l e t o a i d o n e a n o t h e r i n e s t a b l i s h i n g c o n t a c t s and p r o v i d i n g t h e n e c e s s a r y r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s .

6 . Aware o f t h e r e s t r i c t e d a r e a of A s i a t h a t : t h e N e t t ~ o r k r e p r e s e n t s , i t was p r o p o s e d L h a t t h o u g h t b e g i v e n t o s p o n s o r i n g a n o t h e r c o n f e r e n c e t o e x p a n d m e m b e r s h i p a n d c o n t i n u e what was b e g u n . No d e f i n i t e d a t e s w e r e s e t , b u t i t was a g r e e d t h a t t h e p a r t y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e b u l - l e t i n s e r v e a s a c o o r d i n a t i n g c e n t e r f o r c o n c r e t e p r o p o s a l s o n ch>s a n d o t h e r m a t t e r s r e l a t e d t o t h e ~ e ~ w 0 r . k .

The d a y ' s m e e t i n g s a d j o u r n e d t o t h e c h a p e l , a s t h e y h a d e q c h d a y , t h i s r i n ~ e f o r a C a t h o l i c s e r v i c e at: w h i c h Ilev. 'l'hon~as Lnunoos s p o k e o n t h e t h e n ~ r o f ' l ' r a n s f i p u r a t i o n . A t t l ~ e v e r y h o u r 11e was s t a n d i i ~ g b e f o r e u s a t che p u l - p i t , someone was b r e a k i n g i n t o h i s h o u s e i n 'l'okyo t o s c r o u n g e a b o u t f o r w h a t - e v e r t l ~ e r e w a s L O s c e a i . The r e t u r n t o t h e w o r l d w e h a d l e f t t o come r o M a n i l a may n o t h a v e b e e n s o g r e a t a s h o c k f o r t h e r e s t o f u s , b u t p e r h a p s i t s / i ~ i . t l d lrave b e e n . B a s k i n g i n t l ~ r s u n s h i n e alld b r i g l i t i d e a s uf T a y t a y w a s , a f t e r a l . 1 , p r e t t y f a r removed froni t h e f u t u r e m u s t o f t h e w o r l d i s d r e a m i n g a b o u t . l n t h e m i l i t a r y c e n t e r s o f t h e West p l a n s a r e b e i n g d i s c u s s e d , a n d g u i d e b o o k s p r e p a r e d , f o r s u r v i v a l a f t e r a n e x c h a ~ i g c o f n u c l e a r a t t a c k s . I n g r e a r a r e a s o f A s i a and A f r i c a m i l l i o n s w e r e w o n d e r i n g what t h e y m i g h t d o t o f e e d t h e m s e l v e s a n d t h e i r f a m i l i e s f o r Ule morrow. I n a few d a y s a n a l i g n u e n L o f a l l 9 p l a n e t s w i t h i n a 96O a r e a o n t h e same s i d e o f t h e s u n would o c c u r a n d a r e s p e c t e d I n d i a n a s t r o l o g e r was p r e d i c t i n g t h a t 1.0s A n g e l e s would b e s w a l l o w e d up i n t o t h e P a c i f i c O c e a n . P e r u v i a n " c o s n i o - b i o l o g i s t s " w e r e an-

n o u n c i n g t h a t hungry a n i m a l s would s t a l k t h e e a r t h and p r e y on humans. And a b o u t 60 k i l o m e t e r s t o t h e s o u t h of where we were g a t h e r e d , C a s i a n o N a s a i r e , a 65 y e a r o l d j e w e l e r who had had a v i s i o n from God t h a t t h e aligntnent would b r i n g doom on t h e w o r l d , was h e l p i n g some 4 , 0 0 0 p e o p l e of h i s Ako s e c t , a l l f i t t e d o u t w i t h a m e d a l i o n i n s c r i b e d w i t h t h e 9 p l a n e t s , t o b a r r i c a d e thein- s e l v e s a g a i n s t t h e b o u l d e r s t h a t would r a i n down on t h e e a r t h and t h e snows t h a t would c o v e r t h e P h i l i p p i n e s .

The c o n t r a s t o f a l l c h e s e f u t u r e v i s i o n s of h o r r o r , b e t h e y s o p h i s t i c a t e d (one c a n h a r d l y s a y " c i v i l i z e d " ) o r p r i m i t i v e , may be l e s s i m p o r t a n t t h a n t h e i r s i m i l a r i t y . F o r w h e t h e r Lhe d i s a s t e r be of d i v i n e i n t e r v e n t i o n , a s t r o - l o g i c a l c h a n c e , consumer g l u t t o n y , o r t e c h n o l o g i c a l s t u p i d i t y , t h e a n t i c i - paced r e s u l t s a r e a l l p r e t t y much t h e same. When l o o k e d a t from t h a t p e r - s p e c t i v e , t h e e f f o r t and t h e t i m e s p e n t on j u g g l i n g o n e ' s k a l e i d o s c o p e of f a v o r i t e i d e a s a t a c o n f e r e n c e on r e l i g i o n l o o k s p r e t t y s i l l y . The l e s s o n s t h a t t h e g r e a t r e l i g i o n s o f t h e w o r l d o u g h t t o h a v e t a u g h t humanity b u t c o u l d n o t b e g i n t o ' l o o k s o f m p o r t a n t now t h a t

i o

would a l m o s t seem a s i f we c o u l d do no b e t t e r t h a n t o hand o u r e v e r y hope o v e r t o t h e most s e n s i b l e i d e o l o g y , and t u r n o u r e f f o r t s i n t o b a r r i c a d i n g t h e r a c e a g a i n s t i t s own d e s t r u c t i v e i n s t i n c t s . I t would, i n d e e d . I f we d i d n o t b e l i e v e i n a S p i r i t whose

rhythms t r a n s c e n d t h e w i n d s of h i s t o r y , i n a h e a l i n g Word t h a t s p e a k s i ~ s e l f e t e r n a l l y i n c o u n t l e s s ways and w a i t s o n l y t o b e l i s t e n e d t o .

J . W . H e i s i g