Meaningful interactions between competing world views

In today’s multimedia, highly connected, global community we are all too aware of a number of competing world views. At their core’s, they are almost all founded upon some kind of religious pretext. Christianity. Hinduism. Islam. Judaism. Each of these religions offer a completely different view of the world we live in and each offers a completely different context to almost every aspect of life. So, the question becomes, is it truly possible to have meaningful conversations and interactions between these competing world views?

At first glance, the answer would appear to be a resounding no. We need look no further than the Gaza strip, or even Northern Ireland in the 80’s and 90’s to see what can and does happen everyday when competing world views clash. Sadly, similar scenes play worldwide. They may not be as dramatic or as violent, but they play out none the less.

The problem appears to be that each party is attempting to enter in to the conversation from the context of their own religion. This clearly cannot work, because all to often there is a certain amount disagreement between the fundamental tenets of each religion that make it incompatible with the other. Even within the same religion, we have different factions competing with each other to establish themselves as “the truth” and so set the standard for the rest of the world to live by. So how do we approach this problem?

One the things that bothered me while I was “in the church” was that all conversations with “non-christians” included much quotation from the Bible. This practice, in my opinion, is USELESS! Why? Not only are we assuming that the person we’re talking to holds the Bible in the same esteem as we do, we are also assuming that they will interpret the Bible the same way we do. Imagine that conversation happening between a devout Christian and a devout Muslim, neither one willing to bend. Unless they can agree to disagree, the conversation will go nowhere quickly.

That brings us back to the point of this article. Is it possible to have meaningful interactions between competing world views? Answer: Yes! IF, each side is willing to approach the conversation from a neutral point of view. Are we likely to see that happen any time soon? Unfortunately, no. Treating our neighbors as we wish to be treated is not high on our priority lists these days.

I am hopeful that in time, we might see a world that doesn’t require us to close our borders to those around. When we might truly have a single, global community. Until that day, we can only hope that things never reach a boiling point – again.

Lest we forget…