Religious Diversity: Dialogue and Integration

Religion is one of the key institutions across the continents and has a significant role in its manifested beliefs and rituals cutting across the diverse faiths. The cultural metaphor of religion is not a mere manifestation, but a very significant part of human and community life. It does not alone have a role in our spiritual being but has significant ramifications in terms of social solidarity and social order as it tends to act as social glue, giving people's life purpose and meaning. There are increasing religious diversities being experienced in the face of increasing globalization which has posed more challenges to harmony and community integration because of identity assertions.

The countries with the heterogeneity religion-cultural landscapes are assuming more issues and challenges in the context of integration and communal brotherhood .The diverse faiths Judaism Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam etc; though differ in the sacred texts, worldview and rituals are en-rooted into the latent and manifested functions had to be respected as the Holy book of Quran in verse 109:6 ordains “That to you your religion and to me my religion”. Taking a thread from this verse there is no scope for hate and prejudice on the basis of faith. Societies from times immemorial have managed to live in harmony notwithstanding the en-rooted religious diversity such as India right from the ages. Of late the religious and ethnic intolerance is increasingly noticed which calls for an inter-religious dialogue in order to cement the differences.