Impact of Nostra Aetate on My Faith - Essay Example

due: Impact of “Nostra Aetate” on my faith The document “Nostra Aetate” is meant to promote the interreligious dialogue peace among world’s major religions for the good of mankind. Over time, there have been calls for unity between people of different faiths. This is with the aim of promoting world peace a phenomenon that is continuously elusive. It is important to note that religion has at times been the source of conflicts as it is evident today in the Central Africa Republic where the Christians are killing the Muslims in retaliation for the suffering they underwent under the Muslims when they forcefully clinched power (BBC paragraph two). “Nostra Aetate” enforces my belief in the Christian faith that seeks to accommodate other faiths and religions. It is living up to the spirit of the Gospels in John 17:21 “That they all may be one”. I cannot be more proud of my faith seeing that it extends a hand to others in order to seek understanding and by extension peace. This verse exalts us as Christians to fight for peace so that others can truly identify us with a father who is the source of all goodness. The question of divine revelation is present in all religions. From the Christian faith, Islam, Hinduism to all other shares this common characteristic. It sets them apart from other religions that do not claim divine revelation in their founding. This is the point of departure for interreligious dialogue knowing too well that their origin and base are inspired by a supreme being and not ordinary human beings out to advance their own ideologies and interests. Man is considered a mortal being in all these major religions (Valea Paragraph 3). He is portrayed as being powerful but limited in a sense and that is why he raises the state of the mortal person after the death. Though they differ in terms of the state of the afterlife it is evident that this is a common trait in all and it’s given a lot of weight. On the hand other hand, the Supreme Being is viewed as in immortal being and as a source of everything in existence. There is the essence of eternity in the Supreme Beings which make them be seen as being very powerful. The idea of the divine reality is very alive among believers of all major religions. There is the cultivation of a close relationship of human beings and the Supreme Being. Human beings engage at different levels in relating with the Supreme Being. The acknowledgement that there is a greater power than them has a sense of relief to them in that they are able to cast their doubts and worries. Valea in his article “The human condition in the world religions” acknowledges the presence of a supreme being. All religions address the issues of creation, life and death (Valea Paragraph 1) though each gives different perspectives it all comes down to a higher being in control of their lives. These beliefs are not different from what I hold. It makes me appreciate other religions and acknowledge the role they have in shaping society. Religions serve the purpose of inculcating morals in people. This is attributed to the concern of the Supreme Being and a goal to fellow man in carrying out daily duties. All believers regardless of their religion identify with the divine reality. Valea poses questions that the touch on the relationship of man and the Supreme Being. These questions are touching on the essence of being and invite us to think more of a relationship with the Supreme Being. This is seen in the belief that the Supreme Being transcends all other things. This is an aspect shared by all major religions of the world. Through this aspect, we get to understand the powerful nature of our God in the sense that all other faiths describe just as we do. Our interactions with others are solely based on religion. For our Christians, our greatest motivation in serving God is through love for God and neighbor. This is a commandment that Jesus gives so many times in the course of his ministry. He seems to summarize the Christian doctrine in one word “love." He challenges us in Mathew 22:36-40, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is as it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets”. It is every society’s wish to live in harmony. Religion ensures that people live peacefully by setting standards .for example, in the Christian faith we have the Ten Commandments that stipulate how people should live. The first three touch on the relationship with God during the other seven deals with the relationship among people. By following these set rules there can be peace but the continuous breaking of the rules usually leads to other problems. In our quest to live amicably with one another it is important to remember the words of St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians 13:4-8 which says “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.” He sets out virtues that should be espoused in order to live harmoniously which if followed will ensure peaceful coexistence. Jesus also emphasizes forgiveness which is a key aspect in any healthy society. The fact that an individual can forgive another and live together in harmony is of importance to us. This is stressed by Jesus himself when he taught his own disciples how to pray in the powerful prayer of our father in Mathews 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Forgiveness is a powerful tool that should be embraced by all. This is because it mends broken relationships and ensures that the trust is restored which is a very important element in relationships. St. Paul also encourages us to bear with others willingly. This calls us to put up with others even when they wrong us. It is a good way to avoid conflicts with others and also resolving differences once they occur. By doing this many problems, are tackled and avoided from getting out of hand. “Nostra Aetate” is a very rich document. It sets out the grounds for inter-religious dialogue which is at the core of all major religions. It outlines the similar characteristics which cut across all religions and positive aspects can be used to further understanding among people. It is simply answering to the call of the Gospels in reaching out to others. I am made more aware of the fact that I also need to play my part in making sure there is peace. My faith is deepened by seeing how alive the word of God is at work even in today’s world even in the midst of so many adversaries. The knowledge of other religions is important. It makes one appreciate and understand what other religions do. A sense of respect for others will not be founded on ignorance or untrue facts peddled usually by others but on facts about the religion. This enables one to engage positively with people of other faiths by having an outlook of where others are coming from. It’ll go a long way in exploring points of similarity that can move people towards achieving other goals in life. Works cited BBC. "Muslims in CAR face slaughter." http://www.bbc.com/. N.p., 1 Apr. 2014. Web. 25 Apr. 2014. . PROCLAIMED BY HIS HOLINESS, POPE PAUL VI. "Declaration on the Relation of the Church to non-christian religions - Nostra Aetate." http://www.vatican.va/. N.p., 28 Dec. 1965. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. . Nelson, Thomas. Holy Bible, New King James Version (NKJV). Thomas Nelson Inc, 2009.Print. Valea, Ernest. "The human condition in Hinduism." Comparative Religion. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. . Read More