Description:
I will touch on two issues in this paper: first, the meaning and ambiguity of the word ‘dialogue’ and how it has caused problems in actual interreligious ‘dialogue’ with Islam; and second, and more substantially, I shall offer some thoughts on the doctrinal achievements of Ecclesiam Suam and the Council’s teachings on Islam and some subsequent developments. This is because I am convinced that the doctrinal achievements are central for mapping out the future possibilities of Catholic-Muslim dialogue. There are of course many other topics that one could speak of in Catholic-Muslim relations: most importantly the richness of spiritual exchange between these traditions;1 or sadly, the murdering of each other in some parts of the world, or the denial of free practice of religion by Muslims towards Catholics and Christians in parts of the world, or happily, the remarkable socio-political cooperation between Catholics and Muslims when faced with pressing and often tragic social problems. But I will focus on the theological-doctrinal issues for the reason given.