5746(III)_Intercultural Dialogue as process of Inculturation

Missionary message for the 11th of December

By Fr. Alfred Maravilla SDB
General Councillor for Missions

RMG, 10 December 2021 -- More than the incarnation, it is the kenosis that reminds us what inculturation truly is: the Word became flesh so that we may brought back to God’s glory (Phil 2, 6-11).

An understanding of inculturation which presumes a cultureless faith that is transplanted into a religiously different culture whereby Christian faith and culture, formerly unknown to each other, meet and fuse is artificial and unrealistic. The Christian faith is lived by persons of a specific culture. In fact, there is no such thing as a cultureless Christianity nor a culture that is truly Christian. Similarly, no faith is devoid of culture and culture devoid of its religious belief. Inversely, Grace supposes culture, and God’s gift becomes flesh in the culture of those who receive it. (Evangelii Gaudium, 115). In fact, “a faith that does not become culture is not fully accepted, not entirely thought out, not faithfully lived” (John Paul II, 16 Jan. 1982).

Since culture and faith are intimately interwoven, to remove culture from whatever faith which begot it and transplant it into another faith is doing it violence to the core. On the other hand, as a human person journeys through time, new realities encountered bring about new insights. Thus, every culture progresses when it is open to an encounter and its own insight and values are transformed by such an encounter. On the contrary a culture that isolates itself from the dynamism of history dies.

It is in the process of interaction of cultures that their enriching and dehumanising elements expressed in their values and practices are revealed. Inculturation takes place through intercultural dialogue. Through this intercultural process of mutual enrichment and critical exchange cultures are stimulated to be open to the newness of the Gospel. Thus, the values and concepts of a culture are enriched broadening and deepening their horizons so that that society’s way of life, includes or at least not preclude, the ideals of the Gospel which gives meaning to human existence. It is in this process that we discern what is contrary to the Gospel and what is not.

In the multicultural and multireligious contexts of our EAO Region intercultural dialogue is a necessary dimension of our work of inculturating the Gospel.