dialogue

Civilizing Conversations

Paula Marantz Cohen joins the podcast to discuss her new book, Talking Cure: An Essay on the Civilizing Power of Conversation. Continue Reading »

The G20 Gets Religion

The two days of discussions began with a frank acknowledgment that religion has all too often been a source of, or a pretext for, conflict in today’s increasingly interdependent world. Continue Reading »

Supersessionism Hard and Soft

Supersessionism describes the theological conviction that the Christian Church has superseded the Jewish people, assuming their role as God’s covenanted people, Israel. At first glance, supersessionism seems to be a core Christian belief, making any fruitful dialogue between Jews and Christians . . . . Continue Reading »

Evaluating the World’s Religions

Islam, Hinduism, Confucianism, and Buddhism deserve to be studied, not as geographic entities, but as products of religious insight. Continue Reading »

Christian Religion as Common Language

All religions today share a single, common “Ultimate” beyond them all—the set of ideas about God implied by Christian religiosity.  Continue Reading »

Can We Talk?

Conversations can be deep or shallow, casual or serious, but they invariably take place as an encounter between an “I” and a “thou.” Continue Reading »

Pope Francis, Erich Przywara, and the Idea of Europe

Last Friday, on May 6, Pope Francis was awarded the Charlemagne Prize, which is conferred annually by the city of Aachen, Germany, upon persons who in one way or another represent European ideals and contribute to European integration. The address Francis gave on the occasion is notable for a number . . . . Continue Reading »

Against Human Rights

The Christian roots of Europe: The phrase puts me off. It points to something true, yes, and contemporary Europe remains profoundly indebted to its Christian past. Even the transnational ambition of the European Union reflects the desire for a secularized Christendom. Brussels builds on the memory . . . . Continue Reading »

I Am the Very Model of a Modern Ultramontanist

I am the very model of a modern ultramontanist

I’ve been congratulated as an excellent dialogist

I have degrees from all the best colleges of theology

I do not know quite what it means but I reject ontology. . . . Continue Reading »

Francis in Sarajevo

On Saturday, June 6, Pope Francis ­visited Sarajevo, the ­capital of partitioned Bosnia-Hercegovina. Although treated by international media as a typical papal tour, the event strengthened the potential of the Croat Catholic hierarchy in Bosnia to serve as agents of peace and reconciliation. This . . . . Continue Reading »