The challenge is to experience and express the Truth in more than one language, more than one culture, to allow Truth to shine forth without insisting upon a narrow cultural hegemony. Dialogue seems to be a subsidiary activity. Seeing that only we have the whole truth, the one revelation and the single volume of inspired Scriptures and that our doctrine must not be influenced let alone developed through the experience of dialogue, what remains of dialogue is pure tactic. Apparently, we dialogue in order that others come to understand and if possible accept the Truth as we know it. An alternative starting point would be a theology of dialogue.
Dialogue is an essential characteristic of our living and proclaiming.
In Asia dialogue is not one activity among many, it is an essential dimension and core characteristic of the whole of our life and doctrine. Both theologically and practically dialogue is the way we are Church. In bold humility the Asian Churches are continuing the practical and doctrinal task of living out and articulating who Jesus Christ is to the peoples of Asia in the context of other living faiths in the face of avaricious neo-capitalist globalisation and authoritarian, often brutal, regimes. In life and death situations what is needed is encouragement in the struggle against oppression and brutality. The implications of God s saving presence and revelation in other faith traditions needs ongoing dialogue among bishops, theologians and the wider Community.