Inter religious ecumena as a positive signal of healthy society

Keywords: Abrahamic ecumenism, World ethos, cooperation, media experience, otherness, prejudices

Abstract

The phenomenon of ecumenism is understood in a broader sense as an attempt of dialogue between Christians and non-Christian religions. We are talking about the so-called "big ecumenism". In this paper, we refer to it as the "Abraham ecumenism", and present it in a brief outline of the interrelationships of the three monotheistic religions. Also, in the practical part of the article we focus on the context of the "big ecumenism". The survey itself is conducted in a group of 52 high school students and its goal is to identify the problems of an individual in connection with communication with a person of another culture or religion and to identify solutions that respondents consider necessary and practically feasible. The survey shows that students are aware of their own shortcomings, which can be an obstacle to dialogue with people characterized by different cultures or religions. Respondents speak of a lack of self-confidence and practical or personal experience with "otherness". They also point to the problem of the dominant media experience with "otherness", which is ambiguous, as the media provide a rich source of information and at the same time create or deepen prejudices and stereotypes in society. According to the students, the solution is education focused on acquiring life skills, media literacy and critical thinking. In the context of social initiatives, according to the respondents, the solution may be to support initiatives aimed at the complete elimination of intolerance in society.

Author Biography

Hedviga Tkáčová, Catholic University of Ružomberk, Ružomberk, Slovak Republic

PhDr., ThDr., PhD., Department of Journalism, Catholic University of Ružomberk, Ružomberk, Slovak Republic

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Published
2022-11-04
How to Cite
Tkáčová, H. (2022). Inter religious ecumena as a positive signal of healthy society. IDEAS. PHILOSOPHICAL JOURNAL. SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC ISSUES, (1(19)-2(20), 88-102. https://doi.org/10.34017/1313-9703-2022-1(19)-2(20)-88-102