Salvation for the nations. Inculturation, multiculturalism & interculturality in Christian perspective
Right after New Year’s Eve, from the 2nd to the 5th of January 2024, the third winter trip of fides et cultura, at this time already organized as a foundation, took place in Łódź, Poland. The International Winter Forum of this year, entitled “Salvation for the nations. Inculturation, multiculturalism & interculturality in Christian perspective”, can be seen as a continuation of the one organized 2022 in Lublin.
The Winter Forum which took place in 2022 in Lublin, one of the most important centers of Jewish culture in Poland, thematized the concept of “Chosen people” with special regard to the work of Joseph Ratzinger in this context. It focused on questions concerning who belongs to the Chosen people, what is its history, and what are the commonalties between Jews and Christians. This way, the Jewish-Christian roots were placed in the center of the Forum and in consequence also of the Jewish-Christian relationship itself.
This year the subject matter was rather broader, build upon the content discussed in Lublin: The debate’s focus was no longer (only) on the relationship of the Catholic Church – in its institutional as well as individual dimension – to Judaism, but on its relationship to all religions, churches and ecclesial communities. Discussed were not (only) meaning, forms and instruments of the dialogue with “the older brothers in faith”, but of the whole inter- and intra-religious dialogue and its place in the Church’s evangelizing mission. How could and should this dialogue be led having in mind the Catholic Church’s claim of universality of salvation based upon the dogma of the inseparable unity of Christ, the Kingdom of God and the Church? How can this claim be brought together with the fact, that there could be – sometimes even big – parts of the Truth found outside the Roman Catholic Church in other religions, in other Churches and denominations found?
To help finding answers to these questions, two lectures of the key-speaker, fr Prof Achim Buckenmaier, were hold during the Forum. He showed that the Christian perspective on the topics mentioned is very closely linked to the understanding of the biblical concept of the “people of God” respectively the “chosen people” – the central topoi of the Forum held in 2022. To choose in this context means – quite a bit counterintuitive – not a singular act made by God, but a bidirectional process of speaking (God) and hearing (mankind), followed by a forward movement of the last caused by the impulse of what was heard. To choose is – accordingly to this meaning – not an action of ex-, but of inclusion addressing everyone. Correspondingly, the uniqueness of the Catholic Church in salvatory perspective is not an exclusionary one, asserting to be the only way, but a hint pointing to the uniqueness of God’s instruction through a unique life. Before this context, having a Christian perspective in today’s pluralism of pluralities – plurality of religions, cultures and beliefs systems – is to measure them “by the standard of ethos set by revelation, as found in Israel and the Church”, referred so fr Prof Buckenmaier. “Christians do not help religions and cultures by criticizing and distancing themselves. Every age has its own aids to understanding faith.”
This invitation to dialogue and, especially, personal encounter, issued during his lectures at the first day of the Forum by fr Prof Buckenmaier, was programmatic for the following days during which use was of cultural richness of the venue. The Forum was held at Uroczysko Porszewice, a conference center near to Łódź, the so-of called city of four cultures. This name refers to the four nations, which have influenced the city’s history first and foremost during the time of industrialization: German, Jewish, Polish and Russian. In this period Łódź became the most important location for the textile industry in Poland and regarded as the “Manchester of Poland”. The city became, and still is, famous for being a place of inter-relgious dialogue and ecumenism long before these terms have become commonly known. So, a visit of the Evangelical parish of the Augsburg Confession St. Matthew including a meeting with the pastor Michał Makula as well as of the rabbi Dawid Szychowski at Jewish Community Centre in Łódź were as well part of the Forum’s program.
Both meetings were characterized by an extremely lively discussion based on mutual interest and guided by questions about the special features of the respective faith, its essential characteristics, but also the self-image and the everyday life of the believers. True to the motto Cooperatores veritatis, the participants did not shy away from a lively debate that uncovered and afterwards sought to understand differences, while at the same time focusing above all on the dialogue itself and the elaboration of common ground.
Also, the second part of the foundation’s name cultura was not forgotten. Two museum visits took place, one of the Museum of Cinematography (as in Łódź most of Poland’s films are produced) as well as of the Museum of the Herbst Palace, a department of the Museum of Art in Łódź. There has been the possibility to join a common trip to the former Poznański textile factory, reopened 2016 as Manufaktura, one of the Poland’s largest shopping and experience center, which ended up in a nice Irish pub at the famous Piotrowska street, one of the longest shopping streets in Europe. There was also time for an international carol singing session as well as for a cozy evening in a Czech restaurant in Łódź.
So, all in all the Forum has been some days in full balance between daily celebrating of Holy Mass, gathering knowledge, making new cultural experiences and simply having a good time with great people and great food.
Hence, do not hesitate to join our next Winter Forum next year! Subscribe to the newsletter and stay informed!
