Dialogue within myself
Wednesday, December 13th, 2006
Dialogue within myself
I really like reading Transcendence: Critical Realism and God by Margaret S. Archer, Andrew Collier and Douglas V. Porpora. If you open the first page of this book, you will found this sentence:
“… to hold beliefs means giving reason for doing so …”
In religious discussion, one will hold his/her religion. But one should realize that she/he will accept the consequence of doing discussion: conversion or firmness in their faith. This is what the three authors try to explain in the book, especially Porpora in his chapter, A propadeutic to a Propadeutic on Inter-Religious Dialogue. As the book said, the three authors are critical realists by philosophical position. They hope that philosophical debate can be conduct by preparing how to perform a good discussion.
People who found that pluralism is a way out to get some peace in religious life, tend to state as Richard Rorty said, truth is not important; what is important is ongoing discussion. Well, then why continue the discussion? In fact, what we look for? Useless things? I have the same belief with the three authors which said that, there is truth to be found out.
I remember about my last question, whether we should discuss about God or not in a discussion board. It is so easy for me to say that I can do that kind of dialogue, but not easy for me when I finally found out that somehow dialogue will able to brought one to convert into other religion. I’m not afraid if I have to convert to other religion because I found that my faith occupied my needs. So, there is no chance for me to do conversion. This insight guides me to display my thesis: If someone want to have dialogue, he/she should have faith (belief in something), knowledge (to defend their faith), and feeling of acceptance (in the condition of conversion and firmness their faith).
Sometime, I feel tired talking about this … It is so susceptible matter. I don’t like hurting someone point of view … though I did it in philosophically. But, Porpora drives me to move forward to continue the dialogue – perhaps, within myself.
December 9th, 2006
