Hauptinhalt

The (im)possibility of Interfaith Dialogue in the Post-truth Age

Vortrag

Veranstaltungsdaten

The presentation explores the (im)possibilities, challenges, strategies and prospects of interfaith dialogue in the post-truth age. Conflicting truth claims constitute one of the major obstacles in establishing dialogue and rapprochement among believers. Some members of faith communities have an exclusivist view of the truth, which prevents them from respecting and embracing other truths. This would hinder the progress of interfaith ecumenism. The rise of post-truth poses additional challenges to the progress of interfaith dialogue since it evaluates the truthfulness of information based on personal believability and inclinations. In the age of post-truth, societal fragmentation is amplified as there are polarised conceptions of truth. Some strategies can be undertaken in response to these challenges, such as nurturing empathy, compassion, and religious moderatism through formal and informal education. In addition, critical argumentation and civil dialogue within academia should be adopted for a larger society. This presentation argues that the prospects for interfaith dialogue in the post-truth age depend on the strength of civil society actors who can moderate the tension and polarisation within the society by maintaining civility either offline or online.

Vortrag in Kooperation mit dem LOEWE-Forschungsverbund "DynaRel".

Link für die Online-Teilnahme.

Vortragssprache: englisch

Prof. Dr. Asfa Widiyanto (Foto: privat)

Asfa Widiyanto is a Professor of Islamic thought at the State Islamic University (UIN) Salatiga, Indonesia. He obtained his doctorate from the University of Bonn and his master’s from Leiden University.  From 2011 until 2013, he undertook postdoctoral research at the University of Marburg and the University of Bamberg, which was sponsored by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Currently, he serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Indonesian Journal of Religion, Spirituality and Humanity (IJoReSH) and the Director of Graduate School of State Islamic University (UIN) Salatiga. Widiyanto’s latest monographs include Religious Authority and the Prospects for Religious Pluralism in Indonesia: The Role of Traditionalist Muslim Scholars; and Ritual and Leadership in the Subud Brotherhood and the Tariqa Qadiriyya wa Naqshbandiya. In addition, he has published a number of articles in peer-reviewed journals, for instance "The Prevention of Underage Marriage in Indonesia: State, Religious Authority and Human Rights”;  “Knowledge society versus post-truth society: The potential contribution of Indonesian Muslim knowledge culture“;  “From spiritual ecology to environmental governance: The ecological engagement of Sufi orders in Australia”; and “Sunni-Shia Ecumenism in Austria: A Model for Western Europe?” He can be reached via email: asfa.widiyanto@uinsalatiga.ac.id