Comments by Pope Benedict XVI indicate he believes theological divides may not be possible to overcome but that religious cultures can coexist, analysts say. The pope made the comments while writing about a forthcoming book by center-right Italian scholar Marcello Pera entitled, "Why We Must Call Ourselves Christian," saying it illustrated why "an interreligious dialogue in the strict sense of the word is not possible," The New York Times reported Monday.
In theological terms, "a true dialogue is not possible without putting one's faith in parentheses," Benedict added in comments that first appeared in the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
But he went on to emphasize that though core theological beliefs may not be reconcilable, "intercultural dialogue" was important and could lead to coexistence among rival faiths.
"(Benedict is) trying to get the Catholic-Islamic dialogue out of the clouds of theory and down to brass tacks: how can we know the truth about how we ought to live together justly, despite basic creedal differences?" George Weigel, a Catholic scholar and biographer of Pope John Paul II, has said.
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(Source: UPI)