In an age of division, the federal Parliamentary Interfaith Breakfast offers a space for respectful dialogue, writes Zlatko Skrbis. Source: ACU.
For anyone who is even mildly engaged in politics and social issues, it’s hard to escape the sense that polarisation poses a harmful threat to our society. The divide seems to deepen daily – between cultures, between religious groups, between political tribes, even between neighbours.
The news media thrives on opinions, negativity and conflict. Algorithms amplify outrage over understanding. Public discourse too often feels like a zero-sum game, where compromise is seen as a sign of weakness or self-doubt.
The data tells part of the story. Research shows that social and political polarisation has reached levels not seen in generations. But the numbers alone can’t capture what many of us feel: a sense that we’re losing the capacity to talk to people who see the world differently, to find common ground with those whose beliefs and perspectives challenge our own.
For more than a decade, ACU has hosted an annual event that aims to create a space for open, respectful dialogue. Our federal Parliamentary Interfaith Breakfast brings together religious leaders, parliamentarians and community representatives in the spirit of tolerance and mutual respect.
Interfaith breakfasts of this type exist around the world, involving both politicians and leaders of faith communities. The format is deliberately simple: break bread together, listen to the perspectives being offered, share something from your own tradition, and most importantly, talk to a stranger at your table. Introduce yourself. Explore differences. Embrace similarities. Trust in the process of listening and dialogue.
In the Catholic context, the foundation of such events lies in a document proclaimed 60 years ago by Pope Paul VI.
Nostra Aetate – the Declaration on the Relation of the Church with Non-Christian Religions – transformed relations between Catholic communities and communities of other faiths.
As Pope Leo observed last month, at a commemoration of the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, authentic dialogue begins “in conviction – in the deep roots of our own belief that give us the strength to reach out to others in love”.
This is the paradox at the heart of Nostra Aetate: by standing firmly within our own traditions, we become capable of genuine encounter with others. For when you know who you are, you can afford to be generous. When your foundations are secure, you can build bridges.
Zlatko Skrbis is Australian Catholic University Vice-Chancellor and President. This article first appeared in The Catholic Weekly.
FULL STOYR
