SMITHFIELD — Christians have lived side by side with other religions since the days of pagan Rome.
The challenge for believers has always been witnessing to Christ and evangelizing while showing respect toward their non-believing neighbors, said Dr. Sandra Keating during a recent “Theology on Tap” presentation entitled "The Problem of Religious Diversity: What's a Catholic to Think?"
"When we think of the pluralistic society, we shouldn't look at the church amid a sea of darkness. We should look at the church as a sacrament in the world," said Keating, an associate professor of theology at Providence College. She has also been a consultor to the Vatican Commission for Religious Relations with Muslims. Keating told the audience of about two-dozen adults who attended the Nov. 9 Theology on Tap presentation at UNO Chicago Grill that the reality of living in a pluralistic society should encourage them to reflect on their own faith and determine why they believe in the Gospel.
Entering into dialogue with people of other religions is important, but Christians must also resist the temptation to fall into relativism or to be intimidated to compromise their beliefs in Jesus Christ.
"The question is really 'What should my relationship be with other religions? Adversarial? Witness? How do I present the Gospel?'" said Keating, who noted those were questions Christians faced in the first centuries after the Resurrection.
"We need to remember that from the very beginning, Christians have lived side by side with other religions," said Keating, who cited the Christian community in India as an example. Christians are still a minority in that mostly-Hindu country, which has forced them to reflect deeply on their faith and the reality of other religions.
Christians in India have come to see the pluralism of religions as a part of God's plan, even mirroring salvation history.
"It showed how God was working outside the church," said Keating, who quoted St. Justin Martyr, a second century philosopher who said the seed of the Word was sprinkled outside the church. She also recommended that Catholics read "Nostra Aetate," the Declaration on the Relation of the Church with Non-Christian Religions that came out of the Second Vatican Council.
John Berry, a parishioner at St. Mary Church in Providence, said he was struck by Keating's emphasis on the importance of witnessing to the faith while respecting other religious traditions.
"I don't think that our focus should be primarily on coercion, in the negative sense of the word, but rather that we should have an open attitude, especially towards Muslims and Jews because we have a faith tradition in common," Berry said.
The dilemma facing believers today who might have grown up in intact Catholic neighborhoods is figuring out who to enter into conversations with non-Christians.
Keating said the Catholic Church emphasizes dialogue and witnessing to the faith, with one aspect being more appropriate than the other in certain situations.
"We can use the encounter with other religions to deepen our own faith," she said.
"The negative side of pluralism is that it can be intimidating. Rather than entering into conversations and debating, we can decide to go along to get along or adopt a 'live and let live' mentality.' It can force us to be quiet about our beliefs."
Keating added that it is not Christian to coerce or force people to believe the faith. She said people often need to be drawn into it, especially by an authentic example of Christian holiness.
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