The Need for a Hermeneutics of Tolerance, Mutual Respect and Peaceful Coexistence for a Healthy Christian-Muslim Relations

Abstract

Christian-Muslim relations in recent times have raised concerns the world over. There have been increments in polemics and prejudices. Although the root causes of many of these have been political, religion has often been used as a tool to manipulate sentiments and legitimatize the political and social agenda. The lack of a hermeneutics of tolerance, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence for Christian Mission and Muslim Da’wah activities continue to create the, ‘we’ and ‘them’, and the ‘majority’ versus ‘minority’ status. The challenge is to strive not only to nurture their separate learning in order to survive in the increasingly religiously pluralistic world but to find effective and more efficient ways to interact and collaborate across differences of faith and non-faith environments. This paper discusses the need for hermeneutics of tolerance, peaceful coexistence and mutual respect between Christians and Muslims. It concludes that when Christians and Muslims come to an understanding of each other, it keeps out intruders like politicians who would want to manipulate their religion for political and economic benefits, remove religious barriers and create opportunities. This article contributes to the dialogue on religious tolerance and its importance in fostering societal growth and development. Keywords: Hermeneutics, Interfaith, Interreligious, Peaceful, Tolerance, Dialogue, Encounters, Christian-Muslim, Relations