| dc.description.abstract | The present investigation aims to highlight the experiences of fraternity and
interreligious dialogue in the Focolare Movement, in order to appreciate the forms
and methodologies of dialogue experienced by them, as well as the fruits,
obstacles and challenges that the dialogical relationship raises and the
overcoming possibilities using the fraternity principle. The Focolare Movement
was born within the Catholic Church during World War II and has as its charism
unity and universal fraternity. It works to build a world united to ut omnes, that is,
“all one”, with dialogue as a starting point. For the good progress of our research,
we first entered the discussion of the construction of dialogue, the recognition of
intersubjectivity and the sense of interdependence, in this way we analyze the
etymology of the dialogue as well as the contribution of authors who address the
theme, showing fundamental aspects to the establishment of the dialogue,
namely: reciprocity, intersubjectivity and silence. Then, we investigate
interreligious dialogue and its importance in contemporary society, as well as its
foundations, dynamism, rights and responsibilities. Subsequently, we entered the
documents of the Catholic Church, conciliar and post-conciliar, which promote
and encourage interreligious dialogue throughout history, understanding them as
important not only for Christian Catholics, but for the changing world. Then we
highlight and deepen the essential concepts of fraternity as an indispensable
condition for interreligious dialogue, as well as the effects of fraternity on religion.
Being essential for the investigation of interreligious dialogue in the Focolare
Movement as a result of the experience of the charism, the method par
excellence, and the various dialogues enhanced by this spirituality. We
concluded our investigation with presentation and analysis of the data obtained
in the interviews with members of the Focolare Movement, which were essential
in discovering the most genuine contributions of this Catholic Movement to
dialogue in the current world, which are the concrete actions of fraternity, a
dialogue built with life. Our methodological path took place through documentary
research considering the bibliographic production mainly of the official documents
of the Catholic Church and doctrines that faced this theme. The theoretical
investigation provided an epistemological review in order to deepen and obtain
necessary subsidies for the construction of the research. Finally, we conducted
semi-structured interviews with members of the Focolare Movement, to analyze
the interviews we used the content analysis methodology. We conclude that the
fraternity experienced in the Focolare Movement provides an authentic and
effective interreligious dialogue based on love, without proselytism and without
giving up the freedom and autonomy of each human being. | |
