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Muslim-Christian Dialogue : the approach of the White Fathers
Involved in the Muslim world since its foundation by Bishop Charles Lavigerie in 1868, the Society of Missionaries of Africa, whose members are known as the White Fathers, has contributed to the emergence of Christian-Muslim dialogue. And the White Fathers are still today in many places actors in these practices of dialogue and meetings with Muslims.
What does this external, Christian, often friendly view of Islam say about it? What does it say in particular about this other Muslim and about these other Muslims? For in the course of their long-term commitments in various contexts, the White Fathers have often developed a nuanced approach to Islam which has also taken into account the otherness within Islam.
Starting from individual trajectories but also from documents issued by the Society of Missionaries of Africa, this paper will therefore aim to shed light on the White Fathers’ approach to Islam, what it tells us about otherness in Islam, how it supports efforts at dialogue and what forms of response it has been able to find or elicit among Muslims.
Lecture given at the 3rd International Congress of the PLURIEL network, 23-27 May 2022 in Beirut.
In partnership with Saint Joseph University of Beirut and La Sagesse University.
Engagée dans le monde musulman depuis sa fondation par Mgr Charles Lavigerie en 1868, la Société des Missionnaires d’Afrique dont les membres sont connus sous le nom de Pères Blancs a contribué à l’émergence du dialogue islamo-chrétien. Et les Pères Blancs sont encore aujourd’hui en bien des endroits acteurs de ces pratiques de dialogue et de rencontres avec des musulmans.
Qu’est-ce que ce regard extérieur, chrétien, souvent bienveillant dit-il de l’islam? Que dit-il en particulier de cet autre musulman et de ces autres musulmans? Car au cours de leurs engagements inscrits dans la durée et dans des contextes variés, les Pères Blancs ont souvent développé une approche nuancée de l’islam qui a pris aussi en compte l’altérité interne à l’islam.
En partant de trajectoires individuelles mais aussi de documents issus de la Société des Missionnaires d’Afrique, cette communication visera donc à mettre en lumière l’approche de l’islam par les Pères Blancs, ce qu’elle nous dit de l’altérité en islam, ce en quoi elle soutient les efforts de dialogue et quelles formes de réponses elle a pu trouver ou susciter parmi les musulmans.
Conférence donnée lors du 3è congrès international du réseau PLURIEL, du 23 au 27 mai 2022 à Beyrouth.
En partenariat avec l’Université Saint Joseph de Beyrouth et l’Université La Sagesse.
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Muslim-Christian Dialogue : the approach of the White Fathers
Involved in the Muslim world since its foundation by Bishop Charles Lavigerie in 1868, the Society of Missionaries of Africa, whose members are known as the White Fathers, has contributed to the em...
publication
Jacques Lanfry. A lion, the Church and Islam
Jacques Lanfry (1910-2000) joined the White Fathers in 1933 and is one of the missionary figures whose commitment illustrates that of the Catholic Church in favour of a dialogue with Muslims. Passi...
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