Pluralistic Inclusivism and Christian-Muslim Dialogue: The Challenge of Moving beyond Polite Discussion toward Reconciliation and Peace

Christian-Muslim relations have a complex and often negative history, and in the postmodern, postcolonial, globalizing, and ever-increasingly multifaith world of today, relations between the world’s two largest faiths are arguably more important than ever. While significant progress has been made recently in Christian-Muslim dialogue, there is still much work to be done to move that dialogue forward significantly toward reconciliation and peace. This essay explores the possibilities that contemporary reflection on inclusivism, pluralism, reconciliation, and peacebuilding can bring to the table in advancing the prospects for understanding, reconciliation, and peacemaking in Christian-Muslim dialogue. It argues that a form of pluralistic inclusivism as practiced in dialogue in combination with insights from recent peacebuilding efforts is the best way to move the dialogue forward.