Nostra Aetate and the Call for a Renewed Religion and Humanity

Abstract

“Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions” (Nostra aetate) offered a positive outlook in approaching different faiths and their faithful, as they are accepted to be integrally part of the one Divine plan for humanity. As fifty years have passed after this Declaration was issued by Vatican Council II, it is time that the Church and other religions take stock of the situation and prepare together for a renewed understanding of religion and humanity. Humanity can progress towards a more cohesive and peaceful existence only if religions offer a collaborative front and infuse in other socio-political realities a sense of communion. Although the Church has not succeeded in proceeding beyond the Nostra aetate, she has already laid out a new path of openness, dialogue, and collaboration into which Christians as well as the faithful of other religions should be initiated so that a better understanding of religious realities and human co-existence could be facilitated. The way forward in this direction needs to be effectively supported by educating youngsters in being authentically religious and dynamically interreligious at the same time.