Dialogue is a word we have heard all too often. Though it has become part of the current jargon, sometimes even taking various meanings, it is possibly one of the most misunderstood words.

Dialogue is not simply speaking together, listening, or worse still, hearing each other. This has been done for quite some time since the anathemata and the violent contestations have ended. It is not polemical but a dialectic without setting out to prove each other wrong. Though perhaps nothing can more effectively block dialogue than the banding together of one group against another, on the other hand open and generous disagreement and discussion can and does lead to greater knowledge and love, to the development of fruitful ideas and to the true unity between men of good will.

Not being simply an exchange of words or phrases, dialogue is the emergence of a concrete reality which is more profound. It is the moment of entering in a close relationship with the Other, thus passing from the sensation of extraneity to one of brotherly condivision and mutual sharing. Once someone told me that he thought that God permitted the 'evil' of the division between the churches so that each developing its own talents and gifts, we might one day come to the stage of presenting our own talents and gifts to the others. Maybe this has already happened to some extent with the great contribution, for example, which Protestants have made to Catholics in the area of Bible study. This, however, is not the only case and is not to be understood as applying only to inter-denominational relationships.

Dialogue requires a strict mental discipline. It should not be seen as a technique of apologetics but as a kind of a suspension of judgement, a metanoia or a conversion - at least in its etymological sense of "turning around towards" but not in the distorted sense of a human proselytising technique. It includes a rethinking and an openness for the Other.

I believe that I interpret correctly the thoughts of many in saying that it is time for warm-hearted dialogue. The recent paper on inter-religious dialogue in the experience of Raymond of Lull and Nicholas of Cusa, among others, delivered by Professor Guido Vergawen o.p. was highly stimulating. Clearly, inter-religious dialogue posed questions then as it does now. The overview of theology given by the Faculty of Theology, I believe, does help a lot in preparing us for this dialogue.

A case in point is the conference which was organised by the Faculty of Theology in co-operation with the Future Generations Programme of the Foundation for International Studies convening a group of scholars to discuss a highly contemporary controversial issue on inter-generational conflict from a Jewish, Christian and Moslem perspective. The Faculty, in collaboration with the Future Generations programme, is also planning to convene another conference on the commission of sustainable development in the Mediterranean region, again from the perspective of the three monotheistic religions of the Mediterranean. The Faculty is also engaged in dialogue with society in general; many give their contribution to government, Church and university committees, together with the dialogue with other Faculties in the form of establishing programmes in professional ethics, for example. Another interesting case would be the seminar on "God in Literature" which is being planned.

It is also a fact that students studying theology are increasingly coming from different backgrounds of study: not all have studied language and literature as was once the case, but many more are coming from backgrounds of law, education and the sciences. Persons coming from such backgrounds who chose to read theology surely have got some experience of how theology and their other branch of study "dialogue" together within them.

We should not, however, only talk about dialogue but rather enter into the adventure of the experience of dialogue itself. While being aware of the perils and promises of dialogue, we should be willing to accept that dialogue is not so much a problem to be solved as an experience to be shared in joy and expectation.