A new study from Pew Research of 201 countries shows that while Christianity remains the largest religion in the world, Islam is world’s fastest growing religion. As this trend continues, it will have significant and multifaceted impact upon the global religious landscape. In this age of transition and uncertainty, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, with his indefatigable commitment to religious dialogue, has illumined the way forward for Orthodox Christians and all people of good will.
“According to the report,” Catholic News Agency stated, “the total number of Christians rose by 122 million from 2010 to 2020, while the total number of Muslims rose by 327 million — ‘more than all other religions combined.’ The global Christian population rested at 2.3 billion in 2020, while the global Muslim population came to 2 billion.”
Amid this world-historical transformation, the Ecumenical Patriarch reminds us that “Orthodox Christianity has a long experience of cohabitation with other religions and denominations,” and has emphasized the importance of interfaith dialogue. He pointed out that massive changes in the global religious landscape have taken place before, particularly with the rise of nationalism in the nineteenth century, the world wars of the twentieth century, and the increase in religious fundamentalism in our own age.
“A series of historical events,” observed His All-Holiness, “redefined the worldwide religious landscape, shaping the relationship of Orthodoxy to a pluralism of religions and reassessing its role on the global scene.” In light of these events, the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church, which was held in Crete in 2016, stated: “Honest interfaith dialogue contributes to the development of mutual trust and to the promotion of peace and reconciliation. The Church strives to make ‘peace from on high’ more tangibly felt on earth. True peace is not achieved by force of arms, but only through love that ‘does not seek its own’ (1 Cor 13:5). The oil of faith must be used to soothe and heal the wounds of others, not to rekindle new fires of hatred.” (Encyclical, par. 17).
The Ecumenical Patriarch has explained that “this is an essential part of our ministry and mission in the modern world, where we promote inter-Christian and interreligious dialogue, religious tolerance, religious freedom, and a culture of solidarity at a time of turmoil, division, and war.” The world’s turmoil adds urgency to this obligation: “We have a moral responsibility to look carefully at how we behave in the world, the policies we support in society, and the lifestyle we adopt as individuals. People are not isolated. On the contrary, we are interconnected and interdependent as people, as a planet, as a family.”
In view of the imperative of dialogue and mutual understanding, at the Conference “Confluence of Conscience: Uniting Faith Leaders for Planetary Resurgence” in Abu Dhabi on November 6, 2023, His All-Holiness emphasized common elements of the world’s great religious traditions, stating that “the world still remains in crisis. But transformation is possible through ceaseless cooperation. Partnership is the new normal! As never before, diverse groups align to safeguard civilization and planetary health. By walking hand in hand, with hope as our compass, we embark on an unprecedented yet essential journey where faith, conscience and action converge.
To sustain collaboration between diverse faiths and partners in science and society, we have to establish an ongoing mechanism for joint reflection, advocacy and action on the linked challenges of justice, sustainability and human development, translating powerful intentions into meaningful impacts. Together we are greater than the sum of our parts.”
The Ecumenical Patriarch has also noted that “through dialogue, “we define our readiness to embrace difference. This spirit is concisely captured by a recent document approved by our Ecumenical Patriarchate and entitled For the Life of the World: Toward a Social Ethos of the Orthodox Church (2020). There, in paragraph 55, we read: ‘Knowing that God reveals himself in countless ways and with boundless inventiveness, the Church enters into dialogue with other faiths prepared to be amazed and delighted by the variety and beauty of God’s generous manifestations of divine goodness, grace, and wisdom among all peoples.’”
“Orthodox Christianity,” His All-Holiness added, “has found in common humanitarian efforts a genuine expression of the power of faith to promote co-existence, overcome crisis, and support an ethic of inclusiveness, an ethos of solidarity. We have been for decades at the forefront of organizing and supporting interreligious conferences, aware that sincere dialogue can confront intolerance and violence while preventing the abuse of religion by fundamentalists and fanatics.”
The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, heeding the wise words of the document “For the Life of the World” and of the Ecumenical Patriarch himself, are indeed “prepared to be amazed and delighted by the variety and beauty of God’s generous manifestations of divine goodness, grace, and wisdom among all peoples.”
