Paul Ricoeur's dialectical understanding of time and self as a basis for interreligious dialogue

Abstract

Ricoeur's dialectical, phenomenological and hermeneutical method of forming notions of time and self is shown in this thesis to form a sound basis for interreligious dialogue. This thesis shows how this basis enables participants from diverse religious perspectives to enter into dialogue and increase self understanding and understanding and respect of the other. Ricoeur's thoroughly Western background is outlined in Chapter 1. Chapter 2 presents his approach to Time and Narrative and Chapter 3 his understanding of self and other. In Chapter 4 the needs of interreligious dialogue are explored in relation to his method and applied to various eastern orientations to the absolute. The conclusion is that from radically different orientations to the absolute Ricoeur's methodology opens up productive space for interreligious dialogue.