Santa Clara University

The Lecture: "Evangelization and Inter-religious Dialogue: Compatible Parts of Christian Mission?"

The lecture will address the theme of Christian mission (evangelization as part of Christian calling)in the context of religious pluralism. It will discuss whether mission understood as proclamation-conversion-baptism is still possible and necessary when interreligious dialogue is presented as an integral element of Christian mission. Finally, the lecture will hold that evangelization and inter-religious dialogue are mutually compatible on the condition that their nature and tasks are re-conceived in light of religious pluralism.

The Lecturer

Dr. Peter C. Phan, a native of Vietnam, emigrated as a refugee to the U.S.A. in 1975. He is currently holding the Ignacio Ellacuría Chair of Catholic Social Thought at Georgetown University, Washington, DC. Dr. Phan obtained three doctorates, the Doctor of Sacred Theology from the Universitas Pontificia Salesiana, Rome, and the Doctor Philosophy and the Doctor of Divinity from the University of London.