Conviviality - living together in diversity
This brochure focuses on the following key questions:
How can we live together in such a diverse society?
What does the Christian faith contribute to the practice of convivial life together?
What practices and social commitment helps people in their diversity to lead a good life together?
Which economic, social and cultural policies support our mutual coexistence?
Everyday life seems to face all kinds of crises. One thing intertwines with another and becomes a multifunctional crisis. This will not change in the near future, on the contrary, something new and unexpected is continually coming our way. The world is on the move. In this situation, we have to start by a dialogue about the issues we face and find the way to work for change.
In a democracy, it is important that everyone has a voice! But the voice has to be heard! But it is not enough that we have a voice that is heard, we also need ears to hear the other voices. And it is not enough to have ears because we also need a listening heart that hears the others and wants to respond to their voices.
Meeting one another means not only that you have something to say to me, but also that I want to let you reach me. Seeking conviviality is about „stopping“, but with a double meaning: stopping, and not blindly continuing to follow your chosen path, but also stopping to hear, to listen, to be reached and to speak.
DIVERSITY
How do we treat each other? The events of the last few years, via messages in the news and in digital media reveal the problem. Talking, resolving conflicts, discussing
matters face to face is becoming increasingly difficult. For many, it is no longer possible. The divides often run through families and close friendships. The different opinions of others become a threat, conversations fall silent, views harden. There are many lines of conflict to be seen, between individual and common interests, short and long term, national and international, ...
EIGHT PERSPECTIVES SIGNPOSTING FOUR PATHS FOR THE FUTURE
In this paper, we advocate eight perspectives following four paths that can lead to a different way of dealing with each other and with the economy and politics. In the current situation, we must be aware: there is no readymade handbook or recipe! We are entering new territory. How can convivial life together be achieved? There is no recipe, just a step-by-step walk with a „flexible map“.
