19. January 2026
What Interfaith Dialogue Can Achieve and Why It Is Indispensable for Democracy
As part of the lecture series “Building bridges in tense times – but how?” organized by the Weltethos Institute as part of the Studium Generale program at the University of Tübingen, Dr. Theresa Beilschmidt spoke on January 14 about interreligious dialogue and value formation. In her lecture, the employee of the Global Ethic Foundation explained why dialogue must be more than just a good conversation and where it contributes to social cohesion in practical terms.
WHY INTERFAITH DIALOGUE MUST BE MORE THAN JUST A CONVERSATION
Religious diversity is part of everyday life for many people today. At the same time, there is often a lack of spaces where differences can be openly addressed and common values negotiated. Dr. Beilschmidt pointed out that interreligious dialogue is often described as important, but in practice it often remains abstract or is limited to symbolic gestures.
In her lecture, she made it clear that dialogue is effective when it leads to concrete cooperation. Using projects run by the Global Ethic Foundation as examples, she showed how productive encounters can arise when religious communities take joint responsibility, for example in community networks such as local councils of religions or in the field of value-oriented democracy education with projects such as Global Ethic Schools and ImpACT. These projects are not only about understanding, but also about joint action in the local environment.
“Religious actors and their important role in social discourse should become more visible. For while religions harbour great potential for conflict, they also have great potential for peace, which should be exploited more, especially in times of pluralisation.”
WHY DEMOCRACY MUST TAKE RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY INTO ACCOUNT
A central thesis of the lecture is that interreligious dialogue and value formation are indispensable for democracy education. Anyone who wants to strengthen social participation must also take seriously the values, traditions, and patterns of interpretation that guide the actions of many people. Dialogue helps to resolve conflicts at an early stage, build trust, and promote a willingness to participate.
Especially in a secular society, this exchange is not a contradiction, but a prerequisite for cohesion. When religion is excluded from public debate, blind spots arise that tend to reinforce polarization rather than reduce it. Dialogue between and with religions, on the other hand, creates spaces in which differences can remain visible and common solutions can still emerge. With its contribution to the lecture series of the Global Ethic Institute, the Global Ethic Foundation brings its practical experience to the scientific and social discourse and shows how value-oriented democracy education can succeed even under difficult conditions.
Dr. Theresa Beilschmidt
E-Mail: beilschmidt@weltethos.org