Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The interesting programme “God, peace or dominion?”, to be shown on RaiUno on Tuesday evening, is a successful attempt to put into images the fundamental teachings of the dearly beloved John Paul II which return often in the catechesis and addresses of Pope Benedict XVI: Jesus of Nazareth, Lord and Christ, the only Saviour of mankind, the world and history.
A powerful statement perhaps but completely in line with two thousands years of Church teaching and faith of the people who recognise Jesus not only as the greatest man in history bit also the Son of God made man who shares the divine nature. The unique nature of the incarnation renders Christ the only saviour and Christianity (or better Jewish-Christianity the only revealed religion.
The salvation brought by Christ reaches mankind “only with the participation of the Church”, confirming the Church's understanding of herself as an authentic divine presence on the world. To her all men and women of sincere heart can look.
“God, peace or dominion?”, with a solution respectful of diversity, shows the general public the positions of the principal religious traditions of the world with regard to crucial issues such as violence, evil, freedom and the very existence of God. To the general public which looks with intelligence, reason, critical spirit and freedom at what is shown and, above all, at what is stated by the different religious leaders.
The emerging picture also and especially for a secular non confessional mentality, is that all that is right and true and good in what is affirmed by all the religious leaders interviewed, coincides with what is present in Christianity.
The spectator can have an idea of the specificity of the Christian religion which, precisely since God has assumed what is human, is a profoundly a faith of reason, rooted in the aspirations and deepest hopes of every human person.
The understanding of Christ as the only Saviour is not however exclusive to Christianity. It speaks in fact of inclusive Christ-centrism according to the model of accomplishment (Paul VI) or presence (John Paul II). Meaning with this a positive interpretation of all that is good and right and true in every religions as a preparation for accomplishment in Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit , as an authentic presence of “elements of Christian truth” in every religious tradition.
Exactly this is the impression which rises when one watches “God, peace or dominion?”. Good exists, truth exists. Man can distinguish between good and evil, true and false. This ability is written in human reason and in the human heart. Each person can look at the depth of his humanity, comparing everything with the fundamental needs of I, and form an opinion. “God, peace or dominion?” says that in every religion there is goodness, truth, beauty and justice, stating at the same time that in the light of Christ and in the concrete life of the Church it is possible to live ultimately a freedom which enables us to recognise goodness also in others. (Agenzia Fides 8/6/2007; righe 38, parole 520)
