‘Interfaith dialogue’ is a term that generally assumes dialogue between different faiths. Much
has been written about why, how and what form this dialogue should assume. Although many
theories have been developed around this process, it remained theories and did not develop
into praxis. Some of these theories include aspects of psychology, theology of religions,
preconditions for dialogue, ethical theories, epistemology and even social constructs in relation
to the economy, social justice and peace. In as much as these theories are important, and needed
to be noted, the how to walk the talk in the encounters in interreligious dialogue is not often
addressed. This article, therefore, addresses the ‘enacting’ element of interreligious encounters
as human-to-human encounters in walking the talk. With the emphasis on human-to-human
encounters, examples from history are considered to explicate these encounters and, finally,
why the term ‘interreligious dialogue’ better expresses the human-to-human encounters than
the term ‘interfaith dialogue’.HTS 75th Anniversary Maake Masango Dedication.This research is part of the
research project, ‘African
Written Intellectual Heritage’,
directed by Dr Maniraj
Sukdaven, Department of
Science of Religion and
Missiology, Faculty of
Theology and Religion,
University of Pretoria.http://www.hts.org.zaam2020Science of Religion and Missiolog
