Our Common Humanity in the Information Age. Principles and Values for Development

DISCUSSION OF TOLERANCE, DIALOGUE AND 
RELIGION
Katherine Marshall, Senior Advisor, The World Bank
Building a world with true tolerance and creating an environment where dialogue is well 
and truly practiced are the two challenges before us today, and the two are intricately 
linked one to the other. Nowhere does the dual challenge offer more hope yet also present 
greater difficulties than in matters of religion.
We set out here to address three topics:
The first is tolerance. We commonly seek and admire tolerance, as an ideal, both ancient 
and modern, connoting peace and respect. Nonetheless we can and should test our 
understanding of the idea. The word “tolerance” is suspect for some people because 
tolerance, on one hand, can be heard as meaning true “acceptance”, but on the other as 
implying something more along the lines of “putting up with people”. We aspire, I 
believe, to a concept of tolerance that indeed carries with it a commitment to deep and 
sincere understanding and respect. But there is merit in exploring whether this is indeed 
our full understanding. What elements of bare acceptance might lurk in our 
understanding of attitudes and approaches to what is often termed “the other” – that is 
people, communities, beliefs and practices that differ from our own teachings and 
beliefs? What is needed to attain the ideal that is conveyed in the title of this panel 
discussion?
Next we turn to dialogue. In the rather pragmatic world where I have lived and worked 
for several decades, I find that people’s eyes tend to glaze over when the term “dialogue” 
is used. For many people, especially those committed to change and justice, dialogue can 
be heard as implying words and not action. Indeed, we are committed to action, to 
translating fine words into reality. However, dialogue is a vital part of that effort and it 
deserves respect, extending far beyond tolerance. Dialogue is not about explaining, it 
does not mean debate. It does not mean fine words. Dialogue is not about words. 
Dialogue means a far richer and more complex process of engagement and listening, then 
exploring common ground and difference, that leads to learning, understanding, and 
change. It is about an openness to transformation and to reaching new understanding and 
ideas. This is what forms the basis for action in the common in terest, especially in 
complex and plural societies.

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Chapter V – Tolerance and Dialogue | 95 
Third, this panel addresses the complex, sensitive topic of religion. Each panelist brings 
to this discussion great depth of involvement and engagement. We are keenly aware of 
how important and sensitive the topic of religion can be. The common advice to avoid 
two topics at the dinner table: politics and religion, is grounded on much heated 
experience. But religion is so fundamentally important to so much of the world’s 
population that it should not be left to silence. For many poor communities, our greatest 
source of concern together, religion is an all too rare source of hope, trust and meaning.
A thoughtful dialogue and exchange about how different religions can live side by side in 
true understanding, tolerance and respect, how they can work together for the common 
welfare and for social justice, and how they can contribute to peace is what we aspire to.
To achieve that, we must also discuss how religious beliefs and institutions contribute to 
social tensions, how they shape identities, positive and negative, and how the role of 
religion in the public square is changing in today’s modernizing and changing world.
This dialogue is fundamental to the challenge of our common humanity.