The relevance of buber's category of 'Presence' for the interreligious dialogue and the construction of a dialogical theology

This paper describes the various characteristics of the category of 'presence', especially as they come to the fore in Buber's I and Thou, and shows the relevance of this notion for the interreligious dialogue and the construction of a dialogical theology. I argue that Buber's transformative writing on presence provides us with insights into the depth of human existence and offers the basic condition necessary for any real conversation and meeting. Buber's view on being religious as being present, on the between-person connection and on the necessity of interacting with the world plays a central role in interreligious encounters and in the reflection on them.