A Summary of Nostra Aetate

NOSTRA AETATE is a declaration on the relation of the church to non-christian religions proclaimed by His Holiness Pope Paul VI on October 28, 1965.

Nostra Aetate is one of the documents of the 2nd Vatican Council that originated from the concept of the world becoming a ‘global village’. The church council thought that it was necessary to examine more closely her relationship to non-Christian religions at a time when mankind was being drawn closer together and the ties between different peoples were becoming stronger. The focus of the church in this document was to promote unity and love among men, and indeed among nations, by considering above all in this declaration what men have in common and what draws them to fellowship.

A summary of the main points in the document are as follows

Ø  All men originate from God, for God made the whole human race. Likewise, all men have the same final goal, which is God. Also God’s plan of salvation is meant for all men, his providence and his manifestations of goodness are extended to all. Furthermore God desires that at the end of time, all men should spend eternity with him in heaven.

Ø  Ultimately, men seek to find answers to the same questions answers from the various religions. Questions such as: What is man? What is the meaning and the aim of our life? What is moral good?  What is sin? Why suffering and what purpose does it serve? Which is the road to true happiness? What are death, judgment and retribution after death? Why are we on earth and where are we going?

Ø  From ancient times down to the present, most people recognize and have belief in a supreme being; and this belief has manifested itself in various religions – Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity - to mention a few. These religions try to give answers to these fundamental questions by proposing ways, teachings, rules of life, and sacred rites to enlighten its followers.

Ø  The Catholic Church’s position on this is that “it rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions. She regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings which, though differing in many aspects from the ones she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that Truth, Christ himself, which enlightens all men.”  The Church, therefore, exhorts her sons that they recognize, preserve and promote the good things, spiritual and moral, as well as the socio-cultural values found among the followers of other religions. The document especially mentions Islam and Judaism as these are more commonly perceived as religions that have little or nothing in common with Christianity and more importantly Catholicism.

Ø  With respect to Moslems, the Church teaches that in so far as they adore and worship the one true God, take pains to submit to his decrees just as Abraham did with whom the faith of Islam links itself, recognize and honour Mary, and revere Jesus though not as God but as a prophet, they should be regarded with esteem. In addition, they await the Day of Judgment along with other religions and value moral living and promulgation of the worship God especially through prayer, almsgiving and fasting. Nostra Aetate urges all to forget the hostilities of the past and to work sincerely social justice, moral welfare, peace and freedom.

Ø  With respect to the Jews, Nostra Aetate reminds the faithful that there is a bond that spiritually ties the people of the New Covenant to Abraham's stock. The beginnings of the faith of the church are found among the Patriarchs, Moses and the prophets. The Church remembers that she received the revelation of the Old Testament through the Jews, the people with whom God had a Covenantal relationship. Nor can she forget that she draws sustenance from the root of that well-cultivated olive tree onto which have been grafted the wild shoots, the Gentiles. Indeed, the Church believes that by His cross Christ, Our Peace, reconciled Jews and Gentiles making both one in himself. She also recalls that the Apostles, the Church's main-stay and pillars, as well as most of the early disciples who proclaimed Christ's Gospel to the world, sprang from the Jewish people. Since the spiritual patrimony common to Christians and Jews is thus so great, Nostra Aetate seeks to foster and recommend mutual understanding and respect amongst both parties and charges all to see to it that in catechetical work or in the preaching of the word of God, they do not teach anything that does not conform to the truth of the Gospel and the spirit of Christ. Furthermore, in her rejection of every persecution against any man, the Church decries hatred, persecutions, and displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone.

Ø  In summary, Nostra Aetate teaches that “we cannot truly call on God, the Father of all, if we refuse to treat in a brotherly way any man, created as he is in the image of God. The Church reproves, as foreign to the mind of Christ, any discrimination against men or harassment of them because of their race, colour, condition of life, or religion. On the contrary, this document implores the Christian faithful to "maintain good fellowship among the nations" (1 Peter 2:12), and, if possible, to live for their part in peace with all men so that they may truly be sons of the Father who is in heaven.”

There are some that claim that Nostra Aetate has some “weaknesses” in that “it speaks too positively of other religions and does not look at them critically, which is the approach the Church had always taken "from the outset."”. The document has also been criticized by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI who said "Thus, in a precise and extraordinarily dense document, a theme is opened up whose importance could not be foreseen at the time… It speaks of religion solely in a positive way and it disregards the sick and distorted forms of religion which, from the historical and theological viewpoints, are of far-reaching importance." The Holy Father suggests that it should also have highlighted the fundamental negatives which obviously are causes of the problems of religious intolerance and bigotry amongst religions since these are fundamental issues.

Personally I think that the document set out to convey its primary message which is “promulgating what men have in common and what draws them to fellowship in order to promote love and unity among men”. Indeed, it is no secret that we are quick to focus and point out that which divides us and pay little or no attention to what unites us. This document encourages us to focus on the positives with respect to relating with people of other religions and quite rightly so.

To read the whole document, please follow the link below. http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decl_19651028_nostra-aetate_en.html#top