 | The "Spirit" of Emptiness The Intercultural Bible - institute in migration is in search of exchange and dialogue, based on partnership. The question arises as to how this is possible in an intercultural area (concretely between sub-Saharan Africa and Europe/North-Atlantic areas) when material conditions, access to (acknowledged!) sources of knowledge, power and influence are distributed unequally. „Partnership“, „exchange“, „dialogue“ – aren’t these just beautiful words without meaning, in this context? The Intercultural Bible - institute in migration believes that exchange and dialogue can still be tried if there is agreement that essential aspects of life are not in unilateral power or disposal. This is true also for essential aspects of the Bible: the experiences with God and their meaning in life. The "place of God" is, as far as “right knowledge” is concerned, an empty place. It’s at the same time an „open space“ that allows joint search and to be on the way together towards more just conditions. The intercultural Bible - institute in migration starts out from such an “empty place - open space”. It implies a spiritual challenge: remaining available, providing time and space for what nobody knows and owns: the place of God. It means: renouncing to set one’s own knowledge and achievements as measure, seeking a “spirit of emptiness” and being open for new encounters and ways of interpretation. Listening, watching, doing nothing and strolling around are part of the program. They are constitutive for the commitment of the institute. |