Understanding interreligious and intercultural dialogue in the Araucanía region from the perspective of the concept of empathy according to Edith Stein's philosophy

Abstract

This study focuses on an experience of interreligious and intercultural dialogue carried out in the Araucanía region, analyzing its development through the concept of empathy according to the philosophy of Edith Stein. The research begins from the recognition that religious expressions play a crucial role in interactions within contexts of cultural and spiritual diversity. By understanding how the process of empathy develops in dialogues between religious and spiritual leaders in La Araucanía, this study seeks to identify factors that facilitate or hinder this practice and to characterize the essential elements for establishing an effective space for dialogue. The study draws primarily on the theory of phenomenologist Edith Stein on the problem of empathy, in dialogue with theorists of interreligious and intercultural dialogue. The research is framed within a qualitative perspective through a case study. Data were analyzed using thematic categorical content analysis (Bardín, 2002). Information was organized and classified according to similar and divergent thematic nuclei related to the research objectives, from which nuclei, categories, units, and subunits were constructed. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with six individuals: two Christian leaders (one Catholic and one Protestant Methodist), a member of the Baha'i community, a lay woman from a Mapuche pastoral movement, and two Mapuche loncos (one man and one woman). Empathy is not limited to tolerance but implies a deep understanding of the other while respecting their otherness. The religious and cultural plurality in the region—which includes various currents of Christianity, Mapuche spirituality, and other faiths—generates both opportunities and challenges for dialogue. It is observed that fundamentalism can hinder these efforts by creating ghettos and exclusionary attitudes. However, interreligious dialogue is presented as an imperative for addressing contemporary social problems by promoting understanding based on shared values.