Cultural Plurality and Inculturation: Foundations for Intercultural Dialogue

Abstract

This article investigates the significance of cultural plurality for social and ecclesial life in a post-imperial age. It argues for a view of culture that recognizes and accommodates the diversity of each culture, conceives of culture in terms of social imaginaries and practices, and incorporates a nuanced view of intercultural dialogue. It begins with a précis of Stuart Hall’s account of culture, then examines at length the conceptions of culture in the works of James Tully and Charles Taylor, focusing on cultural diversity. In this context, the article contends that the ecclesial task of inculturation must be one of intercultural dialogue.