The 49th Dialogue & Alliance Forum meeting, held on Sunday, October 19, 2025, and dedicated to the theme of spirituality, took place within a context marked by a crisis of social connection and meaning, highlighted in particular by contemporary reflections on isolation and the loss of spiritual bearings. This conference offered a pluralistic exploration of spirituality through several religious traditions and schools of thought, emphasizing their profound convergences.
The first presentation, given by Mr. Omero Marongiu-Perria, offered a Muslim perspective based on a passage from the Quran concerning creation. He emphasized that the Quranic message is primarily spiritual and existential rather than normative. Human beings are presented as fundamentally spiritual and moral beings, called to recognize their finitude and to live in harmony with the cosmic order. Muslim spirituality is thus understood as a submission not of servitude, but of harmony to this order, aiming for inner balance, humility, and gratitude. The disruption of this harmony, fueled by the illusion of human omnipotence and modern materialism, distances humanity from its spiritual calling.
Mr. Jean-Luc Martin-Lagardette then proposed a Christian approach centered on the notion of the "inner voice." He defined spirituality as a non-material dimension of existence, common to all, cultivated through a conscious and practical process. Through a text by Georges Roux, he emphasized the importance of inner listening as an ethical guide, capable of discerning good from evil. Spirituality was presented as a force for personal and social transformation, oriented toward joy, responsibility, and the pursuit of the common good.
A musical interlude, entitled "March of the Horses for Global Forgiveness," carrying a message of love, forgiveness, and peace, reinforced this universal spiritual dynamic, recalling the central role of love in any inner journey.
Ms. Cynthia Cabral then offered a Unificationist perspective. She clearly distinguished spirituality, an innate dimension unique to each human being, from religion, conceived as an educational and cultural framework. She emphasized the historical deviations of religions when they become detached from their spiritual purpose, while affirming their essential role as guides. For her, all religions converge toward the same goal: inner peace and harmony with others. Gratitude, humility, and mutual respect constitute essential pillars of spiritual development.
Finally, Sister Marthe-Élisabeth presented the experience of the Protestant community of Pomeyrol, founded on prayer, silence, and spiritual vigilance. The community's role as “sentinel” consists of bearing the sufferings and hopes of the world in prayer, offering a space for renewal and listening to those who wish it.
In the exchanges with the public, several cross-cutting themes emerged: conscience as an inner guide, the distinction between morality and ethics, the challenges posed by modernity and artificial intelligence, as well as the need to cultivate an embodied spirituality, capable of directing human action towards good, peace and respect for life.