At the heart of research in practical theology, Université Laval has taken into account the history of the United Churches in Canada in all its complexity. There are constant dialogues between theologians of different tendencies, but this movement has grown over the past forty years to open up reflection with the local Churches, partly made up of members from the First Nations and indigenous peoples.
Put culture back in its place
Things have changed a lot since the arrival of Western settlers on the lands of peoples who have been settled for a very long time. If we had to wait until the end of the 20th century (1986) to recognize that Western civilization had been imposed on the whole territory and to ask for forgiveness, the path to reconciliation also passes through practical and theological inflections.
Historical Protestant theologies, for example, have been analyzed in detail, to specify what effectively relates to the relationship between God and human beings and what relates to Western culture. The cultures carried by the First Nations are indeed very different. They value harmony and peaceful coexistence between peoples, following in this the values and spiritual teachings teaching them to respect the Sacred Fire and to be guardians of Mother Earth.
Incentive to diversity
Christianity was primarily rooted in a rational or scientific understanding of the world. However, Christians from different cultures do not have to line up behind this approach, which was not, moreover, that of the Hebrews in the time of the Bible. As in other continents, they ask not for recognition of being right, but for simple respect for who they are, with a view to peaceful coexistence. We can thus promote several possible interpretations of biblical texts, several cultural frameworks in which the believer can fit in and thus release the theology from the colonial or overly westernized accents that it has had for centuries. Laval University has thus become over the years a place of recognized and demanding dialogue, which associates faculties such as the Protestant Institute of Theology, in particular through exchanges of chairs or possibilities of study bridges.
Put life at the center
Spiritual practices are also affected by the recognition of cultural differences. For example, the notion of pastoral ministry may not be the same in a church centralized around a synod or within a community that needs a leader for healing and helping the person.
Even the notion of Creation must be able to expand to include not only animals, plants and the earth itself, but also the groans of an Earth through which the sufferings of Christ are heard.
The fruits of these dialogues between peoples of the Church have not ceased to open up understanding and respect for God and this world.