Epilogue [Melita Theologica, 67(1)]

Abstract

The process of collecting these papers has been a fruitful exercise in bringing together different experts from diverse fields of research to make sound judgements on how the value of mercy can be integrated evermore into our social matrix. This approach, undoubtedly, marks the way forward for a holistic understanding of any human condition. That the theme dealt with, namely that of mercy shown towards the migrant, is topical can be seen from the fact that last year, “Word of the Year 2016” chosen by the Oxford Dictionaries was post-truth, an adjective described as “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” Post-truth is indicative of the way a society’s norms and policies (even unwritten ones) can be shaped unless due rational consideration is allowed to form part of the equation. The encounter with people of different cultural, racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds may still cause anxiety, despite the presumed ability of the World Wide Web to diffuse fear related to such interrelations, and this can be inferred from the fact that the term xenophobia was chosen as another “Word of the Year 2016,” this time by the renowned website www.dictionary.com. Xenophobia differs from the somewhat neutral concept of “otherness” inthat the former is imbued with overtones of fear.