The aim of chakana is to build bridges between contexts, which lie geographi­cally, culturally and religiously apart from each other. The present issue presents the best contributions towards the prize-winning competition for contextual theology and philosophy awarded by the Institute of Missiology (MWI) in 2003. The theme of the competition for the Prize for contextual theology and philoso­phy was "Migration and religious identity".

In the course of the worldwide waves of migration it is not only the cultural and social frontiers that change. Religious identities, too, are obviously altered and are "syncretically" formed anew. While for some religious communities these processes of transformation are coupled with resistance and anxiety, others see in them an opportunity for macro-ecumenism and a peaceful human co-existence. Traditionally "uniform" religious cultures as in Europe and both the Americas are perceived as differentiated and are confronted with the challenges of religious pluralism or even of a totally new minority situation. 

Which stand does the theological reflection take in the face of these universal phenomena? Agnes Brazal, the winner of the 2003 MWI-Prize, outlines in her paper the difficult search for an identity in the multireligious situation of Min­danao, Philippines. From the perspective of a Latin American living in Europe, Jorge Castillo Guerra points out the elements of a "Theology of migration". Mechthild Herberhold reflects on the challenges to the image Christians have of themselves, thrown up by the migration of the mostly non-Christian newcomers to Germany. David Anthony pursues the same question with regard to the multiethnic and multireligious situation of Malaysia. 

It is my hope that chakana will reveal to you again the richness of the diver­sity of theological and philosophical thinking and inspire you to step onto the bridge of interculturality with a still greater commitment.

Josef Estermann