In today’s world, the challenges of peaceful coexistence are more pressing than ever. This book invites readers to reflect on what it truly means to live together: embracing tolerance, cooperation, intercultural understanding, intergenerational solidarity, communion with the unborn and our ancestors, respect for our common home - the Earth- and the realization of shared institutional goals.

By exploring these dimensions, Living Together Differently presents a vision of coexistence as more than just a social necessity; it becomes a path toward “the science of happiness.” This journey begins within, calling us to reconnect with our inner selves as the foundation for building inclusive, harmonious communities where people can live together – differently, yet joyfully.

This book is a result of JCAM Research Network Colloquium organized in Kinshasa in November 2024

In this first volume, the writers explore the challenges of vivre-ensemble—living together—and suggest different ways to create harmony despite our differences. They look at the question of living together from a theological point of view, drawing on the Bible, Church teachings, canon law, pastoral practice, history, and the power of storytelling. Their aim is to show how these foundations can guide us toward a spiritual path that encourages peace, rejects revenge and violence, and builds a culture of non-violence. At the center of this vision is Jesus, presented as the perfect role model: the one who lives in union with the Father and seeks to bring all creation into that same communion.