ABSTRACT
This chapter presents attention on relational integration as intercultural. It addresses the minimal engagement with diversity considerations in the theology/psychology integration literature. The chapter then explores the concept of alterity for orienting well toward difference, addressing in turn ethnocentrism and intercultural competence as two distinct stances toward difference. It highlights the relational integration model more particularly that attends to the acculturation challenges of integration. The chapter concludes by exploring what a mature alterity offers to a spirituality that thematizes relationality. It illuminates the difficulties of attending to significant difference in the integrative process. The chapter then talks about the problem of ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism involves the belief and perception that one's own ethnic or cultural perspective is the standard of goodness for all cultures. In contrast to ethnocentrism, intercultural competence is "the ability to think and act in interculturally appropriate ways" and with sensitivity to "relevant cultural differences" and is conceptually similar to multicultural competence.
