Monotheistic religions explore ways to deepen dialogue

A conference of Muslim, Jewish and Christian scholars and preachers ended here on Thursday with a proposal that an international centre for religious dialogue be established.

The centre, to be based in Qatar, would strive to deepen reciprocal knowledge among followers of the three faiths, and review negative inherited values and prejudices hindering mutual understanding.

Participants in the Third Conference on Religious Dialogue, a prominent gathering including for the first time a Jewish delegation, also advanced the proposal to establish academic sections in Arab and Islamic universities to study the three monotheistic religions in a scientific way.

"This is a historic step, the beginning of a new form of dialogue among the three monotheistic faiths," said Mezri Haddad, a Tunisian scholar who is believed to be one of the few Muslims to hold a chair in Catholic theology.

"With the exception of Tunis, other Muslim and Arab countries prohibit the study of Judaism and Christianity or their books in a scientific way."

Speaking to Gulf News at the end of the two-day event, Haddad said the final recommendations contained useful proposals to start an inter-religious dialogue through a scientific approach.

The aim would be first of all to spread knowledge and tolerance among the new generations, especially in the Muslim world.

The final recommendations called for the establishment of councils for religious coexistance in the Arab world with the participation of representatives of all religions.

They would work to find solutions to the practical problems and conflicts and to consolidate the spirit of cooperation and achieve social harmony.

Recommendations also called for the exchange of visits of teachers between the institutions of the three religions and deepening the culture of dialogue among followers, preachers, educationists and students.

Participants, who included representatives from the Vatican, the Orthodox and Oriental Churches, rabbinical colleges in the United States and Europe, as well as Muslim scholars from across the Islamic world, also spelled out a series of common principles and values among believers of the three faiths.

"The conference condemns all forms of use of religions for political purposes and rejects any link between terrorism and religions," said the final statement.

Scholars also committed to taking initiatives intended to purify literature and educational curricula from the biased image of the other faiths.

"The conference recommends carrying out methodical efforts to purify the media, school books and educational curricula from the negative images and information about the religions and their followers."

Haddad said the media has a huge role to play. "The media bears a huge responsibility in engaging the public in information campaigns among the other religions and faiths in a positive and responsible way," he said.

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