If the expert quoted in this item from Italian news agency AKI is to be taken at his word, there’s no chance that Christian churches will be built in Saudi Arabia. All he asks is that Christians abjure their religious doctrines by accepting Mohammed as a Prophet. That’s like asking Muslims to accept Bahá’u'lláh or Guru Nanak as prophets.
If this is truly the requirement, then the door to discussion is slammed shut before it barely opened.
No churches unless prophet Mohammed recognised, says expert
Riyadh, 20 March (AKI) – No churches should be permitted in Saudi Arabia, unless Pope Benedict XVI recognised the prophet Mohammed, according to a Middle East expert.
While Saudi mediators are working with the Vatican on negotiations to allow places of religious worship, some experts believe it will not occur without this recognition.
Anwar Ashiqi, president of the Saudi centre for Middle East strategic studies, endorsed this view in an interview on the site of Arab satellite TV network, al-Arabiya on Thursday.
“I haven taken part in several meetings related to Islamic-Christian dialogue and there have been negotiations on this issue,” he said.
“It would be possible to launch official negotiations to construct a church in Saudi Arabia only after the Pope and all the Christian churches recognise the prophet Mohammed.”
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March:21:2008 - 21:25
I think the biggest issue regarding inter-faith dialogue is the lack of reciprocation.
If the Muslims who reside in the West can have places to worship, including Universities why is this not reciprocated?
Also, since the Christians and Jews are ”Nas al Kitab” or People of the Book, it falls under a monotheistic religion. According to Islam, a Muslim male can marry a woman of the Book and she has the right to retain her religion, as long as her children are raised Muslim. This in itself sets a precedence for allowing worship of a religion of their choice of 3.
As for the Pope accepting the Prophet Mohammad as prophet, it may seem impossible, though I envision inter-faith peace and shall remain positive.
I find the concept of not accepting Christians as confidants rather ironic, since Islam permits men to marry women of the 3 faiths and bear children. This also applies to those who are forbidden to marry outside of their nationality, which obviously falls under yet another cultural plane.
I would have to wonder how many Muslims would reside in Italy if the Vatican totally banned places for Muslims to freely worship. I could appreciate this boundary including Vatican City, but not the entire county.