Papers around the world are picking up on the statement by Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal that interfaith dialogues must be undertaken. Arab News reports on the comments he made at the start of a conference on Japanese-Islamic relations.
Haaretz newspaper from Israel notes the remarks as well: Saudi King plans first interfaith conference to include Jews
Interfaith dialogues—actually, any dialogue—depends on all participants to keep their ears and minds open to ideas, not to come it with dogmatic assertions of faith that leave nothing to be discussed. I think that is possible here, but it is not going to be easy. Some will be criticized for merely taking part in such an endeavor.
Saud Calls for More Inter-Faith Dialogue
Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Arab NewsRIYADH, 25 March 2008 — Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal called for holding more dialogues among different religions and cultures at a time when anger continues to simmer in the Muslim world following Western attacks on Islam and its scriptures.
“Rather than retreating from the challenges, different groups should enter into honest dialogue with people who hold different beliefs,†said Prince Saud in a speech read out by Nizar Obaid Madani, minister of state for foreign affairs, at a seminar in Riyadh on Sunday night. “The collaboration among religious communities can help sustain humane relations and contribute to the eradication of racism and differences.â€
The prince said: “Inter-religious dialogue offers the hope of genuine mutual enrichment that can provide us with the resources necessary to confront conflicts.â€
The call was made at the inaugural session of a dialogue between “Japan and the Islamic world,†organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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March:25:2008 - 13:24
Wow what good news about dialogue even with Jews.
The King looks great (mashallah tabarkallah)…with glowing rosy cheeks and a sparkling personality.
I have a poem for him later (hehehe)
March:25:2008 - 13:34
Oh and Sadako…I have this to say:
“This is our Prayer
This is our Cry
Peace in the World”
Sadako WE”LL CARRY ON
You are the symbol of PEACE
March:25:2008 - 14:51
Is this initiative due to the Father Zak effect?
the new media — particularly satellite TV and the Internet (the main conduits for Life TV) — have made it possible for questions about Islam to be made public without fear of reprisal. It is unprecedented to hear Muslims from around the Islamic world — even from Saudi Arabia, where imported Bibles are confiscated and burned — call into the show to argue with Botros and his colleagues, and sometimes, to accept Christ…
…however convincing his proofs, Botros does not flatly conclude that, say, universal jihad or female inferiority are basic tenets of Islam. He treats the question as still open — and humbly invites the ulema, the revered articulators of sharia law, to respond and show the error in his methodology. He does demand, however, that their response be based on “al-dalil we al-burhan,†— “evidence and proof,†one of his frequent refrains — not shout-downs or sophistry.
March:25:2008 - 18:41
Hee, vey interesting link Solomon2
March:26:2008 - 03:14
Interesting link Solomon2…thanks
March:26:2008 - 03:59
Amazing. I can’t wait to view this.