Comments on: Saudi Interfaith Conference Begins http://xrdarabia.org/2008/07/16/saudi-interfaith-conference-begins/ Informed comment and commentary about Saudi Arabia, reform, and its relations with the US Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:16:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: In Madrid, will interfaith dialogue flourish? « Common Ground News Blog http://xrdarabia.org/2008/07/16/saudi-interfaith-conference-begins/comment-page-1/#comment-14222 In Madrid, will interfaith dialogue flourish? « Common Ground News Blog Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:55:56 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=4834#comment-14222 [...] Tariq Alhomayed of Asharq Alawsat insists that dialogue — any dialogue — is “better.”  Indeed, even if the formal meetings fall flat of their lofty goal, a commenter on the blog Crossroads Arabia reminds us that “the important stuff doesn’t take place in the sessions, but outside in the corridors, when people meet each other.” [...] [...] Tariq Alhomayed of Asharq Alawsat insists that dialogue — any dialogue — is “better.”  Indeed, even if the formal meetings fall flat of their lofty goal, a commenter on the blog Crossroads Arabia reminds us that “the important stuff doesn’t take place in the sessions, but outside in the corridors, when people meet each other.” [...]

]]> By: John Burgess http://xrdarabia.org/2008/07/16/saudi-interfaith-conference-begins/comment-page-1/#comment-14208 John Burgess Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:40:04 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=4834#comment-14208 Thanks for the link! Thanks for the link!

]]> By: Solomon2 http://xrdarabia.org/2008/07/16/saudi-interfaith-conference-begins/comment-page-1/#comment-14207 Solomon2 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:48:12 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=4834#comment-14207 Here's the <a href="http://www.world-dialogue.org/">link</a> to the Conference website, which includes a live feed. Here’s the link to the Conference website, which includes a live feed.

]]> By: Solomon2 http://xrdarabia.org/2008/07/16/saudi-interfaith-conference-begins/comment-page-1/#comment-14204 Solomon2 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:09:05 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=4834#comment-14204 In most conferences I've attended, the important stuff doesn't take place in the sessions, but outside in the corridors, when people meet each other and discuss what has been said, or use the occasion to discuss entirely different things if they so choose. The schedule may reveal the intent of the organizers, and I'm not particularly happy about it. Because the setup appears to be Muslim-Christian-Jewish-Other differences <i>within</i> religions are off the table. This encourages the hardening of positions, as each party seeks to maximize its legitimacy to encompass its entire faith, thus driving minority opinions - the source of future majority opinions - into silence. The Conference becomes a means of legitimizing the status quo. We may yet see another depressing "Kumbaya" moment after all. On the bright side, the "Mixed Multitudes" blog is a real hoot! I love reading about what happens when <i>other</i> people commit a diplomatic faux pas. No one should miss it! In most conferences I’ve attended, the important stuff doesn’t take place in the sessions, but outside in the corridors, when people meet each other and discuss what has been said, or use the occasion to discuss entirely different things if they so choose.

The schedule may reveal the intent of the organizers, and I’m not particularly happy about it. Because the setup appears to be Muslim-Christian-Jewish-Other differences within religions are off the table. This encourages the hardening of positions, as each party seeks to maximize its legitimacy to encompass its entire faith, thus driving minority opinions – the source of future majority opinions – into silence.

The Conference becomes a means of legitimizing the status quo. We may yet see another depressing “Kumbaya” moment after all.

On the bright side, the “Mixed Multitudes” blog is a real hoot! I love reading about what happens when other people commit a diplomatic faux pas. No one should miss it!

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