Christians and Muslims to promote dialogue, reject violence
ICC Note
Inter-religious dialogue between Muslims and Christians should be encouraged. Such dialogue must also address the pervasive violations of freedom of religion of Christians that live in Muslim countries.
05/21/2009 Vatican City (AsiaNews)–The Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies (RIIFS) and the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue (PCID) held their 1st Colloquium in Amman , Jordan . Titled ‘Religion and Civil Society,’ the seminar ended yesterday; its focus was how to develop a culture that promotes dialogue and rejects violence whilst building a democratic state that respected ethnic, cultural and religious diversity.
The RIIFS delegation was led by its director, Ambassador Abu Nimah, and included scholars from Iran , Egypt , and Lebanon as well as experts from the World Islamic Science and Education University and from Jordan . The Vatican delegation was headed by PCID President Card Jean-Louis Tauran and included scholars from the Vatican , local Churches and the academic world.
The seminar also held a public session at the Founders Theater, El-Hassan Science City .
Participants agreed to the following:
1) The notion of civil society has been discussed and the participants underlined its character as a medium for an open exchange of experiences and visions aimed at pursuing the common good. The participants agreed on the importance of civil society for a sound and integral development of individuals and communities, recognizing the particular and indispensable contribution that civil society can provide as a valuable forum for dialogue in the context of the responsible exercise of freedom.
3) They highlighted the relevance of democracy and the rule of law in a State that respects ethnic, cultural and religious diversities and implements equality among citizens, on the basis of the respect of human dignity and the ensuing fundamental human rights, particularly freedom and justice.
