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June 2006 E-Bulletin
June 6 , 2006
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Bishop opens up a debate with 'Christian society' claims
The Anglican Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, is concerned at Britain no longer being considered a Christian society and its replacement by a "multi-faith mish-mash" – but his views have been challenged by those who say that a plural approach is in everyone’s interests, and that Christianity should be a subversive rather than an establishment force.
Bishop Nazir-Ali, who was a candidate for Archbishop of Canterbury last time round, comes from a Muslim background in Pakistan. He is on the evangelical wing of the Church of England and is influential in its thinking about Christian mission in a changing world. Full story at Ekklesia.
Beyond Tolerance – How inter-faith encounters shape and deepen our faith
Later this week, the Scottish Episcopal Church launches the latest of its Grosvenor Essays: 'The Inter-faith Encounter'. These essays are not 'official' pronouncements but attempts to help people in the church and beyond think through particular issues - in this case the material has been put together by members of the Scottish Episcopal Church’s Doctrine Committee and Committee for Relations with Peoples of Other Faiths. After setting the scene of contemporary Scotland, the essay examines the rationale behind Christians becoming engaged in dialogue, and finally offers a series of personal reflections from individuals who have been intimately involved in inter-religious encounters. The diversity of these reflections bears witness to the fruitfulness of our inter-faith context. The hope is that they will encourage others in their locality to go and do likewise – the essay includes a substantial bibliography and a section on the resources available to aid that.
The essay argues that our interfaith context calls us not simply to reach out to our neighbours of different faiths, but to recognise that, increasingly, religious identity is being formed in the process of engagement with other faiths. Our identity, and understanding of the gospel, is being deepened by the interfaith encounters that our globalised world offers. The pressing political context we find ourselves in, particularly in relation to Islam, only reinforces the sense that we need to find ways beyond both easy tolerance, which can so easily mask indifference, and a view of the religions as basically in competition. The imperative for Christians is to see the enriching encounter with others as central to the Gospel. Above all, the essay seeks to show how it is possible to hold together a sense of Christian identity, shaped by faith, alongside a desire to engage with others. It is in the context of encounter, not prior to our engagement with it, that we discover more fully who Christ is, and how we are to follow Christ’s call.
Copies may be purchased (price £2.50 each) from: The General Synod Office, 21 Grosvenor Crescent, Edinburgh EH12 5EE.
"Peace must come soon or it may not come to either people for a long time"
The Executive committee of the World Council of Churches have issued a strongly worded statement on Israel/Palestine entitled “The time is ripe to do what is right”. In the statement they insist that there must be common standards on ending violence, respecting agreements, and recognizing the other in the search for peace in the region.
The full text can be found at the World Council of Churches website and a summary can be read at Ekklesia.
Muslim leader denounces religious extremism
The Grand Imam of the al-Azhar in Cairo has denounced religious extremism and is encouraging Muslims to enter into active conversation and cooperation with Christians, according to the Straits Times. In a speech to Malay Muslim leaders in Singapore last week, Sheik Mohammed Sayyed Tantawi, who is also a partner in the Anglican Communion’s global Anglican-Muslim dialogue, condemned religious violence and terror as “evil”. Full story at Ekklesia.
Central Scotland Communities Together
The Solidarity Day March & Rally 2006 will be taking place on Sunday 2nd July 2006, starting from Falkirk Steeple at 3pm walking to a rally in Callendar Park. Speakers include Doris Littlejohn and Dennis Canavan MSP.
The march and rally commemorates victims of recent violence including the 7/7 bombings, and celebrates the life of Central Scotland communities.
Solidarity Day began as a meeting of various faith representatives from Central Scotland following the horrific events in London last July. CSREC produced and distributed a leaflet "Together We Can Make It Work" to community and faith groups in Forth Valley, as well as the wider public, in a bid to reassure communities fearful of 'backlash' attacks. From these initial meetings, the idea of holding an event that celebrated Solidarity within Central Scotland was born; we are pleased to announce the rescheduling of this event and hope you will all turn out to be part of the celebrations.
For more information, call Lisa Paton at Central Scotland Racial Equality Council Ltd on 01324 610950 or contact lisa.paton@centralscotlandrec.org.uk. If you are able to display posters or flyers to advertise the event, send me an e-mail at andrew.cairs@acts-scotland.org, and I’ll send you a copy as an attachment for you to print, or contact Lisa for a pre-printed one.
Book review - British Muslims: Media Guide by Ehsan Masood
Click here for full details and a review.
What would Jesus do?
This was the question that Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, asked George W. Bush. And former US Secretary of State, Madelaine Albright suggests that it’s a question that the US administration should address, and adopt a more nuanced approach to Islam. The full version of the stories from Ekklesia can be read here and here.
Scottish Inter Faith Council change of address
The SIFC has now relocated to 523 Shields Road, Pollokshields, Glasgow G41 2RF. The telephone number has changed to 0141 420 6982. The e-mail addresses admin@interfaithscotland.org and web-site www.interfaithscotland.org remain the same.
Benedict says 'never again' at Auschwitz-Birkenau
As the climax of his historic trip to Poland, Pope Benedict XVI travelled by car from Krakow to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps, on the last stage of his apostolic journey – and gave an impassioned address about the evils of the holocaust and its challenge to Christian faith.
The Pope walked into the Auschwitz concentration camp, passing under the chilling words "Arbeit Macht Frei" (work makes you free) written over the gate. Inside he was welcomed by the director of the Auschwitz Museum and by other civil and religious authorities. Full story at Ekklesia.
Reaction to Benedict’s address has been mixed. Welcomed by some, but also condemned as not going far enough by others. Full story at Ekklesia.
Muslims join Christians in Da Vinci Code film furore
Muslims in Malawi have added their voices to calls by churches for the banning of The Da Vinci Code movie, saying that it is offensive to Jesus who is revered in Islam as a prophet of Allah, write Frank Jomo and Fredrick Nzwili for Ecumenical News International.
However, Fr Stanislaus Magombo of the Roman Catholic Secretariat in Lilongwe said there was nothing wrong in allowing people to see the film. "It is a movie," said Magombo. "I don't think it can have any impact on people's beliefs." Full story at Ekklesia.