The Bridge

November 2007, Issue No. 25 
The Journal of the Churches' Agency for Inter Faith Relations in Scotland

Dialogue with Hinduism
Christianity & Scotland's Other Faiths Study Day
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Rev Prof Frank Whaling leads us in learning more about Hinduism and how to relate to our Scottish Hindu neighbours. Last chance to book for next week's event. 
Contact Scottish Churches' House TODAY on 01786 823 588.

CAIRS Annual Meeting and Lecture
Thursday, February 7, 2008, AM 7pm, Lecture 7.30pm
Bishop Angaelos, of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and Moderator of CCIFR, will speak on the topic of  "Orthodox Spirituality and Inter Faith Relations"
Augustine United URC, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh. ALL WELCOME

Inter Faith News

Dialogue highlights role of faith in global peacemaking
At a high-profile interfaith dialogue for peace in Naples, Italy, religious and political leaders and intellectuals gathered from five continents committed themselves to tackling the causes of global conflict.  The event, entitled 'For a world without violence', was organized by the Catholic community of Sant'Egidio - which organises annual seminars - and included a eucharistic celebration conducted by Pope Benedict XVI on October 21.
For more information about the event click here.
Ekklesia, October 24

'Religion must not be used to justify violence,' says Archbishop
Dr Williams, the Pope, the Ecumenical Patriarch, the Chief Rabbi of Israel, and Christian, Muslim, Buddhist and Zoroastrian leaders from around the world were in Naples as guests of the Sant'Egidio Community in a meeting desired to foster peace amongst the world's religious communities. At the start of an open-air mass in the Piazza del Plebiscito Dr Williams and the Pope embraced, and issued public calls for faith leaders to use their influence to build a better world. "Bad religion is a very powerful tool for bad people to use against each other, because it carries with it some of that absolutism that is rooted in a rather insecure kind of faith," said Dr Williams. "It is all the more important that good religion comes to drive it out, you cannot do it just by secularism." Pope Benedict also denounced the Mafia and the destructive influence of crime on society. "The sad phenomenon of violence does not stop with the lamentable number of crimes committed by the Camorra, but also becomes part of the mentality, insinuating itself into social life" of the community.
Religious Intelligence, October 29

New appointment at WCC specialises in interfaith dialogue
The new staff member, Rev Dr Shanta Premawardhana, will head the programme on Inter-religious dialogue and cooperation.  The programme enables bilateral dialogues, regional and cross-cultural encounters on perceptions of "the other" and on issues such as conversion and engages churches in reflections on what it means to be Christian in a world of many religions.
Ekklesia, October 25

Hiding and Seeking - faith and tolerance after the holocaust won the documentary film Category Grand Prix at the Warsaw Film Festival 2004 and similarly best Interfaith Film of 2004 in The North American Film Festival. Its filmmaker Menachem Daum also a director of 'A life apart' Hasidism in USA tells a deeply personnel and exceptionally moving story. While proud of his two sons [yeshiva students in Israel] post September 11th aware of the real dangers of religious intolerance and concerned that their life was too insular and disconnected from the non-Jewish world. He takes them on a journey to Poland in search of the Polish family who had for more than 2 years risked their lives by hiding their grandfather. What happened on their journey would change their lives in big and small ways and will deeply affect anyone who watches this film. Hiding and Seeking succeeds brilliantly in showing the profoundly complex effects of a Holocaust connection on three, and eventually four generations. A further notable contribution is its focus on religious aspects which are generally slighted or ignored in survivor and second generation narratives. - Michael Thayler, Professor of History, University of Santa Cruz
You can find out more about this must-see film here.

Guided Ways
Do you want to find out more about Islam, find references in the Qur'an and the Hadith, read Islam prayers and supplications,  or even start to learn Arabic, then surf to Guided Ways. 

A special exhibition runs until January at the Glasgow Science Centre entitled 1001 inventions, featuring many Muslim contributions to scientific advancement.
Further details can be found here.

Vatican urges Muslim respect for all faiths
"Muslims must respect people of all faiths and not exclude them on the grounds of religion, race or any other personal characteristic. ". In a message to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of Ramadan, the Pope's interfaith expert,  Jean-Louis Cardinal Tauran, the newly-appointed president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue called for a "culture of peace and solidarity" between different religious communities and to spread a teaching "which honours all human creatures".
The Guardian, October 9

'Religion is key to world peace'
Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran issued a message, entitled "Christians and Hindus: Determined to Walk the Path of Dialogue", to Hindus as they celebrate the festival of Diwali, the festival of Lights, on November 9.  The Cardinal said: "The world around us is yearning for peace. Religions promise peace because they trace their origin to God who, according to Christian belief, is our peace. Can we, as believers of different religious traditions, not work together to receive God's gift of peace and to spread it around us so that the world becomes for all people a better place to live?"
Religious Intelligence, November 6
Catholic News Agency, November 5
ZENIT, November 5

'Survival of world' at stake if Muslims and Christians do not make peace
In an unprecedented open letter signed by 138 leading scholars from every sect of Islam, the Muslims plead with Christian leaders "to come together with us on the common essentials of our two religions" and spell out the similarities between passages of the Bible and the Koran. The scholars state: "As Muslims, we say to Christians that we are not against them and that Islam is not against them - so long as they do not wage war against Muslims on account of their religion, oppress them and drive them out of their homes." The phrasing has echoes of the New Testament passage: "He that is not with me is against me" - a passage used by President George Bush when addressing a joint session of Congress nine days after 9/11. The Muslims call instead for the emphasis to be on the shared characteristics of world's two largest faiths.
The Times, October 11

The text of the letter A Common Word from Us to You can be downloaded as a pdf here. Comments and responses to the document can be found here.

Vatican disappoints Muslim scholars
The Muslim scholars who appealed earlier this month to Christian leaders for high-level dialogue have expressed their impatience to the Pope and their concern about what they see as negative comments by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran. Sheikh Dr Izz Al-Din Ibrahim, one of the appeal's 138 signatories, brought up the issue with the Pope when they shared a table for lunch at the start of the Sant'Egidio interfaith International Meeting in Naples last Sunday. He also handed Cardinal Tauran a letter signed on behalf of the Muslim scholars that recalled how Muslims appreciated Pope John Paul II's "gracious" attitude towards Islam and the many positive responses other Christian leaders had sent following their letter. "However, Muslims are still awaiting a proper response from His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for this unprecedented initiative," the letter said. "An initial cautiously positive response from the re-established Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue [of which Cardinal Tauran is president] quickly turned negative a few days later."
The Tablet, October 27

Muslim statement on peace among the religions 'historic'
A statement by leading Muslim scholars setting out the mainstream Islamic view on peace among the religions "for the sake of the world" has been described as "a historic breakthrough" by a leading Cambridge academic working on inter-religious issues.
Ekklesia, October 11

Uncommon overture
"A Common Word" declares that the purpose of the text is not "polite dialogue between selected religious leaders". The more immediate response is for Christians and Muslims to be in touch in all societies, and through reading and studying together this text and their sources of theology, they might build a basis for a common word between them.
The Tablet, October 20

Muslim liberals: epistles of moderation
The letter of a group of Muslim notables to Christian leaders is a case-study in both the state of religious thinking and the democratisation of sovereignty in the global arena, says Faisal Devji, writing in Open Democracy, November 18

Diversity should not mean division
Difference between faiths and life-stances do not have to lead to division, but can be part of a rich blend of perspectives working for the common good, says a leading Christian service agency responding to a bridge building letter from Muslim scholars. Faithworks, a UK Christian agency with thousands of partners, has welcomed the letter 'A Common Word Between Us And You' issued recently to Christian leaders by a globally representative group of Muslim scholars.
Ekklesia, October 23

Most Christians deplore prejudice
The president of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCCUSA) has said that the majority of the Christians in America do not share the values of religious right pundit Ann Coulter, following her recent comments about Jewish people.
Ekklesia, October 26

Religion key to conflict resolution says Bishop
Religious values and beliefs are at the heart of many of the world's conflicts, particularly in the Middle East.  And an urgent first step, said the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, is dialogue. But he warned that for this to be successful, he said that both sides must be well-informed. He said those taking part in dialogue should approach the issues with an open mind and respect the integrity of both sides. Controversially, the Bishop put the blame for the rise of fundamentalist and militant movements at the feet of authoritarian rulers in the Middle East. One way to combat this, the Bishop said, was to preach the "spirituality of love," or ways in which to govern by consent.
Religious Intelligence, October 25

The following articles demonstrate the Islamophobic reporting that is common in the gutter press, but is now spreading to the so-called quality papers.  Why does it single out Muslims?  People of faith hold deeply held religious convictions.  They should not be vilified, or treated as oddballs.  Let us practice respect for each other - it will make the world a better and a safer place. [Ed.]

Muslim medical students get picky
Some Muslim medical students are refusing to attend lectures or answer exam questions on alcohol-related or sexually transmitted diseases because they claim it offends their religious beliefs. Some trainee doctors say learning to treat the diseases conflicts with their faith, which states that Muslims should not drink alcohol and rejects sexual promiscuity. A small number of Muslim medical students have even refused to treat patients of the opposite sex. One male student was prepared to fail his final exams rather than carry out a basic examination of a female patient.
The Times, October 7

Sainsbury's does Islam no favours
Sainsbury's, "keen to accommodate the religious beliefs of all staff", now allows Muslim workers who object to alcohol on religious grounds to have a colleague take their place. The company didn't see that such cack-handed posturing does Islam no favours, reinforcing a perception of an intolerant and unbending religion, which is not, I believe, where the majority of British Muslims are.
Sunday Herald, October 14

Shock over extremist tracts found in mosques
80 books and pamphlets communicating extremist Islamic views have been collected from British mosques and Islamic institutions. Books commending the actions of those who stone adulterous women were found in addition to pamphlets calling for the decapitation of those who leave the religion of Islam. The findings were the result of a report by the think-tank Policy Exchange entitled "The Hijacking of British Islam".  The report makes several recommendations in light of the finds: " Saudi Arabia is the ideological source of much of the sectarianism and should be held account for it. " Islamic institutions in the UK should clean up their act in regard to harbouring extremist minorities. " Respectable organisations, such as the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), which have links to the offending organisations, should categorically denounce them. " There should be stronger regulations for Islamic schools " Increased attempts to establish inter-faith dialogue should be encouraged.
Religious Intelligence, November 1

Reactions to jailing of terror offender
The brother of jailed Mohammed Atif Siddique, his lawyer, Aamer Anwar, and Osama Saeed of the Muslim Council of Scotland responded to the sentence handed down to Alva student Siddique.  Saeed stressed that the deterrent effect of the sentence was outweighed by the danger that others "dabbling" with extremism might be put off seeking help for fear of the consequences.
BBC News, October 23

Support Aamer Anwar
The lawyer representing Mohammed Atif Siddique faces a possible contempt of court ruling for his comments on his client's behalf at the end of the court case. All those who campaign against injustice and for a better world, know that one day they may have to face the state in a courtroom. They need lawyers who are willing to advocate and speak out on their behalf. We should all be very worried if the effect of this case is to make lawyers reluctant to carry out this work for fear of the repercussions. If you share my concern at this gagging of legal representatives, you may wish to add your name to a petition available here as a pdf.

Terror training for senior police
Police in Tayside are to be trained how to tackle terrorism without alienating the Muslim community. A number of the force's senior officers are attending a seminar at the Al-Maktoum Institute for Islamic and Arabic Studies. The one-day course will explain key elements of the religion and culture.
BBC News, November 1

Blair working towards inter-faith foundation to tackle conflict
Tony Blair is meeting religious leaders confidentially to establish plans for an international inter-faith foundation to promote greater cooperation between the faiths and to work against violence and extremism practiced in the name of religion. It appears that the body will operate more as a think tank and discussion forum for senior figures, rather than a formal network of religious organisations.
Ekklesia, October 24

IPPR calls for Christmas to be 'downgraded'
A new report by a think tank, the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR), claims controversially that 'even-handedness' means minority cultures and traditions should be publicly recognised as well as Christian festivals.  It claims this will help make Britain more multi-cultural and remove barriers which stop immigrants assimilating into British culture.
Religious Intelligence, November 1

A Reluctant Dialogue?
David Curtis from Ichthus Fellowship was surprised to make friends with people of other faiths.
If you had told me a few years ago that I would be having regular inter-faith dialogues and conversations with Muslims, overseeing celebrations of Ramadan, Divali and the Jewish Sabbath, I think that, coming from a community church, neo-Pentecostal, I would have been a bit like the Apostle Peter in Acts chapter 10 when in a vision he was invited to kill and eat food not lawful for him - I would have said, 'Not me!!'

So, what has changed? Well I think 9/11 had a greater impact upon my thinking than I realised at the time. I happened to be in New York a couple of months after the event and came to the conclusion that, as a Christian, I did not really know how to respond to what was a significant (Kairos) moment. All I did know was if the USA and the West in general reacted violently to the terrorist attack which was plainly a symbolic 'Islamic' attack upon Western capitalism, Western values and our Western way of life, then that reaction would simply re-enforce the prejudiced views of Western society among many Muslims. It would ratchet up the antagonism between Christians and Muslims and that could not be seen as the Christ-like way to respond. There had to be another way of moving forward. I thought, let's at least find out what Muslims are thinking and why some of them feel so aggrieved and alienated from our society.

Then, from 2003 I found myself working as a chaplain in an NHS hospital in an area of London with many different Faith communities represented in it. Part of my brief was to encourage a network of different Faith community representatives to better support and give spiritual and pastoral care to hospital patients and service-users. I had now to find out more about local Faith Communities and build a network of contacts across a part of North London that served as the catchment area for the hospital. That's how I found myself, a little reluctantly at first, attending and taking part in a conversation that takes place every six weeks or so between Muslim leaders and Christian clergy all based around the Finsbury Park area of North London. It's a somewhat eclectic group that a local Anglican Vicar and an Imam from Finsbury Park mosque originally pulled together to make a statement following 9/11 and again after 7/7, expressing a common sense of outrage at the atrocities, a deep desire for an end to terrorism and deeper sensitivity to one another, on all sides.

I think we may call each other 'friends' now, as we have got to know each other over the past few years, and we are, like Gideon's army, ready to respond and act in a united way if and when tensions between Faith communities are rising. An example of this was when a local Brazilian Pentecostal church was apparently 'targeting' young Muslims with literature. The dialogue group leaders contacted the church leader, and a meeting took place between him and local Muslim and other Christian representatives. The result was a withdrawal of the literature and one of the other leaders of that church has now joined the group, meeting regularly with us.

I think the 'success' of the dialogue group is due to two major factors - firstly it is 'local' and therefore based on friendship rather than structural relationships. It is purposely kept small in numbers. Secondly, the group is informal and everyone gets a chance to talk about their concerns without formal agenda - that is, its purpose is relational with no need to set formal objectives and establish formal protocols, except that of giving each other a fair hearing.  I recommend it as a model to build on for every local community with multi-Faith dimensions to its life.

Reprinted from the October issue of Churches Together in England's E-news.  http://www.churches-together.net/Group/Group.aspx?id=44168

European evangelicals told not to fear Muslim presence in Europe
Evangelical Christians across Europe have been urged by their leader not to demonize Islam or to fear the presence of Muslims across the continent. Instead they have been urged to see it as an opportunity to witness to the Gospel message. The General Secretary of the European Evangelical Alliance (EEA), Gordon Showell-Rogers has told delegates at the EEA's annual Assembly in Greece that Christians have nothing to fear from Islam in Europe.
Ekklesia, October 21

Williams builds bridges with Israel's chief rabbis
Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, who is head of the Church of England and spiritual leader of the 77 million Anglican Communion, yesterday (31 October 2007) held talks in Jerusalem with Israel's Chief Rabbis. The Archbishop, who was accompanied by Bishop Suhail Dawani of Jerusalem and Bishop Michael Jackson of Clogher, Ireland, held the second in a series of annual discussions with Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar and Chief Rabbi Yonah Metzger of Israel, accompanied by the Chief Rabbi of Haifa Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen. The first in the series of encounters was hosted at Lambeth Palace on 5 September 2006. Dr Rowan Williams declared: "These conversations are an invaluable opportunity to cement the relationship between our communities, and to build on the opportunities that interreligious cooperation provides."
Ekklesia, November 1

Jerusalem church arson attack thwarted by alert Jewish neighbours
A Christian church in central Jerusalem which is used by several different groups survived an arson attack last week as a result of prompt action by Jewish neighbours who called the emergency services and stopped the potentially lethal fire spreading.  And the support is ongoing as the rabbi of a neighbouring Reform congregation has offered the use of her synagogue for services until the Church can reopen.
Ekklesia, October 29

Faith leaders urge positive US response to Israel-Palestine summit
Nine leading US Christians with Jewish and Muslim leaders, members of the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle East (NILI) urged the US to be positive in preparing for the upcoming Arab-Israeli-Palestinian summit in Annapolis, Maryland.  NILI urges US support for principles and practical ideas for resolving the final status issues developed by Israelis and Palestinians and reflected in documents such as the Geneva Accord.
Ekklesia, November 2

Don't misuse religion to suppress women
Religion and culture are abused when they are employed illegitimately to justify the suppression of women and the denial of their equal humanity, human rights lawyer Cherie Booth argued yesterday in a lecture at Chatham House in London.  Ms Booth said that unequal gender treatment often arose from the partial interpretation of religious texts and traditions by predominantly male leaders.  "We have come a long way since enslavement but there are many societies where women are treated in almost every respect as men's property," she declared.  She gave examples from Egypt, from some orthodox Jewish communities and from south Asia and Africa - but avoided Saudi Arabia!
Ekklesia, November 1

Pope meets Saudi monarch for the first time
Christian-Muslim relations and the rights of the minority Christian community were expected to be in the discussion when Pope Benedict XVI met with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah on November 6 - after his controversial UK state visit.  The meeting is the first one between a Saudi monarch and the pontiff.
Ekklesia, November 1

US Christian-Muslim labour delegation coming to London for workers' rights
A US imam, a Christian minister, and a striking janitor are coming to London to speak at a trade union gathering, to stress the importance of workers' rights in Islamic social thought, and to take on a company they say is violating them. The delegation also wants to save the integrity of Shari'ah-compliant investing, a rapidly growing financial practice that appeals to ethical Muslims and non-Muslims alike, from a company which they say is getting it a bad reputation in a dispute with workers. The Shari'ah-related title will raise eyebrows with some, but the practice is one that people can buy into from both non-religious and religious backgrounds if they share the principles of social and economic justice, proponents say. That is why they are angry about the treatment of janitors.
Ekklesia, November 2

Plural societies are the way forward
"A community with a rainbow of religions calls for its own liberation theology." Pluralistic societies offer the church both opportunity and challenge, the moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Trinidad and Tobago told leaders of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) meeting last month.  Elvis Elahie was addressing the Executive Committee of WARC on a day when his church threw a party with singing, dancing and local food.  The multicultural nature included Hindi hymns, steel drums, African, Indian and Chinese dancing, and calypso music.
Ekklesia, October 29

Relations with other faiths
The latest newsletter, featuring the Jewish festival of Chanukah, from Iain Stewart of the Church of Scotland can be found on the CofS extranet.

Equality for the Non-Religious
This has been produced by the British Humanist Association on good practice for local authorities to involve the non-religious in equality and dialogue work. You can read the guidelines as a pdf here.

Other Inter Faith events

Wednesday, November 14, 7pm
On the Path to Global Solidarity
Vera Araujo, Brazilian sociologist and leading  developer of a new model of economic thinking and practice according to Christian principles. Lecture sponsored by Glasgow University and SCIAF.  Free tickets available from SCIAF by calling 0141 354 5555
Boyd Orr Building, University Avenue, Glasgow.
Further details as a pdf.

Tuesday, November 20, 5.30pm to 7.30pm
Glasgow University Centre for Inter-Faith Studies - Open Research Seminar
"Islam and Inter-Faith Relations" - Book launch of the Gerald Weisfeld Lectures 2006
Talks, discussion and reception.
Further details from SCM Canterbury Press. 
The Forehall, Main Building, Glasgow University

Tuesday, November 27, 5.30pm
John Baillie Memorial Lecture
Na'eem Raza, Scottish President of the Islamic Society of Britain, delivers this year's lecture entitled "Weaving the Tartan - The New Scots" Martin Hall, New College, Mound Place Edinburgh Admission Free, all welcome.

Thursday, November 29, 2007, from 7.30pm
The Crescent and the Cross
Amanullah De Sondy will be speaking  on this subject in St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, Dumbarton, during Scottish Inter Faith Week.
(St. Augustine's is a wonderful example of Rowand Anderson church architecture.  It is also the church where Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the artist Margaret Macdonald were married.  It stands opposite Riverside Church, at the East End of the High Street.)

November 28-29
Imams and Ministers Conference
The conference run by the Christian-Muslim Forum will take place at High Leigh Conference Centre, Hertfordshire EN11 8SG with the theme of Spiritual Leadership and runs from lunchtime to lunchtime. The programme includes: " scripture studies " leadership workshops " film screening - 'The Imam and the Pastor' " keynote addresses " local group workshops The main Christian speaker will be His Grace Bishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox; main Muslim speaker tbc. Fuller information from the Christian Muslim Forum.

Sunday, December 2, 10.30am to 3.30pm
SIFC Youth Conference - "Courage to Change"
Glasgow University Chaplaincy Further details from Carrie  by email.
A poster can be downloaded as a pdf.
Closing Date November 16.

Wednesday, December 5, 7pm
The Bishop and the Iman
Key event from the Inter Faith Week events presented by the Edinburgh Inter Faith Association. St John's Church, Princes St., Edinburgh Full programme for EIFA can be found at the EIFA website. 

Tuesday, December 11, 5.30pm to 7.30pm
Glasgow University Centre for Inter-Faith Studies - Open Research Seminar
Prof. Joachim Gentz (Edinburgh University) "How to deal with the religious other" Problems of perception and reaction of Christian Europeans, Chinese Buddhists and the Chinese state regarding the Falun Gong Movement.
4 The Square, Glasgow University

May 20-22, 2008
"Can religions ever be channels for peace?"
Christian Interfaith Practitioners' Association Annual Conference.
Luther King House, Manchester.
Conference programme as a pdf.
Further details from, and bookings to, Johny, GRASSROOTS
47, High Town Road, Luton LU2 0BW, 01582-416946 or email.