The Bridge

July 2008, Issue No. 33
The Journal of the Churches' Agency for Inter Faith Relations in Scotland

One World Week's Inter Faith Project
One World Week (OWW), the development education charity, is broadening the scope of its traditional development education work with church communities to other faiths with a new three-year DfID-funded project, "Exploring Ubuntu - One World Week Across Faiths". (The word "Ubuntu" is an old African word which acknowledges the oneness of humanity.)

Suggestions for working together with people of many faiths and cultures can be found here. 

A report of the pilot project, "Building Local Bridges Together to Address Shared Global Concerns - Pointers for One World Week event organisers for involving people of many faiths in developing OWW events" , can be downloaded here (pdf, 4.13Mb). 

 
Building Bridges with Hinduism

Indian Hindu 'epic' on the life of Jesus is published
A Hindu woman living in India has produced a 900-page poetic epic, "Jesu Maha Darsana" ("Great philosophy of Jesus"), on the life and message of Jesus following the style of Hindu classics such as Mahabharat and Ramayan.

"This is the fruit of my great devotion to Jesus Christ.  Jesus' message of love, forgiveness and compassion makes him one of the greatest religious leaders," said author Latha Rajasekhar from Mysore, about 120 kilometres from Bangalore.
Ekklesia, Jul.14

Christian Hindu Relations under strain
You may have been aware of recent comment in the press concerning Christian-Hindu relations - in particular the blog of the religious affairs correspondent for the Times, Ruth Glenhill which quotes Anil Bhanot of the Hindu Council UK.  If not, see The Times.

This is a long running issue that has led to huge difficulties between the Churches and Hindu organisations. (The difficulties seem to be mostly within England.) As you may know, attempts to set up a Christian-Hindu Forum collapsed when Hindus from the Hindu Council and Hindu Forum walked out over a variety of issues including Christian campaigning on caste discrimination and missionary work in India.

Recently a report has appeared from the Hindu Forum which singles out various organisations such as Christian Solidarity Worldwide and CARE as well as MP's who are supportive to groups campaigning against caste discrimination.
See The Hindu Forum website.

Nine British Churches have commented on the current state of Christian-Hindu relationships in the UK.

The Churches' joint statement is as follows:
"As Churches with a concern for inter faith relations, we wish to comment on the recent report from the Hindu Forum of Britain entitled 'Caste in the UK', and on the press releases that accompanied it from the forum and the Hindu Council UK.

We greatly value our many friendships with Hindu colleagues and communities, and we warmly appreciate the contributions they make to British society. We believe that between us and along with other faith communities, we can continue to contribute to achieving a harmonious society in which we continue to honour the religious and other differences between us without compromising our respective integrities.

We note some of the difficult issues highlighted in the report, and we believe that the best way to address them is:
     by engaging in worthwhile conversations involving all concerned, in which different opinions and perspectives are heard respectfully, and positive outcomes are sought 
     by avoiding, in public or private, language that might unnecessarily cause offence 
     by being clear together that we oppose all forms of discrimination.

We believe that the most appropriate way to address these matters is through a renewed Hindu-Christian Forum that is representative of our communities, and which can address the many matters of importance to us and the wider British society."

Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) facilitated the writing of this statement by the following Churches:
     The Baptist Union of Great Britain
     The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales
     The Church of England
     The Church of Scotland
     The Methodist Church
     The Presbyterian Church of Wales 
     The Salvation Army
     The Scottish Episcopal Church
     The United Reformed Church

Building Bridges with Islam

"Above us and between us"
- CTBI's resource on "A Common Word" is now available on the CTBI website.
There is also the broader context to other initiatives here. 
The printed version is now at the printers and should available soon. if you would like a printed copy contact Revd Peter Colwell,  020 7654 7216

Islamic-Catholic panel reaches five conclusions
Christians and Muslims alike believe that it is their duty to show compassion toward every human being, given that God is compassionate, concluded the Islamic-Catholic Liaison Committee. This was one of five conclusions from the 14th meeting of the committee, which was held in the Vatican last month.

The five conclusions were:
1. From the inherent dignity of each human being stem fundamental rights and duties.
2. Justice is a priority in our world. It requires, beyond the implementation of the existing legal provisions, the respect of the fundamental needs of individuals and peoples through an attitude of love, fraternity and solidarity. There can be no true and lasting peace without justice.
3. Peace is a gift from God and also requires the commitment of all human beings, and particularly believers, who are called to be vigilant witnesses to peace in a world afflicted by violence in many forms.
4. Christians and Muslims believe that God is compassionate and therefore they consider it their duty to show compassion towards every human person, especially the needy and the weak."
5. Religions, if authentically practiced, effectively contribute in promoting brotherhood and harmony in the human family.
Zenit, Jun.16

Bishop urges Muslim evangelism
The Anglican Bishop of Lichfield has urged Christians not to be fearful of inviting Muslims to learn about Jesus Christ. In a letter to the diocese last week, Bishop Jonathan Gledhill said that Christian "neighbourliness" required sharing the "Good News" of Jesus Christ.

A flabby Christianity that was too timid to be true to its central beliefs was a poor dialogue partner, he said as "Muslims do not respect Christians who compromise their faith or water down their belief in the uniqueness of Christ."

Christians do not "convert anyone. Only God can do that and he does not force himself upon us. He commands us to love our neighbours," the bishop said and encouraged people to "learn more about the Muslim religion and to show respect for Muslim communities."  However, "part of neighbourliness will be to share our Good News with them," Bishop Gledhill said.
Religious Intelligence, Jul.5

Lailat al Miraj featured in "Relations with Other Faiths"
The July edition of this newsletter from Iain Stewart, Church of Scotland Inter-Faith Support Worker, features the Muslim festival of Lailat al Miraj and the conclusion of the Inter-Faith project refurbishing Govan Hill Trinity Church Hall.  Download it from the Church of Scotland Extranet.  

Iain Stewart adds, "I feel I should reiterate the point here that the festivals described in 'Relations With Other Faiths' are from the point of view of the people who practice the individual traditions and do no reflect my own views or the views of the Church. This month's festival describes Muslims beliefs concerning the festival of Lailat al Miraj. The article highlights key differences between the Christian and Muslim faiths as regards the position of our Lord and Saviour. Jesus is regarded as a very important prophet in Islam and not as God.

Muslims failure to recognise this truth can often become a stumbling block for good relations. However I do not feel that we should try to pretend our differences don't exist.

Good Inter-Faith dialogue only takes places when we are open and frank with one another and realise where each other is coming from. Only then can real dialogue take place. I myself have had open discussion with Muslim friends asking them why if they can accept many of the miracles of Jesus, can they not accept the truth of these miracles that they are a sign that Jesus is God? I won't give up on this point but at the moment we are prepared to disagree and celebrate the things that we do have in common such as the belief in the one God and the Golden Rule."

Mecca talks stress religious tolerance
   King Abdullah calls for better interfaith relations
   Saudi highlights dangers of Islamist extremism
More than 500 delegates from around the world gathered in the Islamic holy city of Mecca last month with the aim of fostering better relations between Muslims and followers of other faiths. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia opened the three-day conference by stressing the need for better understanding and cooperation between monotheistic religions.

The king urged his audience to promote the true message of Islam and said the Islamic world faced great difficulties in the form of extremists whose "aggressions and excessiveness" targeted the tolerance of the religion.

The 500 participants in the conference, who represented different currents of Islamic thought from around the world, reiterated their "no" to conflict with civilization, inviting the leaders of all nations to concord and the promotion of a culture of dialogue.
The Guardian, Jun.5

House of Lords debate report
Baroness Park called for attention to the case for maintaining the rule of law and ensuring that respect for other cultures does not infringe upon the right of United Kingdom citizens to protection under the law, particularly in the field of education and marriage. She highlighted her concern is with the effects on civil society and community relations arising from the existence of two parallel legal systems: Sharia law with its own courts, and our own civil law, the law of the land with particular reference to Muslim women who are British citizens.
Hansard, Jun.19

Top judge carefully re-opens debate about Sharia in Britain
Echoing remarks made early this year by Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, Lord Chief Justice Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers has said that there is no conflict between Sharia principles for conflict resolution and common law in England and Wales.
In a speech on 'Equality before the Law' to leading members of the Muslim community at the East London Muslim Centre, Britain's most senior judge was, however, careful to avoid the verbal imprecisions which had caused uproar when the Archbishop spoke on the BBC in connection with his address at the Royal Courts of Justice.

In a careful lecture, the Lord Chief Justice declared: "There is no reason why sharia principles, or any other religious code, should not be the basis for mediation or other forms of alternative dispute resolution [with the understanding] ... that any sanctions for a failure to comply with the agreed terms of mediation would be drawn from the Laws of England and Wales."

He also backed the creation of specialist financial products and services which comply with Sharia principles, something the UK Treasury has acknowledged since 2002. Recently there has been publicity for Sharia mortgages, which operate in terms amenable to secular, Christian, Jewish and other advocates of monetary justice.
Ekklesia, Jul.4
You can also read Lord Phillips' full speech here (pdf, 81 Kb) 

Between a rock and jihad place?
Interfaith dialogue, like that promoted by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, doesn't mean very much if religious differences are not embraced.  Talking about common ground and shared values was a way to promote a more positive image of Islam.
Riazat Butt  writing in The Guardian's Comment is Free, Jun.9

Bishop backs Sharia law in UK
Religious communities should be allowed to uphold their own legal systems when they are not in conflict with human rights, the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds has said.

The Bishop referred to the Church retaining the right not to marry people who have been divorced and to Jewish Beth Din courts and Somali customary law which enable "disputes to be settled in the security of a particular cultural group without recourse to the secular courts" and provide a "safe haven for independent adjudications".
Religious Intelligence, Jul.3

Interreligious Dialogue Seen as Tough, But Necessary
If we want a halt to violence carried out in the name of God, we must also engage in authentic dialogue with Islam, a Vatican spokesman affirmed.  He analyzed the outcome of the 1st International Islamic Conference on Dialogue held in Mecca on Vatican Television.
Zenit, Jun.15

Interreligious dialogue must aim to preserve human dignity
Challenges facing Christians today are too strong for a divided church, said World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia in Egypt recently as he called for church unity both locally and globally. Kobia was speaking during a 16-21 June visit to WCC member churches in the country.

The delegation met the Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar University and Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Mosque Dr Mohammad Sayyed Tantawy with whom they discussed the prospects for Christian-Muslim dialogue. "An accurate mutual understanding of religions can only be achieved if Christians and Muslims see each other as human beings rather than as representatives of different faith groups," said Kobia.

The Minister of religious affairs Dr Mahmoud Zakzouk met the delegation and emphasized the importance of communication in order to modify negative perceptions of Islam. "Islam is a religion of love, respect and peace; we reject all aspects of violence", stated Zakzouk.

In turn, Kobia emphasized the role of interreligious dialogue in overcoming misunderstandings and prejudices. "Christians and Muslims form together more than 55% of the world's population. If we find ways of dialogue and we live peacefully together then we will contribute to global peace", he said.
WCC News, Jun.26

Call for Jerusalem peace and Christian - Muslim cooperation on ecology
Bishop Munib Younan has said that Christians need to have a stronger voice in Jerusalem to prevent tensions spreading there, and that Muslims and Christians should work together on ecology issues. Younan, the bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land since 1998, appealed for Jerusalem's multi-faceted character of "holiness and inclusivity" to continue.

"Europe is suffering because [Christians] do not know how to talk with Muslims. Africa is also having problems on how to talk to Muslims. Ecology is the way to speak to the Muslims because we share the environment," Younan said.
Ekklesia, Jul.7

Search for Mosque in Wrexham
A Muslim community is looking for a site for a mosque and cultural centre to replace the portable building used.  Local Christian leaders are fully supporting the hunt for premises.
BBC News, Jun.17

Church and Society Commission of Conference of European Churches
- Updates on European Affairs 2008
Religious leaders meet with the Presidents of the European Institutions; CSC seminar on socially responsible investment; White Paper on Intercultural Dialogue; CSC seminar on Islam, Christianity and Europe; transparency; Treaty reform; migration; upcoming CSC events; also including a Report of the Islam, Christianity and Europe seminar of 29 May 2008 which dealt with the issue of the visibility of religion in European public space, and more specifically with questions concerning worship places and religious symbols in clothing. The construction of mosques and the wearing of veils have acted as a catalyst to public debate about freedom of religion, acceptance of change, respect for difference, relations between different religious communities and the relationship between the religious and the secular.
CEC-KEK Update, May/June 2008
See also Project Islam.

Sharing the Space
A booklet outlining some starting points for promoting conversations between Christians and Muslims produced by St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace can be downloaded (pdf, 130Kb) here.

The booklet poses the tough question, "If Christians and Muslims claim to have different versions of the 'word of God', and both see it as central to persuade others that theirs is the truth, can conflict be avoided?" and explores its implications, before considering the basis and nature of the ensuing conversation.

Building Bridges Together

Faiths combine to send Israel a mission of peace
A group of 30 Scots including Baha'is, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims and Sikhs set out on a week long inter faith pilgrimage to Israel/Palestine, visiting sites holy for Christianity, Judaism and Islam together.

The group has identified the following aims and outcomes for the pilgrimage.
   To affirm Scotland as a leading country in promoting inter-faith dialogue and understanding.
   To establish friendships among the participants which will lead to greater community cohesion in Scotland.
   To take a lead on policy issues and debate which are of concern to faith groups at local and national levels.
   To share this experience, both locally and nationally, and offer support and advice to promote other bridge-building activities.
   To create a better understanding of faith diversity and the value of enhanced cooperation.

On their return it is intended that members of the group will be able to form small inter-faith teams that will be available to speak to religious and community groups around Scotland and encourage the work of bridge-building.

Participants include Rt Rev David Lunan, Moderator of the Church of Scotland General Assembly, Rabbi Moshe Rubin, Sheikh Mohammed Ruzwan, Acharyaji Medini Mishra and the Venerable Kamburawala Rewatha Thero.
One of the leading participants, Very Rev Finlay Macdonald writing in The Herald, Jul.4

Climbing mountains together
Ben Lomond was the peak claimed by a group of walkers including Christians, Muslims and Buddhists from Maryhill and the West End of Glasgow recently.  Fr John O'Connor of St Columba's RC Church was joined by Imam Mustaqueem, Buddhist Mae Wilson, and Rev Roy Henderson of Landsdowne Parish Church and other colleagues and friends; together they raised £2345 for the special baby care unit at the Queen Mother Hospital.

Fr O'connor is quoted in Flourish saying, "Climbing a mountain together exposes people to each other. There is an identifyable goal and you learn to walk together towards it"

Let CAIRS know of any other inter faith activities that might inspire others to find different ways to build bridges of understanding. 

Picnic in the park
CSI - Central Scotland Interfaith was inaugurated at a May meeting in Stirling Mosque, and plan to hold their first social on Sunday July 27 by meeting for a shared picnic in Callendar Park, Falkirk.  Maureen Sier reckons this will be the first interfaith picnic in Scotland.

If you live in Central Scotland and would like to join us, meet in front of Callendar House at 2.30pm.  If wet, check with Andrew on 0772 456 8259 for alternative arrangements. 

Walking across Canada to denounce violence
If you wanted to do something more challenging, then why not join  (at least in prayer) with an interfaith group walking from Halifax, Nova Scotia on Canada's Atlantic coast to Victoria on Vancouver Island.  The group, led by Calgary Imam Syed Soharwardy began this Multi Faith Walk Against Violence in April and anticipate arriving at the Pacific in November. Soharwardy is very active in the Multi Faith community and he wanted to widen the audience for his message of peace beyond the mosques, churches and synagogues.
See their website for more details. 

Faith leaders urge 'tackle climate change'
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland David Lunan, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, and leading Scottish imam Muhammad Ruzwan, met Finance Secretary John Swinney to discuss the issue and urged Scottish ministers to introduce strong measures to tackle climate change. They said that different faiths can play an active role in helping the government promote the environment in their communities.
The Press & Journal, Jul.2 

British Prime Minister reaches out to faith groups
Gordon Brown, has launched a new consultation and dialogue involving the Labour Party, churches and faith communities, to be overseen by Alun Michael MP as part of Labour's Faiths Taskforce. The consultation Believing for a Better Britain hopes to understand the concerns of faith communities from the grassroots level up and consider how they can be reflected in the next Labour manifesto. The leader of the Faithworks Movement, the Rev Malcolm Duncan will conduct the consultation, closely involved with the Christian Socialist Movement (CSM). Mr Brown said his party was moving into "new and exciting territory" with its work on faith: "The Faith Taskforce is part of that new territory and under the chairmanship of Alun Michael it will have a vital contribution to make to the Labour party's plans for the future." Religious Intelligence, Jun.20

British faith group proposes 'Principles for Peace'
Imagine around 24 people earnestly engaged in conversation in small groups. That was Leeds-Israel-Palestine Forum members getting to know one another at a series of Sunday afternoon meetings. Over refreshments they jokingly referred to a well known store's vegetarian biscuits as multi-faith biscuits - acceptable as halal and kosher. The group met at the St George's Church in the centre of Leeds. Their primary aim was simply to listen to the views of the different faith communities on the Israel-Palestine issue.

Relationships in the city between the three faiths have been good although, perhaps not unnaturally, limited. Many in the Muslim community feel that the London bombings have put enormous pressure on them and they sometimes feel very vulnerable. There are people in the city, as elsewhere, who have developed a negative view of Islam, seeing it simply as a source of terrorism. Many in the Jewish community feel vulnerable too: they see an increase in the number of anti-Semitic incidents and serial misrepresentation of Israel by elements of the British media. The events of 7/7 served as a wake up call to many in the city to build stronger relationships between the different faith communities.

As a consequence of their discussions, the forum produced a set of "Principles for Peace' including both general moral and religious matters and specific proposals to promote healing in the conflict between Israel and Palestine, which have subsequently been endorsed by the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, John Sentamu, Desmond Tutu and Tony Blair.
The principles are outlined in Religious Intelligence, Jun.22

Recovering the Calm - Prayer Spaces in workplaces
A new guide from St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace offers practical guidance for employers in providing high quality prayer rooms and quiet space for employees.

The guide explores various aspects of best practice in the provision of prayer space such as the need to consult with employees over the management of the space, etiquette for users of the room, and sharing the resource between employees of different faiths. It also looks at the design of the space, providing guidance on the location, size, lighting, furniture, washing facilities and other factors that should be taken into account. A series of case studies in the guide outline some examples of best practice.

Copies of the guide can be downloaded (pdf, 1.42Mb) from St Ethelburga's website.
A printed copy can also be obtained free of charge, by emailing Justine Huxley, St Ethelburga's Interfaith Projects Coordinator.

University creates new chair to explore Abrahamic religions
Oxford University is to create a new Chair in the Study of the Abrahamic Religions, following a benefactor's gift of £2.5 million. The chair, due to be filled from the start of the 2009/10 academic year will study the three religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam - all of which refer to the teachings of Abraham and his descendants. As an academic subject, Abrahamic Religions focuses especially on relations between the three religions.
Religious Intelligence, Jul.7

Seesaw of interfaith cooperation: working together for peaceful relations in Cologne
"It's always good to see what can come of an idea," says Rev. Barbara Rudolph, executive director of the Council of Christian Churches in Germany (ACK). On this beautiful summer Sunday, she is delighted to hear how the local project in Cologne of the campaign Weißt Du wer ich bin? ("Do you know who I am?") has developed. The nationwide campaign was launched by the ACK, the Central Council of Jews, the Central Council of Muslims and the Turkish-Islamic Union at the Institute for Religion (Ditib) and has, with support from the Federal Ministry for Internal Affairs, set up 120 local projects to promote greater interfaith cooperation. In Cologne, too, the seed has fallen on fertile soil.

Barbara Rudolph was with the World Council of Churches' Living Letters team that is visiting Germany seeking good examples of overcoming violence. The delegation was in Germany visiting projects working to bring the faiths together to achieve the aims of the Decade to Overcome Violence.

Hannelore Bartscherer, the chairperson of the local Catholic Committee, sees the seesaw as a good symbol for interfaith cooperation in Cologne: on a seesaw, sometimes you rise and sometimes you fall, but it's fun, and you need each other to get any movement going, she explained to the visitors from the WCC. It's fitting, then, that one initiative aiming to promote good relations in everyday life pays for a seesaw for a playground somewhere in Cologne each year and seeks children from all three religions to act as playground mentors.
WCC News, Jul.7

Young Muslims, Jews and Christians gather together at Bossey
From 7 to 31 July near Geneva some 25 young adults - Muslims, Jews and Christians - from European, Middle Eastern, Asian, African and American countries are exploring together the question: "How can we affirm our religious identities not in separation or against each other but in relation to one another?"

Each day starts with a moment of prayer and spirituality, prepared alternately by the Christian, the Jewish and the Muslim participants. The monolithic society created on the pattern "one nation, one culture and one religion" is rapidly becoming a relic of the past. In this context, the one-month programme "Building an Interfaith Community" prepares the future generation of leaders in churches, other faith communities and society at large for the challenges of living peacefully in a world of religious plurality.
WCC press release, Jul.2 

Faithbook launched to promote inter-faith dialogue
A new social networking group to promote interfaith dialogue on the internet has been launched.  Faithbook, a pun on the name of the popular social networking website Facebook, of which it is a part, is the brainchild of the Movement for Reform Judaism in the UK, and has the stated aim of utilising images, videos and provocative commentary from figures from nine major faiths "to spark responsible interfaith dialogue across the UK and the rest of the world."  Users will be able to upload photographs and initiate discussions with one another on religious matters.  The initiative has the backing and support of the Muslim Institute.
Faithbook can be found on Facebook.
Religious Intelligence, Jun.16

A prayer for interfaith understanding from Faithbook

God of all creation,
we stand in awe before You,
impelled by visions of human harmony.
We are children of many traditions
- inheritors of shared wisdom and tragic misunderstanding,
of proud hopes and humble successes.
Now it is time for us to meet
- in memory and truth,
in courage and trust,
in love and promise.
In that which we share,
let us see the common prayer of humanity;
where we differ,
let us wonder at human freedom;
in our unity and our differences,
let us know the uniqueness that is God.
May our courage match our convictions,
and our integrity match our hope.
May our faith in You bring us closer to each other.
May our meeting with past and present
bring blessing for the future.
Amen.
Faithbook, Jun.2

You can also find a prayer for peace and harmony written by the Pakistan-based International Movement for the Promotion of Peace here.

MERCIFUL GOD,
You made all of the people of the world in Your own image
and placed before us the pathway of salvation
through different Preachers
who claimed to have been Your Saints and Prophets.
But, the contradictions (made by us)
in Your teachings have resulted in creating divisions,
faith based hatreds and bloodshed in the world community.
Millions of innocent men, women and children
have so far been brutally killed by the militants of several religions
who have been committing horrifying crimes against humanity
and millions more would be butchered by them in the future,
if You do not guide and help us find ways to unite peacefully.

IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE COMPASSIONATE, THE MERCIFUL,
look with compassion on the whole human family;
take away the controversial teachings of arrogance,
divisions and faith based hatreds
which have badly infected our hearts;
break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love;
and work through our struggle and confusion
to accomplish Your purposes on earth;
that, in Your good time,
all nations and races could jointly serve You
in justice, peace and harmony.
Amen 

Interfaith initiative boost for Millennium effort
As co-president of Religions for Peace, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, gathered religious leaders from around the world for a summit of the largest multi-faith coalition at Lambeth Palace, focused on achieving the Millennium Development Goals.  Dr Williams said: "Mobilising the world's religious communities in common action is critically important at a time when the human family faces grave threats to peace, such as violent conflict, extreme poverty, and climate change.  To an audience of Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and Zoroastrian members the Archbishop highlighted the potential of faith-based education to create a culture of peace and spoke out against violence against religion.

Fellow co-president, Sheikh Shaban Mubaje, said: "Extreme poverty is an affront to human dignity. The collective reach and moral authority of religious leaders of different faiths is great, and so is our responsibility to work together to end poverty and achieve true Peace."
Religious Intelligence, Jun.14 
See also the Religions for Peace website.

Obstructions to Bridge Building

The Sharia debate: we can't all be equal under different laws
Allowing British Muslims recourse to Islamic law would be a charter for male dominance and peer-group bullying.  Sneakily, Britain's first Muslim Minister, Shahid Malik, has ducked the critics that he will enrage in an interview broadcast on Channel 4's Dispatches programme last Monday.

Knowing that the phrase he uses to describe the situation of British Muslims - "the Jews of Europe" - would make the headlines, he has put it in the mouths of others. "If you ask Muslims today what do they feel like," he says, "they feel like the Jews of Europe." He does not say if he thinks that they are right.
Matthew Parris writing in The Times, Jul.5

Islamophobia: Swiss far right seeks vote on minarets ban
Switzerland braced itself for a troubled campaign of Islamophobia yesterday after the far right drummed up enough support to force a national vote to ban minarets.  In a country that is home to more than 300,000 Muslims but boasts only three minarets, a series of court cases and votes in regional parliaments has recently dismissed attempts to have minarets outlawed. But a campaign, led by the rightwing populists of the Swiss People's party, to enshrine a ban on minarets in the Swiss constitution yesterday mustered more than enough signatures to warrant a referendum on the sensitive issue.
Disputes over mosque and minaret-building are also ongoing in Germany, Austria, Italy, and the Netherlands.
The Guardian, Jul.9

Israeli soldiers kill Palestinian youth, assault Christian peacemakers
Israeli soldiers have assaulted Christian Peacemakers and shot and killed a Palestinian youth in a village north of Hebron. Mohammad Al-Alameh, 17, was shot minutes after local contacts in Beit Ummar made a call to the Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) in Hebron, saying that the Israeli soldiers were entering homes and detaining civilians.

When the team arrived half an hour later, rocks littered the main street. Israeli soldiers marched up and down the block with assault rifles held in a firing position, amid clusters of Palestinian men huddled in quiet shock.

A CPT member attempted to photograph the troops, but was tackled to the ground without warning by an Israeli soldier. The CPTer confronted the soldiers, saying, "You killed a 17-year-old boy tonight. Why? His blood is on your hands." The soldier nearest to him smiled, and was asked, "Why are you smiling? Do you have no conscience? Will you do anything the government orders you to do? Are you not accountable to God?"

A link to video showing the CPT member engaging the soldiers the following day at the funeral is available on You Tube.  
Ekklesia, Jul.2

Hindu nationalists declare conversion a 'heinous crime'
A Hindu nationalist organisation that is notorious for launching violent attacks on Indian Christians and Muslims has demanded that religious conversion be treated as a 'heinous crime' in India.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) or World Hindu Council allege that 5,000 foreign (read Christian) priests were converting people in India, and that they were staying on tourist and business visas. They are demanding that all the foreign missionaries be deported.

They also accuses Christians of using money and "force" to convert Hindus, a charge that Christians in India deny, saying most preachers are Indian and no unfair means is used in evangelism.
Religious Intelligence, Jun.26

Faith schools undermined by 'Government witch hunt'
Ministers have exaggerated claims that Christian, Jewish and Muslim schools cherry-pick the best pupils to justify a series of "plots and threats" against the religious sector, it is claimed.

Key changes to school admissions rules - including a ban on interviewing families - have been introduced despite a lack of real evidence that faith schools discriminate against poor pupils, the Centre for Policy Studies think-tank said.

The latest report (pdf, 426 Kb) by the writer and broadcaster Cristina Odone, said parental fears over education standards coupled with concerns over discipline meant they were "sending their children to faith schools in increasing numbers". She also said faith schools are good for Muslim girls as they give their parents the confidence to keep them in school for longer and sharply raise the chances of going on to higher education.
Daily Telegraph, Jun.30

Response by Yasmin Alibhai-Brown: Religions should not be allowed to make ghettos
Odone's new report on faith schools for the Centre for Policy Studies, In Bad Faith: The New Betrayal of Faith Schools, is insufferable. She enthuses over faith-based schools, especially Muslim schools, where our children are apparently taught to be Muslim and British (you don't say), as if, like donkeys and horses, we have to be specially trained into behaviours to get to this state of grace. Some ardent Christians, Jews, Hindus, and Muslims are rising, collaborating to demolish secularism in the UK, which has always been weak and too loosely committed to the separation of faith and state.
The Independent, Jun.30

Faith school judgement fails to consider human rights angle
Supporters of broad-based and inclusive publicly-funded schools have expressed disappointment at a high court judgment issued yesterday, which examines for the first time the legality of faith school admissions, but fails to consider seriously the possibility of religious discrimination under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

The case, which was heard in March 2008, was brought against the Jews' Free School (JFS) in Harrow by parents whose child was denied a place at the school under rules which favour children of Jewish descent over those who follow Jewish practice, a policy which the claimant argued to be discriminatory on ethnic grounds.
Ekklesia, Jul.4

This country to so pro-Muslim it is giving succour to the extremists who would destroy us
Three years after the London Tube and bus bombings, it is alarming beyond measure to record that Britain is even now sleepwalking into Islamisation. Some people will think this is mere hyperbole. However, that's the problem. Britain still doesn't grasp that it is facing a pincer attack from both terrorism and cultural infiltration and usurpation. The former is understood; the latter is generally not acknowledged or is even denied, and those who call attention to it are pilloried as either ' Islamophobes' or alarmists who have taken up residence on Planet Paranoia.
Daily Mail, Jul.8

The shameful Islamophobia at the heart of Britain's press
When a tabloid newspaper reports that a 'Muslim hate mob' is daubing abuse, can we believe them?

On the morning of 7 October 2006 The Sun newspaper splashed a dramatic story across its front page. The story - billed as exclusive - concerned a callous and cynical crime committed by Muslims. A team of Sun reporters described in graphic detail how what the paper labeled a "Muslim hate mob" had vandalised a house near Windsor. The Sun revealed that "vile yobs hurled bricks through windows and daubed obscenities. A message on the drive spelled out in 4ft-letters: 'F*** off '."

One Tory MP, Philip Davies, was quoted venting outrage at this act of vandalism. "If there's anybody who should f*** off," Davies was quoted as saying, "it's the Muslims who are doing this kind of thing. Police should pull out the stops to track down these vile thugs". But there was one very big problem with The Sun story. There was no Muslim involvement of any kind.

We should all feel a little bit ashamed about the way we treat Muslims in the media, in our politics, and on our streets. They are our fellow citizens, yet often we barely acknowledge them. We misrepresent and in certain cases persecute them. We do not treat Muslims with the tolerance, decency and fairness that we so often like to boast is the British way. We urgently need to change our public culture.
The Independent, Jul.7


Other News

'Scottish Islamic state plotted'
Plans to set up a secret Islamist state in Scotland were discussed by two supporters of jihad, a court has heard. The pair, Aabid Khan and Sultan Muhammad, said it could provide a safe haven for those who felt "oppressed", London's Blackfriars Crown Court heard.  Khan, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, said the only problem was the availability of weapons, the court was told.

He said it began with Mr Muhammad explaining how he and work colleagues had allegedly been chatting about "hijrah" or emigration for Muslims feeling oppressed in Britain. He then continued: "So like maybe a remote part of Scotland - people were like 'What the hell?' - at least to a place where there were Muslim communities."

Mr Khan is said to have replied: "A group of Muslims can go to a remote place and set up a mini Sharia state and they can rule according to Sharia law, like this and stay there, building them up and their children up, preparing for fitness, and then launching jihad once they strengthen themselves."
BBC News, Jun.12

Parents 'key' in terrorism fight
The head of counter-terrorism for the police in Scotland, said parents should be encouraged to come forward if they had concerns about their children. Allan Burnett believes such an approach could help rehabilitate youths who had become radicalised.

Mr Burnett said the courts should differentiate between those young people who had "shown an interest" in terrorism and those who had "crossed the line" and "caused mayhem and murder".
BBC News, Jun.20

The law and other wives - an essay from Kenan Malik
'When Australian Muslims demand the right to polygamy, they are not seeking to return to an authentic past. After all, an authentic Muslim past would contain no notion such as 'rights' that are a modern invention. Rather what they are seeking to do is to use an invented past to shape the present. The demand for legally-recognised polygamy is an attempt to reshape the relationship between Muslim communities and the state and to assert the right of so-called community leaders to define the needs of 'their' community. That is another reason why it should be resisted.'
Originally published in The Australian, Jun.28

Apology over 'offensive' puppy police advert after Muslim complaints
Muslims have complained over a police advert featuring a puppy sitting in an officer's hat.  Tayside Police has apologised to Islamic leaders for the "offensive" postcard advertising a new non-emergency telephone number, which shows a six-month-old trainee police dog named Rebel. The German shepherd puppy has proved hugely popular with the public, hundreds of who have logged on to the force's website to read his online training diary. But some Muslims in the Dundee area have reportedly been upset by the image because they consider dogs to be "ritually unclean", while shopkeepers have refused to display the advert.
Daily Telegraph, Jul.1
Claims that a promotional police postcard featuring a puppy is offensive to members of the Islamic community have been dismissed by one of Dundee's leading Muslims. The Courier, Jul.2

Baha'i shrines become recognised world heritage sites
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting has determined that two Baha'i shrines in Israel possess "outstanding universal value" and should be considered as part of the cultural heritage of humanity as a whole.  They join other places of global religious significance like the Vatican, the Old City of Jerusalem, and the remains of the recently destroyed Bamiyan Buddhist statues in Afghanistan.
Ekklesia, Jul.10

Islamic preachers to give moderate advice
A panel of Islamic scholars to give advice on modern living is to be introduced as part of a Government scheme to counter extremism. The Muslim clerics will give advice, particularly to women and young people, on how the Koran should be interpreted for life in the 21st century.

This is bound to be controversial among young Muslims partly because of its state backing but also because only certain scholars are qualified to give Islamic rulings or "fatwas" which normally emanate from Saudi Arabia. The latest move is part of the UK Government's "Prevent" strategy for countering violent extremism, unveiled earlier this year, which is seeking to "engage" young Muslims in a bid to stop the spread of extremism.
Daily Telegraph, Jul.13

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The next issue of The Bridge will be published on September 16, 2008. 
Items for inclusion should reach me by September 15.

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