InterfaithNews.Net

Introduction to the February 2006 edition of InterfaithNews.net, with editorial reflections on “religiously- motivated” hate.

The threats of violence – the rage permeating elements of many Arab/Muslim societies – today reached new heights, with several deaths in Afghanistan and Lebanon and hate-filled attacks elsewhere. In my editorial for February, I wrote that I did not understand the shear depths of this rage. Several friends have correctly reminded me that many societies are still dealing with hundreds of years of Western-domination, colonialism, and economic imperialism. To this, add the repression and manipulation by dictatorial regimes – and you have a milieu that, without even having to resort to a specific belief system, results in the riots we have seen today. But that is not the full story.

The need for a continuing dialogue between Jews and Muslims is all too
apparent in the world's news. Professors Judea Pearl, father of slain
journalist Daniel Pearl, and Akbar Ahmed share some of the findings from
their three-nation tour of "The Daniel Pearl Dialogue for Muslim-Jewish
Understanding," which show a path ahead for productive and meaningful
dialogue between members of these two great religions.

Professor Mohammed Abu-Nimer of the American University in Washington, DC writes about the important, though as yet largely potential, role for interfaith dialogue in the continuing Middle East peace process. One interfaith organization making real strides in bringing together the region’s religions is the Interfaith Encounter Assocation, as recognized in their receipt of the Immortal Chaplains Foundation’s Prize for Humanity (also covered this month).

URI Executive Director Charles Gibbs offers his reflections on the recent victory of Hamas in Palestinian Parliament elections—beginning with despair and ending in hope.

The Interfaith Encounter Association, a thriving dialogue group bringing together members of Israel and Palestine’s religious groups in cities across the region, will this weekend be a co-recipient of the Immortal Chaplains Foundation’s Prize for Humanity.

“Liberian Vice President Boakai Tells Monrovia Conference, Peace Depends On People Seeing Improvement in Their Lives

In January, the National Council of Churches of Christ, through their Faithful America project, released a provocative look at the “State of the Union” from an faith / interfaith perspective.

At the turn of the new year, Mussie Hailu, Vice Chair of the United Religions Initiative’s (URI) Global Council, wrote a touching and inspiring letter to URI members worldwide. Though written specifically to the URI, its content is broad and I commend it to all participants in the global interfaith movement.