InterfaithNews.Net

NEW YORK, N.Y. (MCC) - Sept. 22, 2006 - Nearly 45 religious leaders from Christian and Muslim faith backgrounds met with the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Sept. 20, in an open discussion about the role religious communities can play in reversing the deepening crisis between Iran and the United States.

Ecumenical News International – June 6, 2006 – The World Summit of Religious Leaders, the largest interfaith gathering to convene in Russia since the time of the Cold War, has closed by passing a resolution condemning terrorism, economic inequality, environmental abuses and the denigration of moral values in the modern world – writes Sophia Kishkovsky for Ecumenical News International.

Shanta Premawardhana, Associate General Secretary for Interfaith
Relations, National Council of Churches USA, has graciously allowed us to
republish a presentation he recently made at the Connecticut Council for
Interreligious Understanding. He begins with a beautiful vision of children
from all over the world playing together. With that peaceful meditation in
mind, he addresses the nature of interfaith dialogue, delving into and
explicating four different types of dialogue that he identifies as Dialogue
of Life, Dialogue of Action, Dialogue of Contemplation, Dialogue of
Theological Reflection.

Meeting from March 20 through 22nd, a group of 150 Jewish Rabbis and Islamic Imams gathered in Seville, Spain for dialogue and collaborative action planning, with the theme of "Islam and Judaism as instruments of peace - recognition and respect of others." Two of the participants, Co-Executive Directors of Children of Abraham, share their personal experiences of the conference, its conflicts, means, and results.

On the first day of spring, March 21, Charles, Prince of Wales, spoke to a gathering at the University of Al Azhar in Egypt. He speech focused on the commonalities of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam — all based in the Abrahamic traditions — and the need for all parties to look deeply at their understanding of the other, (re) learning to appreciate the strength of each and the examples history has for us of fruitful collaboration between the three.

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).

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.

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.

On September 11, the Washington National Cathedral (in Washington, D.C.,
USA), will host delegates from Christian denominations worldwide as they call
for United Nations member states to support the
Millennium Development
Goals.