LONDON – The spiritual leader of the third largest Christian denomination in the world was one of the first to welcome an unprecedented call for peace and understanding between Islam and Christianity from some of the world’s most powerful Muslim clerics, scholars and intellectuals.
"If Muslims and Christians are not at peace, the world cannot be at peace,” stated a letter carrying 138 signatures, including those of Muslim leaders from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Europe and the United States. “With the terrible weaponry of the modern world, with Muslims and Christians intertwined everywhere as never before, no side can unilaterally win a conflict between more than half of the worlds inhabitants.”
In response, Archbishop Rowan Williams, who leads the 77-million-member Anglican Communion, said “[t]he call to respect, peace and goodwill should now be taken up by Christians and Muslims at all levels and in all countries."
"The theological basis of the letter and its call to 'vie with each other only in righteousness and good works; to respect each other, be fair, just and kind to another and live in sincere peace, harmony and mutual good will,' are indicative of the kind of relationship for which we yearn in all parts of the world, and especially where Christians and Muslims live together," the Anglican leader also stated.
In addition to Williams, Thursday's letter also addressed Pope Benedict XVI, head of the Roman Catholic Church; Dr. Samuel Kobia, general secretary of the World Council of Churches; Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeos I, “first among equals” in the Eastern Orthodox Communion; as well as leaders of world groupings of Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist and Reformed Christians.
In the letter, entitled “A Common Word Between Us and You,” Muslim scholars from around the world said "finding common ground between Muslims and Christians is not simply a matter for polite ecumenical dialogue between selected religious leaders."
“Our common future is at stake. The very survival of the world itself is perhaps at stake,” it stated.
Using quotations from the Bible and the Koran to support their message, the scholars argued that the most fundamental tenets of Islam and Christianity are identical: love of one (and the same) God, and love of one’s neighbor.
"[L]et our differences not cause hatred and strife between us. Let us vie with each other only in righteousness and good works,” they urged in the 15-page letter.
"Let us respect each other, be fair, just and kind to (one) another and live in sincere peace, harmony and mutual goodwill."
In a statement released by the Evangelical Alliance, which represents more than a million evangelical Christians in the United Kingdom, church leaders said the letter “rightly draws attention to the fact that love of God and love of neighbor are central to the Quran and the Bible.”
“Any approach that is seeking to draw different religions into dialogue for the purpose of peace must be encouraged,” the alliance stated.
“There is a real challenge to both faiths to counter extremism and those who would pursue the path of violence,” the U.K. leaders added. “If this letter can help in that fight, then we are grateful for it.” Continue >>
Comments
The Pope and Mr Warren and the others need to explain and repent themselves over the recent signing of an Interfaith Ecumenical concession between many top Christian leaders and the Muslim faith. People, don't fall for a false peace initiative Trojan Horse that undermines the basic premises of the Christian Faith.
Please read the blog at http://www.myspace.com/outofbabylon
Muslims's approach to have a face to face talk with the Christians around the world is the best
opportunity to share the gospel with them in love and mutual respect. Koran tells the
immaculate conceptionof Jesus Christ, also both of the religions have the same saints like
Abraham, Moses, Joseph etc. My experience of sharing the way of salvation with the Muslims was a great response. God is opening a way of reaching millions of Muslims with the gospel of
Jesus Christ, make use of this great opportunity.
I do believe that we should strive to live in peace with all men, including Muslims and people from other false religions. They should be able to see Jesus in us. He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). That does not mean that I am sending every notional Muslim or Hindu to hell. People only go lost by rejecting Jesus. I am certainly not their final Judge. Jesus knows who belong to him, who come to the Father through him. There will be many surprises about who are saved, and about who are lost one day. Jesus will apply John 14:6 on each and everyone when he comes, and I leave that judgment in his hands. Am I trying to sit on two chairs?
Yes, dl, I agree with you. No man cometh unto the Father but by me, Jesus said (John 14:6).
I think the only time we will have peace on this world, is when our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ comes back. I am shocked when an head of a country, supposely Christian, says that the God of the bible is the same as allah. I am sorry, If He read " Issaiah 44 serse 6; Its makes it very plain and clear. There iis only one God and he has a son,"Jesus Christ" and Allah don't have a son. Christianity and Islam is so different. Yes we must love each other. we must tell them that the onlly to Heaven is through our lord Jesus Christ, there is no other God.
dl
I guess it would be too much to ask to get the Jews in on this? Oh, I guess that would take away the Muslim's most important target - Jerusalem.
While we are at it, let's have peace between Protestants and Catholics......
:)
The more the leftist socialist moralize the more irrelavant they appear.
Did Osama and friends sign this? If not, maybe nothing will change except for a perception that Islam desires peace. Many individual Muslims desire peace but these individuals are not the ones who have an effect on our safety.