A top Vatican official in charge of relations with Islam said a recent letter from Muslim scholars to Pope Benedict XVI and other global Christian leaders is “very interesting” and “very encouraging.”
"I would say that this represents a very encouraging sign because it shows that good will and dialogue are capable of overcoming prejudices," Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran said Friday, according to The Associated Press.
The letter, entitled “A Common Word Between Us and You,” calls for peace and understanding between Islam and Christianity, claiming that if the two communities are not at peace “the world cannot be at peace.”
“Our common future is at stake,” it added. “The very survival of the world itself is perhaps at stake.”
The document has been hailed by many as unprecedented and historic as it includes the signatures of 138 Muslim clerics, scholars and intellectuals from all branches of Islam – Sunni and Shia, Salafi and Sufi, liberal and conservative. Among the signatories were no fewer than 19 current and former grand ayatollahs and grand muftis, noted Newsweek magazine.
Dr. Aref Ali Nayed, a senior adviser at the Cambridge Inter-faith Programmed at Cambridge University, told the British Broadcasting Corp. the letter was representative of the Islamic world.
"There are Sunnis, Shias, Ibadis and even the... Ismailian and Jaafari schools, so it's a consensus," he said.
Vatican official Tauran, who heads the pontifical council for inter-religious dialogue, similarly said the letter was "very interesting" because it "comes from both Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims” – two communities who have often remained separate, mingling regularly only during the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca.
It is also "a non-polemical document with numerous quotes from both the Old Testament and the New Testament," he added, according to the Catholic News Agency.
Using quotations from the Bible and the Koran to support their message, the authors of the letter 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."
Shortly after news of the letter was released, Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams, who is among the letter’s recipients, responded, saying “[t]he call to respect, peace and goodwill should now be taken up by Christians and Muslims at all levels and in all countries."
Williams, who leads the 77-million-member Anglican Communion, the third largest Christian denomination in the world, also stated that 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."
In addition to Benedict and Williams, Thursday's letter also addressed Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeos I, “first among equals” in the Eastern Orthodox Communion; Dr. Samuel Kobia, general secretary of the World Council of Churches; as well as leaders of world groupings of Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist and Reformed Christians.
Comments
I think this is a good sign that someone in Christianity is reaching out in a proactive way to our Muslim brothers and sisters. The moment that Islam ceases to rebel against Jesus Christ is the moment that they will begin being drawn toward Him.
Wouldn't it be great if all the leaders of Christianity could come together and present a UNITED body of Christ to the Muslim delegation?
The belief that Islam and Christianity worship the same God is false. It is a lie. There is only one God but there are many imposters.
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, do not fall for this Trojan Horse!
Please read the blog at http://www.myspace.com/outofbabylon
Read John 3:16 - God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. You too can have a relationship with the God who loves you. Call on Him and He will answer you. Seek and you will find; then find a church where they are not afraid/ashamed of the true Gospel of Good News of Christ, and grow in the Word, and then tell others about the true life changing message of Christ, and what He did for you..
The Post modern Emergent/Seeker Friendly/COEXIST movement as well as well know Rick Warren, and his Global P.E.A.C.E Plan are behind the scenes with apostate Rome trying to provide people with a touchy-feely psychobable. They deny the Lordship of Christ, while pretending to bring peace on earth. Apart from the Jesus Christ of the Bible, you cannot have true, lasting peace. Humanism, along with the other New Age ism's will never coexist with Biblical Christianity. They compromise the faith by creating the impression that "all roads lead to God". This is a false doctrine, and Christ, as well as the apostles warned us this would come. What the world needs is to repent, turn to God, ask Christ to be their Lord and Savior, and then deny themselves, pick up their cross and follow Him. If the Roman Catholic Church was not a compromising church, then why do they allow such heresy as Marianity (the worship and deification of Mary as co-redemptrix with Christ)? Why is their focus on the mystic feeling and the experiential, without solid Biblical Truth to back it up? One should study Roman Catholic Church History and see that most monks were mystics. Why do they forbid their priests to marry? Why don't they teach the Word of God Line by Line Precept upon Precept as the Book of the Prophet Isaiah teaches in the Old Testament (Old Covenant)? Why is the Vatican trying to create a bridge to "mother Rome" to "unite" their lost Protestant brethren, and while their at it promoting Eucharistic christ which is not the Christ of the Bible, but a false christ. They are trying to unite all the world's religeions (Islam in this instance) as if all have common ground with the true God of the Bible?? Do not be deceived. Read the Holy Scriptures - God's infallible Truth, and discover these apostacies for yourselves. I am not saying there are no born again catholics, but they are few and far between the ones that are being taught these false doctrines, and taught to follow after man's traditions rather than the Truth of the Word of God. They are folowing this lie of the Devil hook line and sinker this ecumenical movement is trying to unite us all, even those who don't share Christ as the Only Way to the Father God. People, do not be deceived. Open your eyes, and your ears. the time is short, and Christ will rapture His church prior to God's wrath being poured out on the enemy's of the cross. Repent, and turn from your sins, give your Life to the Christ of the Bible, and then you will find true peace, true freedom, and true change.
John 14:6 - Jesus Said: I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no man comes unto the Father except thru Me". All this "peace talk" sounds a lot like what the Bible warns us will take place in the end times. I say read the latter epistles, the Book of Jude, and the Book of Revelations, and then tell me if this so called peace can happen without Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior ruling and reigning?
The article stated "Let us respect each other, be fair, just and kind to (one) another and live in sincere peace, harmony and mutual goodwill." The more I think about this the more ridiculous it is. Which sect of Islam are these Christians negotiating with to have peace, harmony and good will; Sunni, Shiite or Whabbi? These three can't even have peace among themselves.
This is what we expect to have peace with:
"The will to sacrifice myself for Allah is the first and most major reason. It is true that the Zionists are occupying our lands and that it is our religious duty to fight them, including through suicide attacks. The goal is not the killing of the Jews, but that this is the way to reach Allah. [not just Jews, but all infidels]
The goal is satisfying Allah and his instructions. No money interests, nothing. No brainwash, no pressure; it is my decision. All the other lies are pathetic Israeli propaganda.
I pray that Allah gives me the honor to be dead in an operation. This is the supreme and the noblest way to ascend to Allah.
These martyrs have special status in the next world and have bigger chances to watch Allah's face and enjoy the magnificent pleasures he offers us."
If I recall properly, about 10% of Muslims in the USA believe this is their goal. That is about 300,000 or so radical Muslims who want to kill us to reach the highest level and good graces with Allah.
strannick; I don't believe the Bible teaches that we are to support peacemakers who are making peace with the Devil and/or cult religions. Yes, we are to love our enemy but also be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
The Koran does not allow peace with Christians nor Jews (we are infidels) unless the Muslim is the minority. History teaches that once Muslims become the majority then the Koran teaches to mistreat and/or kill Christians. To respect Muslims for their belief but also realize they are captives of the lie is one thing , to actually think that peace can be made is a pipe dream unless Christians are willing to comprise all to the Muslims demands. Suggest you read Robert Spencer's Islam book to find out what is at stake.
it doesnt lessen our faith in Jesus as the one Lord and the Triune God, to promote peace with believers of other religions. when we dont support the work of the peacemakers, who Jesus calls blessed, we miss the calling of our religion. we dont need to convince someone else of our religion, to enable us to practice it to them
All religions will be united under one head, and that head will be the pope. Then the prophecy from 1Thesalonians 5.3 will fulfill, because their unity are not made on the basis of the law of God given to Moses. And these things will be happening because the christian church are not following Christ, but replaced Him. If christians would be willing to keep Christ commandments as He kept His Father's, then the true peace will reign upon the earth. Unfortunately, the Bible says that this thing will not happen here, in this world.
The Temple of Love – The World Peace Religion http://www.thetempleoflove.com makes peace among and unites Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Everyone else by tying them together with their common threads and resolving all of their differences once and for all as the first step towards world peace.
I believe:
There WILL not be peace on this earth until Jesus returns!
By my efforts alone I am unrighteous and can never be righteous. Only by the blood of Christ am I made righteous! and yes I must strive to be Christ-like but my "good works" are nothing but filthy rags without the love of Christ! I can only "vie for righteousness" against my own sin nature not my fellow man!
We are called to love our fellow man but not accept nor condone their sin. And yes I myself am a sinner! Violence against unbelief is not an acceptable way to promote your faith! Love conquers all!
You are either for God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit or you are against. There is no middle ground. Belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the only way to salvation!
"good works" are a product of faith in Jesus, but "works" are not a means to salvation!
I seriously doubt that the Christians who are welcoming this letter have ever read the Koran or heard Muslim clerics "preach" concerning Islam's view of Christians and Christianity. Unfortunately, this smacks of nothing more than a PR stunt. What is even more unfortunate is the fact that intelligent Christians in positions of leadership will probably fall for this stunt hook, line and sinker.
Muslim leaders say to Christian leaders, [quote]"[L]et our differences not cause hatred and strife between us. Let us vie with each other only in righteousness and good works,”
"Let us respect each other, be fair, just and kind to (one) another and live in sincere peace, harmony and mutual goodwill."[/quote]
As Christians, I think we can agree with the consensus above. Christians have been doing those things above since the first church was erected by apostles of Jesus Christ. Muslims have places of worship where ever in Christian countries, getting protection to practice their own believes in by laws and plus many others benefit.
Now is the time for Muslims to put their good words into practice, show it to Christians that they can do the same like the Christians do to them! How do you think?
The golden rule:
Therefore all things, whatever you desire that men should do to you, do even so to them; for this is the Law and the Prophets.
There can be no unity between Christians and those who who do not accept Christ as the Word of God declares. Islam and Christanity cannot mesh together.