Archbishop opens meeting of Christians and Muslims - news from ekklesia

By staff writers
March 31, 2004

Archbishop opens meeting of Christians and Muslims

-31/3/04

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has opened a meeting of Christian and Muslim leaders in the US in a bid to develop bonds between the two faiths, and examine amongst other things how religion leads to war.

Dr Williams said the three-day event would lead to the ìdeepening of understanding and of friendship between usì.

The spiritual leaders and scholars from around the world are meeting in Washington, DC and will focus on the understanding of prophecy in the two faith communities through intensive study of Biblical and Quíranic texts.

It follows similar gatherings in London in 2002 and in Qatar in 2003.

Among the topics under discussion at the convention, hosted by Georgetown University, are how religion leads to war.

Georgetown University, the oldest Jesuit university in the US, is hosting the event as part of a series commemorating the 40th anniversary of the encyclical ìPacem in Terris,î issued by Pope John XXIII, which called on ìall peoples to begin an authentic dialogue in the quest for peace and human fulfillment.î

ìItís an exciting prospect for Christian and Muslim scholars to spend three days together studying the different ways in which our scriptures understand prophecy,î Dr Williams said.

ìI look forward to all that we will be able to learn from each other and to the deepening of understanding and of friendship between us.î

The debates are likely to be published as a book at the end of the convention.

Archbishop opens meeting of Christians and Muslims

-31/3/04

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has opened a meeting of Christian and Muslim leaders in the US in a bid to develop bonds between the two faiths, and examine amongst other things how religion leads to war.

Dr Williams said the three-day event would lead to the ìdeepening of understanding and of friendship between usì.

The spiritual leaders and scholars from around the world are meeting in Washington, DC and will focus on the understanding of prophecy in the two faith communities through intensive study of Biblical and Quíranic texts.

It follows similar gatherings in London in 2002 and in Qatar in 2003.

Among the topics under discussion at the convention, hosted by Georgetown University, are how religion leads to war.

Georgetown University, the oldest Jesuit university in the US, is hosting the event as part of a series commemorating the 40th anniversary of the encyclical ìPacem in Terris,î issued by Pope John XXIII, which called on ìall peoples to begin an authentic dialogue in the quest for peace and human fulfillment.î

ìItís an exciting prospect for Christian and Muslim scholars to spend three days together studying the different ways in which our scriptures understand prophecy,î Dr Williams said.

ìI look forward to all that we will be able to learn from each other and to the deepening of understanding and of friendship between us.î

The debates are likely to be published as a book at the end of the convention.

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