Ahmed Salkini, Christian Science Monitor, July 13, www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2010/0713/Syrian-secularism-a-model-for-the-Middle-East

Westerners don’t see that Syria’s embrace of diversity is a crucial bulwark against extremism.  Secularism is often defined as “indifference to or rejection or exclusion of religion and religious considerations.” Syria defines it differently – not in terms of “rejection,” or even “tolerance,” but in terms of “embracing” all religions and “taking pride” in a diverse heritage.

While some countries in the Middle East tout themselves as a state for one religion, Syria prides itself on being a state for all religions – and no religion. It is this formula that defines the true Syrian identity.  The Syria I grew up in embraced everyone. My own father is a decorated veteran of the 1973 war against Israel. Yet, when his first child was born after the war – and after four previous heartbreaking miscarriages – it was a Syrian Jewish doctor in whose hands he entrusted my life. I owe my life to that doctor, who saved me after a complication during infancy that nearly resulted in my death.  My father was no exception. Syria’s Jewish community was historically among the most successful, with clients and friends from across Syria’s diverse ethnic and religious social fabric.

The Syrian Christian community, one of the oldest in the world, is such an integral part of our society that Pope Benedict XVI extolled Syria as “an example of coexistence and tolerance to the world.” Indeed, there are more than 13 Christian denominations in Syria.

John Palmer, The Guardian – Comment is free, July 13, www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/jul/13/abrahamic-religion-zoroastrian-judaism

The tiny world wide communities of Zoroastrians are no doubt pleased to get any mention in Cif belief – even if it is only to provide alphabetical balance to a list starting with the Bahá’ís. Even those who take a close interest in the more exotic or esoteric of religions tend to have a vague grasp on what the followers of the ancient Persian (or maybe Bactrian) prophet, Zarathustra (Zoroaster in Greek) – born around 800 BC – actually believed. This is a great pity since even a non-believer must be impressed with the evidence of how the religious ideas first expressed by Zoroaster were fundamental in shaping what emerged as Judaism after the 5th century BC and thus deeply influenced the other Abrahamic religions – Christianity and Islam.

What – at the very least – were the deep affinities between Zoroastrianism and Judaism goes a long way to explain what over the centuries were the close and friendly relations between Persians and Jews. The influence of 20th century religious-political ideologies has poisoned that relationship. Perhaps a greater acknowledgement by Jews, Christians and Muslims of their Persian Zoroastrian inheritance would be a step to improving those relationships.

Manya A. Brachear, Chicago Tribune, July 12, www.chicagotribune.com/news/religion/ct-met-multifaith-seminary-20100712,0,5774227.story

A Chicago seminary plans to pioneer a new way to train clergy in the context of many faiths other than their own.  Meadville Lombard Theological School, a Unitarian Universalist seminary hopes to join Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Catholic and Protestant institutions to train clergy together, including offering some shared courses where there is common ground. Leaders say the interreligious approach heralds the future of theological education and could save financially strapped seminaries nationwide.

Reprinted from CTE (Churches Together in England) News, July 2010, www.churches-together.net/Groups/44168/Churches_Together_in/News_Events_Jobs/CT_E_NEWS.aspx

Our first thoughts and prayers are for those remembering loved ones and friends lost or injured in the 7 July 2005 London bombings. This was the worst act of domestic terrorism Britain has ever experienced.  The shock of finding that the perpetrators were young apparently well integrated British Muslims has caused many to question the role of Muslims in the UK.

The July 7 bombings affected British Muslims in an unprecedented way as questions about their loyalty, Britishness and the nature of their  belonging in our society created endless discussion, academic research, government interventions and media speculation.  Today we add substance and authenticity to the debate. For the first time, 25 British Muslims explain in their own words what they were doing that day, how they were affected immediately by the bombings, and what lessons they draw now that five years have passed. The contributors, evenly balanced between men and women, include British born Muslims, immigrants and converts to Islam.

Edited by Murtaza Shibli, former Public Affairs and Media Officer of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), the book, 7/7: Muslim Perspectives will be launched on 7 July at the House of Lords, (Room 4A from 17.00 -19.30) at an event supported by the Universal Peace Federation and European Muslim Research Centre, University of Exeter.  The editor of the book, Murtaza Shibli, said “The voice and views of the ordinary British Muslims have been lost amongst the endless debates and analysis. This book offers a chance to find out what normal people experienced and how this watershed event has had an impact on their lives both as British citizens and as Muslims.”

Canon Guy Wilkinson, National Inter Religious Affairs Adviser & Secretary for Inter Religious Affairs to the Archbishop of Canterbury, said of the book “Those responsible, we need to be reminded, were respecters neither of humanity nor of religion. If this book enables more people to be respecters of both, then it will have contributed to the wellbeing of British society.”

Robert Lambert and Jonathan Githens-Mazer of the European Muslim Research Centre, University of Exeter, argue that a failure to hold a public inquiry into 7/7 has led to many misunderstandings about its causes. This in turn has allowed religiously observant and politically active Muslims to be demonised as ‘radical’ or ‘extremist’ by ill-informed commentators and politicians. For them    “This is an excellent book that challenges Islamophobic accounts of Muslims that have grown alarmingly since 7/7”.  In a joint statement, Robin Marsh and Margaret Ali of the Universal Peace Federation said, “The Universal Peace Federation (UPF) is supporting the book launch of ‘7/7 Muslim Perspectives’ because facilitating dialogue and understanding between communities is central to UPF’s vision. It is good to hear firsthand accounts from Muslim men and women. Through the humanity and compassion in their testimonies a wider common ground can be perceived by concerned non-Muslim Britons. This is particularly necessary at this time of tension over immigration and the rise of the BNP”.

Mohammed Amin, one of the authors who has lived in the UK since infancy, said “Many Muslims are still in denial about the relevance of the bombers’ religious beliefs. However, if these bombers had believed that they would go to hell, they would not have carried out suicide bombings.”  Fatima Khan vice chair of the Muslim Safety Forum and a contributor to the book said: “The events of 7/7 left their mark on millions. For me, one amongst the millions, they marked a shift in how I perceived the world and how it looked back at me. ”

See also

www.countercurrents.org/shibli300610.htm

peacedevelopmentnetwork.wordpress.com/2010/07/04/7-7-muslim-perspectives/

Reprinted from CTE (Churches Together in England) News, July 2010, www.churches-together.net/Groups/44168/Churches_Together_in/News_Events_Jobs/CT_E_NEWS.aspx

Fifty leading figures in the evangelical movement met on 8 July at St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace in a ground-breaking private consultation to explore the issues raised in building relationships with people of other faiths.

Paul Hedges (Winchester University), a self-confessed pluralist, stimulated a vigorous and far-ranging debate by mapping the broad spectrum of possible Christian orientations towards other faiths. Daniel Strange, Dr Nicholas Wood (Regents Park College) and David Muir responded by setting out the scriptural basis on which relationships could be built.  Daniel Strange (Lecturer at Oakhill College) commented:  “It is great that those out of the evangelical tradition would want to get evangelicals talking to one another on these issues.  Dr Andrew Smith (Director of Youth Encounter for Scripture Union) said “This was a timely and useful event that enabled evangelicals to consider seriously Biblical approaches to interfaith encounters. By including both theoretical and practical ideas the day encouraged participants to consider how theology and practice inform each other.  I’m sure that initiatives such as this will equip evangelicals to take seriously their engagement with people from different faith traditions.”  David Muir (Faiths in Britain) said “I thought the consultation was excellent. Congratulations on organising an extremely valuable event. I would welcome a similar event with representatives from the major religions.”

Workshop sessions explored scripture, inter-religious conflict (Dr Jane Clements) and drew on experiences of agencies such as the Archbishop’s Christian Muslim Forum and the Cambridge Interfaith Programme (Sarah Snyder). The consultation also heard powerful contribution from Dr Andrew Smith (Scripture Union) about his work bringing young Christians and Muslims together and from Nick and Kerry Coke (Salvation Army) about living out the gospel amongst the Muslim community of Stepney.  Julian Bond (Christian Muslim Forum) comments: “For those struggling to decide whether they are Exclusivists, Inclusivists, Pluralists or Particularists one of the speakers, Dr Nicholas Wood, offered this Biblical verse full of generosity to other religious expressions – ‘Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name is great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts.’ (Malachi 1.10,11)”

St Ethelburga’s Director Simon Keyes said “I think we succeeded in creating a safe space for evangelicals to talk frankly about the issues that arise in relation to other faiths. It was a very good natured and illuminating day which mapped out the ground on which evangelicals can relate to non-Christians. We’re certainly going to encourage further exploration of this fascinating territory which is crucial to the future of multi-religious Britain.”

For further information contact: Christophe Kiworr, 07553 501285  Christoph [at] sthelburgas [dot] org

Sudarsan Raghavan, Washington Post, July 7, www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/06/AR2010070605449.html?hpid=moreheadlines

For 13 years, Judge Mudhar Ahmed has worked in relative obscurity, issuing Muslim marriage certificates, divorcing Muslim couples and weighing in on Muslim inheritance disputes. Now, he’s facing an issue unlike any he has seen. He has one word to describe it: “Islamophobia.”

Ahmed is the head of Nairobi’s Kadhis Court, one of 17 judicial bodies that administer sharia, or Islamic law, to Kenya’s Muslim minority. The courts were enshrined in the nation’s constitution decades ago, but Christian leaders are seeking to remove them from a proposed new constitution, scheduled for a referendum Aug. 4. They argue that Kenya is a secular state and that Muslims should not receive special privileges.  Muslim leaders say the manoeuvres are part of an agenda to deny their community rights and undermine their beliefs. “They are creating hatred between Muslims and Christians,” said Ahmed, his soft voice hardening.

Ekklesia, July 7, www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/12577

The Dalai Lama says he had mixed emotions when he turned 75 on Tuesday 6 July 2010, because of the continuing plight of people in his homeland, Tibet.  The Buddhist leader, also known as a civil rights advocate across the world, celebrated in his hometown-in-exile in India while his followers in Tibet were unable to honour the occasion.

Along with Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and others, he is one of the global ‘elders’ intervening on issues of peace, justice and human rights throughout the world – though he has also faced criticism over some of his traditional attitudes in Tibet.

During his speech, he expressed great sadness that Tibetan Buddhists would not be able to join the celebrations because of fear of reprisals from Chinese government officials, who forced the spiritual leader out of his birthplace.

Ekklesia, July 6, www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/12558

A surprising number of high-profile peacebuilders in the last generation have been religious figures, says Daniel Philpott of the University of Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies – who is launching a new programme on religion and peace.

Faith-motivated people – from Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Pope John Paul II to theologians and activists working in every major religion worldwide – have promoted the concept of reconciliation, which has shaped the politics of countries from South Africa and Guatemala to Timor-Leste and Iraq.

“The idea of reconciliation has deep roots in Judaism, Christianity, Islam and other faiths,” says Philpott, associate professor of political science and peace studies, who is directing a new research programme on religion and reconciliation at the Kroc Institute.

“To be sure, religious people are not always reconcilers; in some settings they are supporters of violent division. Nor is reconciliation an exclusively religious concept. But reconciliation does have a strong affinity to religion, and many religious people are highly motivated to be peacebuilders.”

WCC News, July 5, www.oikoumene.org/news/news-management/eng/a/article/1634/african-theologian-analyz.html

“The prospect for a religion-based approach to peace-making has a great potential in sub-Saharan Africa,” Dr Yacob Tesfai said presenting his new book Holy Warriors, Infidels and Peacemakers in Africa.  Tesfai, an African scholar specialized in Peace and Conflict Resolution in Africa and former general secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Eritrea, presented his book to staff of organizations based at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva on 2 July.

In his book Tesfai writes on how religion-based politics have been a source of violence in sub-Sahara Africa. “This is mostly in cases where the holy warriors occupy the centre stage of religion and politics,” he notes.  He also points out that this becomes more of a problem where there is no clear separation between the state, economy and religion.  Distinguishing between situations where one faith group tries to impose its own religious views on others, and situations where people have failed to agree on a common understanding of the same faith.

Holy Warriors, Infidels, and Peacemakers in Africa is published by Palgrave Macmillan and can be obtained from www.amazon.co.uk/Holy-Warriors-Infidels-Peacemakers-Africa/dp/0230104274 for £49.60.

Niniek Karmini, WOR News, July 4, hosted2.ap.org/WORAM/GeneralNews/Article_2010-07-04-AS-Indonesia-War-on-Christians/id-e44ac25fab8b4947b0d6ca1d9fe95488

Days after rumours spread across the industrial city of Bekasi that Christians were conducting a mass baptism, hard-line Islamic leaders called for local mosques to create a youth guard to act as moral police and put a quick stop to forced conversions.

They started training early Saturday morning, around 100 young men turning out in a field in Bekasi wearing martial arts uniforms. Leaders stressed that there was no plan to arm them, but they do not shy away from saying they’ll act essentially as thugs.

“We’re doing this because we want to strike fear in the hearts of Christians who behave in such a way,” said Murhali Barda, who heads the local chapter of the Islamic Defenders Front, which pushes for the implementation of Islamic-based laws in Bekasi and other parts of the archipelagic nation. “If they refuse to stop what they’re doing, we’re ready to fight.”

Although this secular country, with more Muslims than any other in the world, has a long history of religious tolerance, a small extremist fringe — of which the front is the vanguard — has become more vocal in recent years as it tries to root out everything it considers blasphemous.