Symposium Addresses Shared Jewish-Christian-Muslim Heritage

Although Christianity, Islam and Judaism share the common heritage of Abraham, these three major faiths have lived in conflict and misunderstanding for centuries. A group of inter-confessional scholars gathered on the campus of Andrews University to examine and share solutions to skewed attitudes and general misconceptions among the three religions.
Although Christianity, Islam and Judaism share the common heritage of Abraham, these three major faiths have lived in conflict and misunderstanding for centuries. A group of inter-confessional scholars gathered on the campus of Andrews University to examine and share solutions to skewed attitudes and general misconceptions among the three religions.

Scholars at the March 28 symposium, "Our Father Abraham," came from different backgrounds and locations, sharing a dedication to mutual tolerance, dialogue, and peace. Presentations explored the sociological, ethical, and philosophical dimensions of each religion, along with the theological grounds for each faith's attitude toward the other two with the hope of replacing narrow-mindedness and antagonism with common ground.

The symposium was Sponsored by the International Religious Liberty Association, the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, and Shabbat Shalom, a journal covering Jewish-Adventist relations,

Professor of Rabbinic Literature at Jerusalem's Schechter Institute, Mordechai Arad began the discussion with the lecture, "For the Sake of Peace: Rabbinic Evolving Attitude Toward Gentiles, Christians, and Moslems." He examined the history of the Jewish perspective of Christians and Muslims in Rabbinic literature. Arad noted that at the beginning of the Christian and Muslim faiths, these two religions were not considered to be Gentiles, or outsiders, by Jews, but rather were recognized for their commonalities.

Asking "Whose Son Are You?" Dr. Jacques B. Doukhan, professor of Hebrew and director of the Institute of Jewish-Christian Studies at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, explained that "brotherhood is a sign of 'sonhood.'" In other words, anyone claiming to be a son of Abraham had better show respect for his brother.

"Differences in belief are something precious to help us discover the Father," Doukhan went on to say. Thus, when we alienate Christians, Jews, or Muslims, we are turning our back to a part of our Father's face not visible in our own reflection, he added.

Doukhan closed by reminding attendees of the results of religious intolerance and exclusion, in a quotation from author Marvin R. Wilson: "Disputes are often fueled because those who have sought to make Abraham exclusively theirs have in the process demonized the others." His call that each faith not only acknowledge the other two, but commit to learning what each does right, was echoed by speakers throughout the symposium.

Coordinator of the Kroc Institute's Program in Religion, Conflict, and Peacebuilding (PRCP) at the University of Notre Dame, A. Rashied Omar, along with president and co-founder of the Islamic Education and Resources Network "ILearn," Soraya M. Orady, provided a Muslim perspective on inter-religious relations. Omar spoke on the dilemma of reconciling the oneness of God with the diversity of creation, reasoning, "God is always greater than our limited and frail interpretations."

"The litmus test of a good religion," Omar concluded, "is the extent to which our faith motivates us to embrace 'the other' as an extension of ourselves."

Orady then pointed out that "injustice is not a license for further injustice." "God alone is the only one qualified to judge," she clarified, "He alone knows all individual intentions and circumstances."

Orady; Michael Friedland, spiritual leader of Sinai Synagogue in South Bend, Ind.; and Seventh-day Adventist Jerald Whitehouse -- committed to cultivating an "academic, authentic, and truthful discussion of religion."

The panelists discussed what it means to be a child of Abraham, the role political greed and negative media play in aggravating the already fractured relationship among the three Abrahamic faiths, and how best to eradicate misconceptions and build community.

The three panelists advised representatives of their respective religions that the best way to destroy stereotypes and misinformation is to get acquainted and work together toward remedying issues of social injustice independent of any doctrinal or ideological thrust.

Whitehouse added, it is vital to approach inter-religious relations with a "non-sectarian agenda," if one hopes to discover the "tremendous commonalities" among the three religions.

Throughout the day, other symposium speakers included Jon Paulien, professor of New Testament interpretation at the Seventh-day Theological Seminary; Abigail Doukhan, professor and lecturer who is currently completing her doctorate in philosophy from the University of Nanterre, Paris, France, with an emphasis in contemporary ethics; Øystein S. LaBianca, professor of anthropology and senior director of the Institute of Archaeology at Andrews University; and John Graz, director of the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department at the Seventh-day Adventist headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland.



Source : http://news.adventist.org/data/2006/1143759992/index.html.en