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By Alexander Belopopsky (*)

Free photos available, see below

From Baghdad to Bosnia, media images in recent years have reinforced prophecies of a conflict of civilizations emerging along religious faultlines. References to both jihad and crusade have reappeared in public discourse, and in some societies particular faith groups are regarded with suspicion. It can sometimes seem as though Christians and Muslims are condemned to collide.

Despite these widespread perceptions, there are Muslim and Christian leaders and thinkers who refuse the inevitability of confrontation. These voices, some of which were heard during a major interreligious conference hosted by the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Geneva in early June, offer an alternative vision.

<span style="font-weight: bold; "» Turning the corner on our difficulties

"We can assess the present situation as a critical moment for all religious communities. There is a great deal of mistrust and suspicion on both sides. Christian–Muslim relations often start from a perspective of competition as both proclaim a universal message," recognizes the Geneva-based lecturer in Islamic studies and activist scholar Dr Tariq Ramadan. "But this is a superficial and wrong understanding of religion. We have to change our ways of working together."

Ramadan's sentiment is echoed by Sayed Mohammad Ali Abtahi, former vice-president of Iran and close advisor to the Iranian president Khatami. "Muslims and Christians have come a long and difficult way and have practised violence against one another. But these conflicts have been without benefit. Today the situation is changing. We are turning the corner on the road of our difficulties. The conflicts which exist are not representative of the believers, of the people."

<span style="font-weight: bold; "» Globalizing conflict

"The problem is that conflict and perceptions are being globalized like everything else," says Dr Tarek Mitri, a Lebanese Christian sociologist and specialist on the Islamic world, who has now moved from his responsibility for interreligious dialogue in the WCC to join the Lebanese transitional government.

"In the Muslim world, ideological thought patterns represent the West as selfish, materialistic and dominating. In the West, the equivalent thought patterns perceive Islam as irrational, fanatical and expansionist," he underlines.

In an age of global communication and migration, such perceptions may easily fuel antagonisms and reinforce stereotypes, with the effect of "globalizing conflict". Mitri mentions the global televised impact of 9/11, and how, when US forces entered Afghanistan, it was the Christian minority in neighbouring Pakistan which felt threatened by reprisals.

Mohammad Ali Abtahi who, along with his government and religious responsibilities, runs a personal weblog (www.webneveshteha.com/en), emphasizes how the power of communication can also put positive pressure on religious leaders. "The changes in communication technology oblige everyone to answer questions. We are now obliged to dialogue by the circumstances of modernity."

<span style="font-weight: bold; "» Counteracting processes of alienation

For the conference participants, all religions have a common interest to counter a trend of mutual exclusion, and to restore a common ground for their dialogue and understanding. But how can perceptions which prevent this be changed?

The challenge is to find ways of counteracting these processes of alienation, and of "de-globalizing" conflict by nurturing mutual understanding and common ground as a basis for co-existence, says Mitri. "Attention to the specific local causes of conflicts helps in identifying solutions. The leaders of religious communities must refuse to be drawn into others' conflicts."

Christians and Muslims should recognize their shared basis and interests, he says. "By applying principles of peace, justice and reconciliation, rooted in Islamic and Christian beliefs, as a basis for critical engagement, energies can be turned to a common search for human well-being, dignity and peace."

<span style="font-weight: bold; "» Restoring a common base

Ramadan sees hope in Christians and Muslims working together to challenge their own discourse to their own people and to civil society, and to respond to the real needs of people. "Even in the West, there is a spiritual famine. We need to move towards a dynamic process relying on local people and communities, which looks at the transmission of values in our societies. It is not simply about a return to dogmatic religion occupying the public sphere, but about a transversal connection of values, ethics and knowledge. The question is, what kind of ethics can we promote based on universal values in response to social problems?"

Mohammad Ali Abtahi urges practical responses to the current situation. Interfaith dialogue centres around the world should better coordinate their work and avoid duplication, he proposes. "Interfaith dialogue is not in contradiction with a profound attachment to one's own faith. But we can identify what minimum is common and essential to all religions: spirituality, God, the afterlife, justice."

Ramadan points out that interreligious dialogue has usually focused on theological or socio-political issues. "Something new is needed. It is now our common challenge to connect our spiritual teachings with our realities. Our world has changed a great deal, we should come with a creative process. We must be less theoretical and more practical in the way we are facing the world. The only way for me is to find a real a space where we can give and contribute together and out of this, know each other better. WCC has a leading role in this process, as you can help us ask the right questions."

(*) Alexander Belopopsky is coordinator of the WCC Public Information Team.

This feature is part of a series highlighting issues and experience of interreligious dialogue, and is published by the WCC in the context of the conference on a "critical moment in interreligious dialogue" hosted by the WCC, 7-9 June 2005, in Geneva. Further information, news, documents and photos are available on:

www.oikoumene.org/interreligious.html