Les Versets douloureux - (The Painful Verses) - The Bible, the Gospel and the Koran, from conflict to dialogue

Published on 2008-01-01 16:35:00

Noting that all too often interreligious dialogue does not start with a clear, in-depth look at one's own tradition David Meyer, Soheib Bencheikh and Yves Simoens have co-authored the book "Les Versets Douloureux" (The Painful Verses).
Publishers: Éditions Lessius, Publication date: February 2008.

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The year 5768 (2007-2008) of Hope for Peace between Palestinians and Israelis

Published on 2007-12-27 17:38:00

Chief Rabbi René-Samuel Sirat, Director-Founder of the Unesco Chair "Reciprocal Knowledge of the religions of the Book and teaching of Peace" and Former Chief Rabbi of France shares his vision of peace between Israelis and Palestinians. In his article, he explains why the Jewish new year, the year 5768, is an opportunity to fulfill this hope for peace.

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Reconciling a Painful Past with a Hopeful Future

Published on 2007-12-27 17:35:16

HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal and Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp made a joint contribution to the book "Die Macht der Würde" ("the power of dignity ") edited by Christoph Quarch, Silke Lechner and Peter Spiegel.

They point out that our starting point, as we learn to live with multiple perceptions of the truth, must be a firm appreciation of our common humanity and of the power of human dignity.

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A Mutual Acknowledgement

Published on 2007-12-27 17:35:15

Dr. Ahmed Abaddi, Permanent Committee Member of the World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace and General Secretary of the Mohammedia League of Moroccan Ulama, invites believers and religious dignitaries to promote peace between Israelis and Palestinians. He calls to make the 1428 Hegira year (2007-2008) the year of all hopes.

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Peace, at the Core of Biblic and Coranic Revelation

Published on 2007-12-27 17:35:15

Sacred texts have, for all times, been subject to interpretations. Some have lead and lead still to murder, to violence and intolerance.

Thanks to Tania del Atrio, theologist in Intercultural and Interscriptural dialogue, we have sought to know really how the Bible and the Qurán share the notion of Peace.

We have thus re-discovered the similitude in both books around this theme, the prophets' words to respect, to accomplish as well as the directives of these different traditions.

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"Interpretation of the Scriptures: The Qu'ran" by Ghaleb Bencheikh

Published on 2007-12-27 17:35:15

As international communities are more and more preoccupied with increasing violence and integrism in the name of God, the First World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace stimulated reflection on what religions promote, their relationships, and their influence on populations.

With the use of texts from the Qurán and the Torah, the task was to illustrate cohesion of Islamic and Judaic ethical and humanistic values remaining at the heart of conflicts. These values are: Life is sacred and particularly that one cannot kill in the name of God, illegitimacy of the domination of a population over another in the name of God or any other religious principle, tolerance and recognition of others in one's religion, one's practice and one's values, call to peace, culture of Peace, etc.

Prior to this exceptional congress, we asked Ghaleb Bencheikh to share his views on the Scriptures that are at the bottom of all violent interpretations in the Qurán. Ghaleb Bencheikh is Vice-President of the World Conference of Religions for Peace, physician, professor and host of the french  television show "islam". Son of  Cheikh Abbas, former  Rector of the "Grande Mosquée de Paris".

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"POWERFUL GOD, VIOLENT GOD ? Violence, justice and peace in the Old Testament" by Albert de Pury

Published on 2007-12-27 17:35:15

Men's vision in God, war or peace, has much evolved during the centuries.

At the heart of the Old Testament- particularly in the Torah (the Pentateuch), these visions share two main streams : the Deuteronomy current and the current of the Priests, to lend from exegetic criticism. In the first book God appears warlike, exclusive, conquering, whereas the second offers us a more pacific vision, constructive and universal.

Albert de Pury, Professor of theology at the Geneva Faculty, gives a study on how historical and political contexts have oriented and fashioned these texts, which are sacred today, and considered as revealed Words of God by Jews and Christians around the world.

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The Mutual Enrichment of Judaism and Islam : the Testimony of History

Published on 2007-12-27 17:35:15

It is often thought that Jews and Moslems knew a perpetual antagonism. One could be tempted to assimilate the history of these two cultures and religions to the situation we know today in Israel-Palestine or elsewhere.

However, there are a lot of common points. Within the framework of the First World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace, the Elijah Interfaith Institute of Jerusalem, drew up us a short panorama of the mutual enrichment of Islam and Judaism during centuries. This week we will be interested more particularly in the historical shutter.

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The Mutual Enrichment of Judaism and Islam: The Dignity of the Human Person – A Common Ground Value

Published on 2007-12-27 17:35:15

To follow upon the article of last week, who treated of mutual enrichment of Islam and Judaism through the testimony of history, the Elijah Institute leans this week on a fundamental common value of the two religions: human dignity.

Far from stereotypes and violence, we immerse ourselves in the deeply humanistic and common roots of Islam and Judaism.

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Opening Speech of Alain Michel - First World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace

Published on 2007-12-27 17:35:15

For the first time in history, more than 100 Imams and Rabbis, surrounded by 70 personalities from all over the world, met, from January 3 to 6, 2005, under the high patronage of His Majesty Albert II and His Majesty Mohammed VI in order to de-legitimise all forms of violence committed in the name of God or of any religious principle. Furthermore the representatives of Jewish and Muslim communities from 34 countries, in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and America affirmed their determination to develop dialogues and co-operation between Islam and Judaism.

Here in integrality the opening speech of Alain Michel, the Founder of  the "Hommes de Parole" Foundation .

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