As part of the Franciscan friars’ on-going formation, Gershon Nerel’s recent lecture on the Messianic Jews was followed by one by Mgr. Fuwad Twal, coadjutor-bishop of Jerusalem, who spoke on “The Phenomenon of Islam” at Saint Saviour’s Convent on Monday, November 13th.
Mgr. Twal, a Jordanian, is quite familiar with issues relative to Islam. Bishop of Tunisia from 1992 to 2005, and president of the North African Regional Episcopal Conferences, throughout his pastoral apostolate he has both observed and participated in dialogue with Muslims. In the Holy Land, where he is now the coadjutor-bishop of Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, a radicalization of Islamic thought has been noted lately, and he has at heart the pursuit of dialogue between Palestinian Christians and Muslims.
In his lecture, however, Mgr Twal concentrated on Islam in the European reality, particularly since September 11, 2001, including ideas about religious liberty and the concept of reciprocity, the questions of immigration and integration, and the issue of fundamentalism. Finally, he sketched lines of action.
If, as he says, Christianity demands dialogue, Mgr Twal also cautions against fooling ourselves about what lies behind this term and how dialogue is carried out. “Dialogue should not be simply seeking common points to build peace together,” he says. It should be done on the basis of a solid formation about other religions, in this case, Islam. This should be a formation that allows us to get past our prejudices, that allows us to avoid religious relativism, that brings down the barriers created by unjustified fear. Further, it should a formation on Christian identity itself for a peaceful affirmation of faith.
Mgr. Twal does not pretend that the dialogue will be easy as long as Islam is in crisis, but it is precisely in such a period of crisis that dialogue is all the more essential.
The numerous friars who came to hear the lecture, particularly the theology students, did not lack for questions. While Brother Massimo of the Flagellation asked Mgr Twal about the enormous part that could be played by universities in reflection about and dialogue with Islam, Brother Artemio insisted on the reality of reciprocity. Other students asked if there is a real possibility of dialogue when the hidden agenda of an encounter is conversion, presented to them as an opportunity in recognition of their efforts to speak Arabic.
According to Mgr Twal, faced by 1.2 million Muslims, we have to make a qualitative leap in dialogue and in faith: planting, constantly planting conditions for frank, open and respectful dialogue. In conclusion, he added, “To assure all of us a future of peace, now and for future generations, do we have any choice other than living together and being in dialogue?”
MAB
Mgr. Twal, a Jordanian, is quite familiar with issues relative to Islam. Bishop of Tunisia from 1992 to 2005, and president of the North African Regional Episcopal Conferences, throughout his pastoral apostolate he has both observed and participated in dialogue with Muslims. In the Holy Land, where he is now the coadjutor-bishop of Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, a radicalization of Islamic thought has been noted lately, and he has at heart the pursuit of dialogue between Palestinian Christians and Muslims.
In his lecture, however, Mgr Twal concentrated on Islam in the European reality, particularly since September 11, 2001, including ideas about religious liberty and the concept of reciprocity, the questions of immigration and integration, and the issue of fundamentalism. Finally, he sketched lines of action.
If, as he says, Christianity demands dialogue, Mgr Twal also cautions against fooling ourselves about what lies behind this term and how dialogue is carried out. “Dialogue should not be simply seeking common points to build peace together,” he says. It should be done on the basis of a solid formation about other religions, in this case, Islam. This should be a formation that allows us to get past our prejudices, that allows us to avoid religious relativism, that brings down the barriers created by unjustified fear. Further, it should a formation on Christian identity itself for a peaceful affirmation of faith.
Mgr. Twal does not pretend that the dialogue will be easy as long as Islam is in crisis, but it is precisely in such a period of crisis that dialogue is all the more essential.
The numerous friars who came to hear the lecture, particularly the theology students, did not lack for questions. While Brother Massimo of the Flagellation asked Mgr Twal about the enormous part that could be played by universities in reflection about and dialogue with Islam, Brother Artemio insisted on the reality of reciprocity. Other students asked if there is a real possibility of dialogue when the hidden agenda of an encounter is conversion, presented to them as an opportunity in recognition of their efforts to speak Arabic.
According to Mgr Twal, faced by 1.2 million Muslims, we have to make a qualitative leap in dialogue and in faith: planting, constantly planting conditions for frank, open and respectful dialogue. In conclusion, he added, “To assure all of us a future of peace, now and for future generations, do we have any choice other than living together and being in dialogue?”
MAB