Have we forgotten about the importance of interfaith
dialogue over the past twelve months of the COVID-19 pandemic? Has such a
significant initiative failed its purpose in our current times? Has the
enthusiasm of the people who believe and stand for peace faltered? I believe
that now is the right time to unlock the true potential of interfaith dialogue
and give it back its true value in our society: to ease tension, enable solving
the sensitive and common challenges, and move ahead.
اضافة اعلان
Interfaith dialogue is defined as an honorable kind of
dialogue between intellectuals for the sake of mutual understanding, and to
bring harmony and compassion to societies. It starts with, but is not limited
to, key religious figures from different faiths who consequently teach their
communities tolerance and respect, the foundation of interfaith dialogues.
Christian-Muslim interfaith dialogue is based on the core
values of love of God and one’s neighbor, which consequently bring with it
harmony and compassion between the followers of the different religions to
build peaceful communities.
Its need in today’s different and difficult world is immense
since it serves as societies’ shield against the mounting challenges.
In the past decade or so, the Middle East has witnessed
difficult times, especially during the so-called the Arab Spring and later with
the emergence of Daesh. Interfaith dialogue succeeded in spreading love and
compassion over brutality and heartlessness, easing tensions, bringing positive
changes in people’s aggressive attitude, and building peaceful relations in
pluralistic societies.
Much work has been done in the past decade concerning
interfaith dialogue, be it in the conducting research, the publication of
books, the holding of conferences, the launching of initiatives, or the forming
of partnerships. It succeeded where other forms of dialogue have failed because
many believed in and trusted in religious institutions and their key figures.
Many still do.
The need for it now is equally immense amidst the worldwide
panic caused by the spread of COVID-19, which was declared a pandemic in March
and allowed tension, worry, and fear to prevail. Interfaith dialogue succeeded
in reviving societies. Economic growth, an innovative process, is one aspect of
success encouraged by living in harmony — a result of vigorous interfaith
dialogue. However, this success is not permanent, as continuous interfaith
efforts were interrupted by the pandemic.
Nevertheless, it is during such times that interfaith dialogue
should prosper again and take its indispensable role in limiting if not
preventing societies’ tensions, changing negative attitudes and behaviors, as
well as combating the atrocities fueled by the wrongful portrayal of the other.
Pandemics usually inflame poverty and unemployment, help to
raise ethnic and religious tensions, and weaken the moral system. In our
society, like in many others, people’s trust in religious institutions is still
high. These institutions can help play a visible role in spreading harmony,
which in turn will give way to addressing other developmental challenges.
As a journalist who has been covering this topic for the
past decade, I have witnessed the great efforts made by all key figures, but
the halt that the pandemic forced on people from all walks of life left the
important part undone. There are legal restrictions and legislative loopholes
that need to be addressed, in the areas of custody, inheritance, and education,
among others.
In spite of the limited literature exploring the
effectiveness of interfaith dialogue in the past and its true effect on our
society, I have no doubt that interfaith dialogue can create a proven impact on
our society. We can start again. Past efforts have only achieved limited goals,
but if we realize the true potential of interfaith dialogue and move forward to
attain true reconciliation, we can move forward on the path of progress.
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