Real Dialogue?

[Cordoba]

Greetings and Peace to All:

This live dialogue on Islam On-Line was held yesterday with Dr. Heba Raouf Ezzat, a leading Muslim academic who is very much involved in inter-faith dialogues and dialogues with the West.

She teaches political science at Cairo University and yesterday she answered a number of interesting questions.

The topic of the session is titled "Muslims & Westerners: How to Reach a Real Dialogue?"

One of the issues she suggests for a constructive relation is the following:

QUOTE

I think the priority should be given to dialogues that lead to networking and action.

By action here I mean joining hand in hand to alleviate poverty, fight illness and also perform all efforts of relief.


This is not only during natural catastrophes, but to address local community needs in the poorest areas. We can talk for centuries on religious and theological differences, but we need to give priority to performing the message of mercy, equality and justice our different faiths were revealed to fulfill.

UNQUOTE

I personally think that is an excellent point.

http://www.islamonline.net/livedialogue/english/Browse.asp?hGuestID=5j46c4

What do you think?


All the best.

 

[Popeyesays]

Greetings and Peace to All:

This live dialogue on Islam On-Line was held yesterday with Dr. Heba Raouf Ezzat, a leading Muslim academic who is very much involved in inter-faith dialogues and dialogues with the West.

She teaches political science at Cairo University and yesterday she answered a number of interesting questions.

The topic of the session is titled "Muslims & Westerners: How to Reach a Real Dialogue?"

One of the issues she suggests for a constructive relation is the following:

QUOTE

I think the priority should be given to dialogues that lead to networking and action.

By action here I mean joining hand in hand to alleviate poverty, fight illness and also perform all efforts of relief.


This is not only during natural catastrophes, but to address local community needs in the poorest areas. We can talk for centuries on religious and theological differences, but we need to give priority to performing the message of mercy, equality and justice our different faiths were revealed to fulfill.

UNQUOTE

I personally think that is an excellent point.

http://www.islamonline.net/livedialogue/english/Browse.asp?hGuestID=5j46c4

What do you think?


All the best.

I've heard of her before, and was no less impressed then than I am now. She's a formidable woman and that it is a Muslim woman is good for both sides.

Regards,
Scott:bow:

 

[CAPPA]

Greetings and Peace to All:

This live dialogue on Islam On-Line was held yesterday with Dr. Heba Raouf Ezzat, a leading Muslim academic who is very much involved in inter-faith dialogues and dialogues with the West.

She teaches political science at Cairo University and yesterday she answered a number of interesting questions.

The topic of the session is titled "Muslims & Westerners: How to Reach a Real Dialogue?"

One of the issues she suggests for a constructive relation is the following:

QUOTE

I think the priority should be given to dialogues that lead to networking and action.

By action here I mean joining hand in hand to alleviate poverty, fight illness and also perform all efforts of relief.


This is not only during natural catastrophes, but to address local community needs in the poorest areas. We can talk for centuries on religious and theological differences, but we need to give priority to performing the message of mercy, equality and justice our different faiths were revealed to fulfill.

UNQUOTE

I personally think that is an excellent point.

http://www.islamonline.net/livedialogue/english/Browse.asp?hGuestID=5j46c4

What do you think?


All the best.

Her intentions may be admirable, and well worth attempting, but I’d hate to burst her proverbial bubble in that, in the end, it will prove useless. An inter-faith dialogue in this case, IMHO, would lead to a few head nods and nothing more. I'd assume that her main goal is to capture some middle ground in which the above problems can be eliminated by both sides. In order for that to happen, these "theological differences" must also be dealt with so we can move on to the more pressing issues this world faces.

 

[Ormiston]

I, personally think she's right. Forget the differences and focus on the people.

 

[Cordoba]

I'd assume that her main goal is to capture some middle ground in which the above problems can be eliminated by both sides. In order for that to happen, these "theological differences" must also be dealt with so we can move on to the more pressing issues this world faces.

I don't think that "theological differences" will ever be met.

The best approach is for each their own faith and beliefs, but lets join hands in issues of common human interest and while we're at it keep talking, which is more positive and constructive.

As suggested, "We can talk for centuries on religious and theological differences", so it's best not to loose time!

 

[CAPPA]

I don't think that "theological differences" will ever be met.

The best approach is for each their own faith and beliefs, but lets join hands in issues of common human interest and while we're at it keep talking, which is more positive and constructive.

As suggested, "We can talk for centuries on religious and theological differences", so it's best not to loose time!

I'll agree with you on that, time is definitely being lost, so I ask you, why can't we "join hands?" what's stopping us from sitting at a table and talking things out? It is our theological differences, our “great wall” that must first be broken, in order to proceed.

 

[Cordoba]

I get your point.

Why can't we join hands?

Many people would if given a chance.

 

[YmirGF]

Hold hands, eh? I suspect it is a bit late for these sentiments.
She is a smart lady. She realizes there is no possibility of Islam getting along with the other theological "kids on the block". Just move on and work together. Muslim will have to move mountains to gain my trust enough to want to "work" with them. If I see those mountains moving, I just might sit up and pay attention.

Words are cheap. Let's see some mountain-moving.

 

[Cordoba]

Dialogue and cooperation are for those interested.

And dialogue, by definition, is a two way process.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I think the priority should be given to dialogues that lead to networking and action.

I agree. Let's network together to purchase products from Denmark, thereby expressing our disgust and contempt for those who threaten freedom of speech with beheadings and 9/11.

 

[Cordoba]

I don't think it's wise to mix issues if the aim is a real dialogue.

Muslims all over the world were greately offended by those cartoons.

This is the dialogue response on that issue of wise mainstream Muslims:

Muslim Youths to Pay "Know-Prophet" Visit to Denmark

Egyptian preacher Amr Khaled announced on Friday, February 17, that a host of Muslim youths would visit Denmark soon to engage in a constructive dialogue with their Danish peers and intellectuals after relations between the Muslim world and the West badly soured over the Danish cartoons

http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2006-02/18/article05.shtml

Denmark Welcomes "Know-Prophet" Visit, Builds Bridges

[font=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Denmark has welcomed an initiative by Muslim preacher Amr Khaled to visit the Scandinavian country with a host of Muslim youth to engage in a dialogue with Danish youths and intellectuals and is planning a series of initiatives to build bridges with the Muslim world ...[/font]

[font=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]"I share and appreciate this positive message, and I am pleased that Amr Khaled will be able to practice such dialogue in Copenhagen in the near future," Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moller said in a statement issued on Wednesday, February 22[/font]

http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2006-02/23/article05.shtml

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I don't think it's wise to mix issues if the aim is a real dialogue.

No - you think it's wise to focus on anything and everything other than pandemic of barbarism in the name of Islam. Perhaps we could all get together and share recipes for hummus and - my personal favorite - baba ganoush, while screetching zealots by the thousands reprioritize the beheading list.

Muslims all over the world were greately offended by those cartoons.

And I'm greatly offended by pervasive and deadly Islamic obscurantism. What about you?

 

[Cordoba]

If you want to debate the cartoons, there were many threads on that subject.

Try to read the actual transcript of the main topic of the thread.

This is another extract:

Q: Where should we start? What should we discuss when we are under attack by the west and are expected to give up our way of life?

A: I would like first to distinguish between being subject to questions and even misconceptions and discrimination on one hand, and being asked to give up your way of life.

In many contexts you are under harsh criticism, but people do not ask you to give up your religion..

In other situations they are disregarding your religion out of neglect, absent mindedness or even ignorance.

You should simply start by the situation you are in and the challenge you are facing. If you assume they are asking you to give in while they are acting based on neglect and biases then taking a reaction based on your own interpretation of the situation might lead you to the wrong response.

I do not intend to imply Islam has no enemies, but I want to suggest to you that in many cases people just adopt a careless way of reacting to the other, or asking the minority to be more royal than the king himself. and if you widen the scope you will find out that they are in some contexts not only discriminating against you but also against Hispanics and blacks.. hence where is your role not only to defend Islam or explain your self but also to network with others against discrimination.

I hope you would consider that a starting point. Then deal with challenges situation by situation, and develop a strategy to have sustainable effort to make people aware of your way of life, your rights as an equal citizen and also the rights of other discriminated against ethnic and religious minorities and groups.

I wish you strength and wisdom.

 

[YmirGF]

"Allah knows best." Doesn't leave a lot to discuss, does it?
Islam must understand it is living in a dream world, and one whose ideology is not conducive to 21st century understanding.

Give up your religion? Now really, why would I want to get people out of a 7th century mindset?

 

[Cordoba]

We'll have to agree to disagree on that one.

Islam is perfectly suitable for the 21st. century. Here is a sample list of contemporay issues from a Muslim perspective:

http://www.islamonline.net/english/contemporary/topic5.shtml

 

[Karl R]

"Allah knows best." Doesn't leave a lot to discuss, does it?

I think God knows best. So do most other christians.

Most jews think Yhwh knows best.

It took well over 1000 years, but we've managed to get to the point where we can have a dialogue without reaching for guns, bombs, or medieval instruments of torture.

Obviously the vast majority of muslims believe that Allah does not require them to kill all non-muslims (or we would already be in a total global war). This means we can talk to them.

While they do believe that "Allah knows best," they can't seem to agree on what Allah wants them to do (any more than christians can agree amongst themselves). That means you have to talk to them to find out what "Allah knows best," is actually going to mean for that group of muslims in that situation.