Jihad redefined at multi-faith talks
08/09/06
Ekklesia
The idea of 'jihad' has been publicly redefined and reinterpreted according by a Syrian Islamic leader.
The suggestion came during a four day visit to the republic of Armenia by Sheikh Ahmad Badr Al-Din Hassuni.
The Sheikh, invited by the leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church Catholicos Garegin II for inter faith talks, suggested that far from being a justification for violence and killings in the name of Allah it was better interpreted as a means to 'enjoy the blessings of life and not to be killed', reports the news agency Panorama.am.
Sheikh Hassuni has often criticised Muslims for their closed minds to Buddhism, Christianity and Judaism.
Armenian Archbishop Petrosyan suggested that through his visit the Sheikh was opening a door to the Islamic world and attempting to create bridges between Islam and Christianity.
The head of the Armenian Church, Garegin II, further suggested that such cooperation between Christian and Muslim spiritual leaders could help the peaceful development of relations between the countries of the world, noting the benefits of establishing greater links between the Armenian Apostolic Church and Islamic clergy in Syria.
Sheikh Ahmad Badr Al-Din Hassuni echoed his sentiments, and stressed the importance of his visit in the current political climate and amidst suggestions of a "clash of civilisations."
"Cooperation between the two religions must oppose aggression and confrontation both in the Caucasus and in the Near East" the Sheikh said, according to the ARKRA.am news agency. But this was not just a significant point for world peace but also for Armenia as well as its church.
Armenia was the first nation to accept Christianity as its official religion, Christianized by Tiridates III 36 years before Constantine was baptised.
Today Armenia is constitutionally a secular state, although the Apostolic Church still plays a prominent role in national identity and culture.
This recent dialogue between the Armenian Church and a representative of the Muslim world is being seen as a move away from the confrontational history that Armenia has had with its Islamic neighbours, including the 'genocide' attributed to Turkey and the recent war with Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh.
Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.
Ekklesia
The idea of 'jihad' has been publicly redefined and reinterpreted according by a Syrian Islamic leader.
The suggestion came during a four day visit to the republic of Armenia by Sheikh Ahmad Badr Al-Din Hassuni.
The Sheikh, invited by the leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church Catholicos Garegin II for inter faith talks, suggested that far from being a justification for violence and killings in the name of Allah it was better interpreted as a means to 'enjoy the blessings of life and not to be killed', reports the news agency Panorama.am.
Sheikh Hassuni has often criticised Muslims for their closed minds to Buddhism, Christianity and Judaism.
Armenian Archbishop Petrosyan suggested that through his visit the Sheikh was opening a door to the Islamic world and attempting to create bridges between Islam and Christianity.
The head of the Armenian Church, Garegin II, further suggested that such cooperation between Christian and Muslim spiritual leaders could help the peaceful development of relations between the countries of the world, noting the benefits of establishing greater links between the Armenian Apostolic Church and Islamic clergy in Syria.
Sheikh Ahmad Badr Al-Din Hassuni echoed his sentiments, and stressed the importance of his visit in the current political climate and amidst suggestions of a "clash of civilisations."
"Cooperation between the two religions must oppose aggression and confrontation both in the Caucasus and in the Near East" the Sheikh said, according to the ARKRA.am news agency. But this was not just a significant point for world peace but also for Armenia as well as its church.
Armenia was the first nation to accept Christianity as its official religion, Christianized by Tiridates III 36 years before Constantine was baptised.
Today Armenia is constitutionally a secular state, although the Apostolic Church still plays a prominent role in national identity and culture.
This recent dialogue between the Armenian Church and a representative of the Muslim world is being seen as a move away from the confrontational history that Armenia has had with its Islamic neighbours, including the 'genocide' attributed to Turkey and the recent war with Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh.
Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.
posted by Vahe Balabanian at 8:48 AM
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