A 10-year-old interfaith dialogue between Mennonite and Muslim scholars \u2013 held in Canada and Iran over the years \u2013 continued in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada) in early June.<\/p>\n
The dialogue, hosted by Canadian Mennonite University (CMU), Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), and co-hosted by Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) and Conrad Grebel University was the fifth of its kind and brought together Shi\u2019a Muslim scholars from the Imam Khomeini Education and Research Institute (IKERI) in Qom, Iran and Mennonite scholars from Canada and the U.S.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese dialogues provide a safe place for academics and theologians to speak frankly about their beliefs without ignoring important differences,\u201d said David Shenk, a global consultant with Eastern Mennonite Missions, Salunga, Pennsylvania, who has participated in all of the conferences.<\/p>\n
The primary goal, he said, is fostering dialogue and improving understanding, not finding consensus or agreement. \u00a0\u201cIslam is Islam and the gospel is the gospel, they are not the same,\u201d he said. \u00a0\u201cThe goal is to understand each other\u2019s faith and to bear witness to our own faith.\u201d<\/p>\n
These academic conferences build on MCC\u2019s work in Iran which began with relief efforts following the massive earthquake in the early 1990s. This was followed by peace-building programs, such as a student exchange program and learning tours.<\/p>\n
Peter Dula, EMU professor of bible and religion, spoke on the “Theological Assessment of Human Rights Language.”<\/p>\n
\u201cThe discussions were very illuminating because they sharpened distinctions and clarified differences,” said Dula.\u00a0 “It was fascinating to see how that results not just in increased knowledge of Islamic theology but also made us much more theologically articulate about what each of us really believes about Christ, about sin, about scripture.”<\/p>\n
At the Winnipeg conference, seven scholars from Iran and seven scholars from Canada and the U.S. explored issues surrounding the theme of \u201cHuman Nature and Destiny: Explorations into Theological Anthropology.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a global context, these dialogues are significant because it is very unusual for Muslim and Christian scholars to meet together like this in a collegial way,\u201d said Shenk. \u00a0\u201cWhat makes these dialogues even more significant is that they have been happening for almost 10 years and there is interest for these conversations to continue.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA conference like this is in keeping with CMU\u2019s mission statement which includes a commitment to peace and justice, generous hospitality and radical dialogue,\u201d said CMU president Gerald Gerbrandt during the opening ceremony.<\/p>\n
Mohammad Ali Shomali, head of the IKERI religious department, said he appreciates these conferences because both Mennonite and Shia scholars \u201ctake their faith seriously\u201d and are deeply committed to putting their faith into action.<\/p>\n
Shomali is hopeful that the mutual friendships and trust that has developed over the years between participants will lead to a sense of cooperation between faith communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cI personally believe that dialogue begins with tolerance and then goes on to respect and understanding,\u201d he said. \u201cThe more I understand you, the more I respect you. This should lead to cooperation. I believe there is no limit to dialogue and when it comes to cooperation, it is the same.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shomali said it is too early to envisage how Christians and Muslims can work together but he added: \u201cWe can do a lot, if we do it together. My dream is to have a joint Muslim and Christian organization that works for peace and justice. We would work together, shoulder to shoulder, to establish peace and justice all over the world. This could happen as a result of these conversations. \u00a0It is not impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Participation in the conference was limited to the scholars presenting papers and a number of invited academics and observers. The observers included nine female students from Iran who also participated in a special course arranged by CMU.<\/p>\n
Maryam Esmaeili teaches history of Islam and the interpretation of the Quran at the al-Zahra University, an Islamic university for women in Qom that has 15,000 full-time and correspondence students.<\/p>\n
She believes interfaith conversations and interactions can improve relationships between Muslims and Christians.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I don\u2019t speak with you, my judgment about you might be wrong,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen we sit around the table and talk, my judgment about you is correct because I understand you and you understand me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robin Penner Thiessen, a CMU student and observer at the conference, described the conference as kingdom living. \u201cWe are building relationships and breaking down walls,\u201d she said. \u201cApart from everything else that is being accomplished, there is the willingness to be in relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trevor Bechtel, an instructor of contemporary theology in Bluffton College, believes one of the long-term contributions of the interfaith dialogue will be the collection of academic papers that are being presented on Mennonite-Anabaptist theology.<\/p>\n
The papers, he said, represent the careful thinking, arguments and analysis that are reminiscent of the writings of early leaders in Anabaptist church history.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe understand ourselves better when we engage in dialogue like this,\u201d he said. \u201cThis dialogue with Muslims has pushed us to examine what we believe and to write it down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ed Martin, director for the Center for Interfaith Engagement, has participated in four of the past five conferences and moderated one of the sessions.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of the discussion sessions following presentation of papers were lively and could have extended longer,” said Martin.\u00a0 “I was pleased that the Iranians invited the North American Mennonites to participate in a sixth conference, scheduled for Qom, Iran in 2013.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"