Correction appended
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(The World Evangelical Alliance / The Christian Post)Geoff Tunnicliffe, international director of World Evangelical Alliance, makes closing remarks at the "Loving God and Neighbor" conference at Yale University on July 31, 2008. Over 140 Christian and Muslim leaders participated in the gathering which responded "A Common Word Between Us and You," a letter issued by 138 Muslim clerics in October that called for more sincere dialogue with Christians.
Following a four-day conference, Christian and Muslim leaders from around the world announced the first fruits of the "Common Word" exchange through a joint statement that affirmed their support for religious freedom and further interfaith dialogue based on their common love for God and neighbor.
During the "Loving God and Neighbor" meeting at Yale University, the high-profile leaders discussed how Christians and Muslims might work together to address world poverty, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the situation in Palestine and Israel, the dangers of further wars, and the freedom of religion.
On Thursday, over 140 conference participants unanimously approved a cooperative statement that signaled a new beginning of collaboration between Christians and Muslims where stronger assertions of faith would be not just be allowed but required.
Geoff Tunnicliffe, international director of the World Evangelical Alliance, was among top evangelical leaders at the July 28-31 conference who agreed to sign the document.
The statement began by affirming the "unity and absoluteness of God" and God's merciful love as central to both religions.
The most weight was placed on the second paragraph in which religious leaders affirmed a mutual respect for each other's faith.
"We recognize that all human beings have the right to the preservation of life, religion, property, intellect, and dignity. No Muslim or Christian should deny the other these rights, nor should they tolerate the denigration or desecration of one another's sacred symbols, founding figures, or places of worship," declared the statement, read by Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan at a news conference Thursday.
The statement also denounced a death threat by Al Qaeda last week against Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah for hosting an interfaith conference this month in Madrid.
The leaders agreed to "denounce and deplore threats made against those who engage in interfaith dialogue."
"Dialogue is not a departure from faith," the statement affirmed. "[I]t is a legitimate means of expression and an essential tool in the quest for the common good."
Additionally, conference participants also planned for a week every year when Muslim and Christian clergy would preach to their congregations the good aspect about the other's faith. Other practical steps to promote understanding between the two faiths included a website with notable Christian and Muslim books and a study guide with frequently asked questions about the two faiths.
The recent four-day gathering stemmed from a letter, titled "A Common Word Between Us and You," issued by 138 Muslim clerics last October calling for sincere dialogue between Muslims and Christians. In November, Christians responded with a statement that agreed to work with Muslims on pressing issues based on their common principles of love for God and neighbor. Over 500 Christian leaders endorsed statement issued by the Yale Center for Faith and Culture.
Some evangelical theologians and Christian leaders had criticized the Christian letter, saying it didn't assert the correct Christian view of God as the trinity.
But as the conference panel discussions would reveal, no one backed away from the core assertions of their faith as they engaged in highly academic and often theological conversations on topics that ranged from God's love to world poverty. Continue >>
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jjdiogenes,
I've checked my Bible. It doesn't say anything about a woman not being able to post a message online.
Try understanding the Bible spiritually, instead of just reading it carnally. It might help.
In the end days, many will say "Peace! Peace" but then come's sudden destruction.
Yep,
you may as well say that these are the first-fruits of this kind of dialogue:
http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=71498
What is there to compromise when comparing Christ to Mohammed?
Tell you what, send these very Christians who were prohibited to practice in their own homes to dialogue with the Saudis.
What the Saudis are about...really.
http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=71498
A.S.Mat
You confuse sharing the Gospel(which is Christs command) with compromising it(which is the Devils work).
This dialogue is compromising it.
Through the influence of Christians on Muslim friends, if
the Muslim friends of the gulf region who are covered
with billions of petro dollars, could share their wealth
with the less fortunate Muslims in Asia and Africa; that
itself is a very religous act. The fundamental Christians are to the extreme: to point out Biblical verses while Christians are being engaged in a dialogue with other religous followers. How many fundamental
believers have shared the gospel with a Muslim, or having
any personal contact with a Muslim? Only through friendly face to face dialogue, relationship can be
established, and through relationship Christians can
share their personal experience and relgious convitions.
Even radical Muslims are coming to Jesus Christ, because
the Christians have a living Saviour to share with them,
and the Saviour is calling all relgious people to come to
Him. So, why do we fear other relgious believers?
indygirl: Have you read the Bible? If you have you know how hypocritical your comments sound. Of course, if you've read the Bible then you know you shouldn't be commenting in this forum in the first place because you are a female.
"The statement began by affirming the "unity and absoluteness of God" and God's merciful love as central to both religions."
Early in the article, the above statement was made. Allah is an angry, unpredictable, lying, false god while the God of Christians is the Great I AM who loves us and wants us all to come to Him. We can know exactly who God is because He is always the same. Jesus said "I am the only way to the Father." He never once said "by the way, a guy named muhammed is going to come along--he is going to sound a bit crazy--but trust me, he is going to wrap up any loose ends. Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Muslims have fallen for the great liar, Satan/Allah. Muhammed never claimed to be the way to heaven, because he wasn't. He was a con man, a pedophile, a raper of women, and is dead. Jesus Christ is alive and He is the Way.
Matthew 5:9
That is all there is to say.
For those who miss the point of the Holy Trinity it is One God in Three Persons. God is still One.
Daniel Paul--
Trust me, the Muslims did not mean that statement to in any way support Christian doctrine recognizing the Trinity. To the Muslims, that statement means "God is One" and to them that means that the concept of the Trinity is blasphemy. They knew exactly what they were doing. They will understand the Christians having signed on to that statement (regardless of what the Christians say in back-peddling) as an admission of the error of their belief in the Trinity.
It will be broadcast all over the Muslim world that way, take it to the bank. When dealing with Muslims, one must always read between the lines. Deception is part and parcel of their religion when dealing with "infidels".
This entire conference is a terrible idea. Light has no business with darkness.
It is clear that Muslims and Christians see God differently. I don't think there is any arguement about that, and I don't think this will change anytime soon.
It hasn't for hundreds of years.
But history records the liberal and conservative approaches that have been taken to resolve these differences.
That is what these meetings are about. At least for now.
The Muslims all over the world bow in prayer toward that black stone in Mecca, what is that have in common with the living God of Israel and our risen Lord Jesus Christ? How about if the Muslim turn and bow in prayer towards Jerusalem, instead of Mecca - that is a starting point
Whoever does not acknowledge Jesus is the Christ from God is an antichrist, and this is not calling Christ a prophet, but God Himself.
1 John 4:1-3
1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
1 John 5:1-5
1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
Its hard to say we worship the same God when Muslims do not acknowledge Christ is God.
"But as the conference panel discussions would reveal, no one backed away from the core assertions of their faith....."
john14-6
If you read further in the article it is reported that the Evangelicals were rather vocal about defending their support of the Trinity during the conference.
Appearently the world is getting the chance to see the conservative sides of Christianity and Islam.
The mainstream media may not be as crazy about it, but then again the mainstream media doesn't run the show.
"We recognize that all human beings have the right to the preservation of life, religion, property, intellect, and dignity. No Muslim or Christian should deny the other these rights, nor should they tolerate the denigration or desecration of one another's sacred symbols, founding figures, or places of worship,"
The corollaries to this statement are devastating to Christians and to Christs stand on Truth.
Those who signed this statement have not only betrayed those that seek justice in this world, but if they could, they would have betrayed Justice and Truth in the coming Life.
For, even in this world, we are faithful to justice and Truth when we correctly name Stalin, Hitlere, Pol Pot, and many of the popes as truly evil men, who made it their religion to conquer, kill and desecrate life altogether...
So why would it be unjust to call mohammed what he was?
To not denigrate, and not desecrate mohammed is to accept what mohammed did as peaceful religion, and to allow those who follow his commands to have a free conscience, or on the other hand, if their conscience was still active...these statements seal its very voice in their mind, and as a result prevent Christs Spirit to carry out His work of bringing man to repentance...
There is a lot more to be said...but even Christ called those who professed a religion of their making: snakes and vipers...whose father is the Devil...
Set the captives free! Now it goes like this: there are not captives here..and those who claim to be captives are in fact insulting mohammed...so they must be beheaded...in the name of peace..
"Christians at this conference into denying the Holy Trinity."
How? John 10:30 "I and the Father are one". Jesus is unified with the Father and absolutely God.
"The statement began by affirming the 'unity and absoluteness of God'..."
So, right off the bat the Muslims play them and dupe the dhimmi Christians at this conference into denying the Holy Trinity. Good move, guys, maybe you can deny the unique, atoning, salvation of Christ next...