Education and a rethink of the driving philosophy behind politics have been urged by global religious leaders as solutions to crises and conflicts ongoing around the world.
Pope Francis and Muslim Council of Elders chairman and Al Azhar Grand Imam Dr Shaikh Ahmad Al Tayyeb delivered their addresses at the closing session of the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue: East and West for Human Coexistence, that concluded yesterday.
The two leaders decried war and asserted the need for educated dialogue, while keeping in mind the suffering of innocent victims of conflict.
The session was attended by His Majesty King Hamad, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, senior officials and guests.
Two helicopters from the Royal Bahraini Air Force flew the flags of Bahrain and the Vatican.
“It is a striking paradox that, while the majority of the world’s population is united in facing the same difficulties, suffering from grave food, ecological and pandemic crises, as well as an increasingly scandalous global injustice, a few potentates are caught up in a resolute struggle for partisan interests, reviving obsolete rhetoric, redesigning spheres of influence and opposing blocs,” Pope Francis said.
The pontiff emphasised education as the way forward, noting: “If ignorance is the enemy of peace, education is the friend of development, provided that it is an education truly befitting men and women as dynamic and relational beings.
“An education that is not rigid and monolithic, but open to challenges and sensitive to cultural changes; not self-referential and isolating, but attentive to the history and culture of others; not stagnant, but inquisitive and open to embracing different and essential aspects of the one human family to which we belong.”
Pope Francis also went on to highlight three specific educational priorities for the world. He called for the recognition of women in the public sphere, championing their right to education, employment and the freedom to exercise their social and political rights.
He also urged that the fundamental rights of children be protected so that they can grow up, receive schooling and be better global citizens.
And finally, he called for the ‘education for citizenship’, based on respect for one another and for the rule of law, and becoming better citizens.
“Education is the path to liberation from historical and social legacies opposed to the spirit of fraternal solidarity that ought to mark those who worship God and love their neighbour,” the pontiff noted.
His Majesty, who delivered the first speech of the closing session, also highlighted the influential role that religious leaders, intellectuals and experts play in resolving challenges faced by society.
Meanwhile, the Grand Imam called for a rethink of philosophies driving world markets, which have controlled the perceptions of major powers about their international relations with emerging economies.
He also urged cultural education and exchange as the way forward to build stronger friendships between nations.
“Some have realised that Western policy has become ineffective in dealing with international crises,” he said.
“This is because displays of military might are a threat to genuine politics. That is why I propose here, replacing ‘politics’ with ‘cultural encounter’ in the sphere of international relations. The latter has the capacity for human understanding – encompassing its different aspects, whether physical, spiritual, intellectual or emotional.
“In fact, the West needs the wisdom of the East, its religions and the moral values its people have been raised on, as well as their balanced view on man, the universe and our Creator. It needs the spirituality of the East and its deep meditation on reality.
“The West also needs Eastern markets and its workforce for its factories in Africa, Asia and other places. It also needs the raw materials found deep within these two continents, without which the West cannot produce anything. It is neither fair nor just to reward benevolence with poverty, ignorance and disease.
“And the same may be said about the East, as it needs to adopt Western technology and use it for its technological and economic development, as well as importing industrial products from Western markets. Easterners need a new outlook on the West, full of humbleness and charity.”
The Grand Imam called on Muslim scholars to continue highlighting the teachings of Islam, in particular drawing attention to the idea of ‘Ta‘aaruf’ (Arabic for ‘acquaintance’).
The Muslim leader justified interfaith dialogue with three excerpts from the Quran – the first recognising that all humans are different, the second, building on the first, that because of their differences, everyone is free to follow their own faith of choice and the final, building on the previous two, that the key to coexistence lies in getting better acquainted with one another.
The Grand Imam also called on “religious scholars, thinkers, and media professionals to put more effort into the education of the younger generation and youth about the indisputable religious commonalities.”
“These commonalities should be adapted into modern academic programmes for teaching and convincing young people that there is room in life in the eyes of religious philosophy for those of different faiths, races, colour and languages, and that cultural diversity enriches civilisation and establishes the peace that is lacking,” he added.
“Second, I call on Muslim scholars, across the world of every doctrine, sect and school of thought, to urgently hold a Muslim-Muslim dialogue, a dialogue around unity and acquaintance, a dialogue for religious and human fraternity, void of division, discord and, more especially, sectarian strife.”
The Grand Imam also went on to invite Shia Muslim brothers to an open meeting, where they can sit down and put aside the past, in order to strengthen Islam and Islamic unity.
“We must beware of falling into the trap of compromising nations’ stability and exploiting religion to stoke the fires of nationalistic and ideological sentiments, not to mention interference with countries and their sovereignty or usurping their lands.”
A small boy recited a verse from the Quran and a girl read a passage from the Old Testament.
Today, the Pope is due to say Mass for an estimated 30,000 people at Bahrain National Stadium.
naman@gdnmedia.bh
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