About Christian Muslim Relations
Rationale
Building better relations between people from different religions is one of the biggest challenges facing today's world. Throughout history people have experienced God in many different ways and have expressed this spiritual dimension of their lives in a variety of cultural and religious systems.
Interreligious dialogue engages this rich human heritage with profound respect for what the Holy Spirit has brought about in people, and for the freedom and ingenuity of the peoples' responses to God's constant invitation to life and happiness.
Interreligious dialogue promotes mutual understanding - learning from each others' experience, correcting misunderstandings, and cooperating for the common good of society. Where the motivating power of religion has been mis-used to fuel conflicts between people, interreligious dialogue seeks to recover the authentic teaching and practice of the religion, heal the hurts that have been inflicted, and promote reconciliation.
Although Christians and Muslims share many beliefs and practices, our long history of association has often been marred by conflict. The geo-political impact of Christianity and Islam - together comprising half the world's population - have made relations between these two groups of believers a particular and urgent challenge. In the words of Hans Küng:
- No peace among the nations without peace among the religions.
- No peace among the religions without dialogue between the religions.
- No dialogue between the religions without investigation of the foundations of the religions.
Activities
In line with church's teaching on inter-religious dialogue, the staff of the Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations works towards closer relationships among the faith traditions. Our specific focus is the relationship between Christians and Muslims, which we promote through a variety of activities:
- Organising conferences, seminars and activities to enable Christians and Muslims to meet each other and learn about the others' belief and practices;
- Networking with Inter-faith and Multi-faith groups, especially those including Muslims and Muslim associations;
- Co-ordinating a network of Christian women who wish to develop stronger relations with Muslim women;
- Providing speakers and conducting workshops;
- Consultancy and providing resources to individuals and groups
- Conducting research
- Holding small but quality resources on Islam and Interreligious Dialogue
- Publishing Occasional Papers, our quarterly newsletter Bridges and providing input for Columban Mission Society publications Staff
STATEMENT - 25TH OF SEPTEMBER, 2006, BENEDICT XVI ON FAITH & REASON
Fr Patrick McInerney from the Christian/Muslim Relations Centre at the Columban Mission Institute, Strathfield comments on the wide spread criticism of the Pope’s address. (pdf)
Contact People
Sr. Pauline Rae smsm (Convenor)
Fr. Patrick McInerney ssc
Contact information
Postal Address :
Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations
Columban Mission Institute
c/- Australian Catholic University
Locked Bag 2002
Strathfield
NSW 2135
Australia
Phone:+ 61 2 9352 8010
Facsimile: + 61 2 9746 8033
Email: cmr.cmi@columban.org.au
