| A Common Word | | Print | |
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why we need a common word
by Jordan Robinson and Ed Marques Muslims and Christians around the world have grown closer together as a result of the increasingly interconnected and pluralistic nature of modern society, finding more common ground in our shared world to connect and communicate. But coupled with this increase in closeness, be it geographical or intellectual, is a rise in visceral antagonism between communities fueled by difficult political and social realities that have been further exacerbated by war, economic inequality, and religious extremism. Recognizing the great opportunities afforded by increased connection — while remaining honest concerning the great challenges of our time — over 100 prominent Muslim scholars and leaders from around the world, representing both Sunni and Shi'a scholarly traditions, have signed onto a call for unity and cooperation with their Christian counterparts called "A Common Word Between Us and You". This letter to Christian clergy, scholars and leaders addresses the complex task of positively harnessing the power of faith by not merely urging, but championing a new approach to Christian-Muslim relations by promoting greater theological cooperation around shared concepts such as Love of God and Love of one's neighbor. This document, which is a point of entry, not an end in of itself, sheds light on the great similarities between the Islamic and Christian traditions to not only promote but facilitate the creation of mutually beneficial space for building cooperative strategies for education and peace making. The question arises, however, with any great statement, where does theorizing end and practical action begin? This question is for all of us and does not require another policy paper to find an answer. Rather, as over half of the world's population is made up of Christians and Muslims, it behooves us all, scholar and layperson alike, to connect our collective resources, employ our imaginations, and build and bolster grassroots-level institutions that can actualize this call for cooperation. Islamica Magazine fully supports this call for unity and collaboration around the shared principles of Love of God and Love of one's neighbor. The magazine's mission of critically engaging with the chief issues of our age is bolstered by such a bold statement of Muslim unanimity on the unquestionable need for Muslims to interact with the world by emphasizing shared values that underpin successful civilizational advancement including love, mercy and tolerance. 
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