Moderate Muslims speak – to Christians

A 'historic' letter from 138 prominent Muslims speaks to a desire to defuse tensions between the faiths.

By Jane Lampman | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

from the October 15, 2007 edition

Page 1 of 2

Who speaks for Islam?

The answer to that lament, heard often in the West since 9/11, came last week in the form of a letter from mainstream Muslim leaders to leaders of the world's Christian churches.

The open letter from 138 prominent Muslims – including imams, ayatollahs, grand muftis, sheikhs, and scholars – said "the future of the world depends on peace between Muslims and Christians," urgent language indicating a concern that tensions between the two faiths are in danger of spiraling out of control.

With its call for finding common ground in the foundational principles shared by the two faiths, the letter presents a significant counterweight to the voices of radical Islam on the global stage and is being heralded by Christian clergy and scholars as of historic import.

The 29-page document, "A Common Word Between Us and You," calls for Muslim-Christian dialogue, prompting several Christian leaders including the Archbishop of Canterbury to respond immediately and positively. In the United States, leaders are hastening to develop a common response and lay the groundwork for a joint gathering.

"The conversation has begun, and e-mails are flying this way and that," says the Rev. Dr. Shanta Premawardhana, head of interfaith relations for the National Council of Churches. Yale Divinity School wrote a lengthy statement that has been cosigned by leaders at Harvard and Princeton seminaries.

The Muslim signatories are authoritative, representing all major schools of Islamic thought, as well as influential at the grass-roots level, say scholars of Islam.

"They are saying, 'Look, we represent a global cross-section, and we want to address the critical issue of the relationship between Islam and Christianity,' " says John Esposito, director of the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University in Washington.

'Our common future is at stake'

The two faiths account for more than half the world's population, the letter notes, and with "the terrible weaponry of the modern world; with Muslims and Christians intertwined everywhere as never before, no side can unilaterally win a conflict.... Our common future is at stake."

Page 1 | 2 | Next Page