International Dialogue and Dialogue International

International Dialogue and Dialogue International “ Peace begins with understanding others” University of Wisconsin-Madison December 13, 2007

interfaith dialogue ≈peace ≈security”?
“ No peace among nations without peace among religions, no peace among the religions without dialogue among the religions” Hans Kung, President of the Foundation for a Global Ethic,
Presumption of conflicts/violence caused by religion—esp. religious teachings
Dialogue is about expanding our capacity for attention, awareness and learning with and from each other. It is about exploring the frontiers of what it means to be human, in relationship to each other and our world.

Dialogue vs. Discussion
Dialogue
To inquire to learn
To unfold shared meaning
To integrate multiple perspectives
To uncover and examine assumptions
Discussion
To tell, sell, persuade
To gain agreement on one meaning
To evaluate and select the best
To justify/defend assumptions

Dialogue International (DI)
DI is a non-profit organization established in 2001
by a group of Turkish friends
It was established after tragic incidence 9/11 to louder the condemnation of American friends
Besides it was aimed:
to improve dialogue and understanding between faiths, cultures and civilizations.
to deal with issues related to living together as part of the human community.
to foster efforts at education and communication among people of different faiths.

Mission Interfaith dialogue is a must today, and the first step in establishing it is forgetting the past, ignoring polemical arguments, and giving precedence to common points, which far outnumber polemical ones. To promote
Respect
Understanding
Tolerance
Love
and as a result Peace

What DI Does?
Panels:
Dialogue in Abrahamic Religions
Jews & Turks: Model of Coexistence
Women Role Models in Scriptures: Bible and Qur’an
Christian - Muslim: Love & Tolerance
Jewish - Christian - Muslim: On Peace
Muslim - Christian Views of Each Other
Dinners:
Fast Breaking Dinner at Lutheran Campus Center
Fast Breaking Dinner at Hillel Foundation
5th Annual Dialogue Dinner: Healing Conflict Through Dialogue
Ramadan & Thanksgiving Celebration
Fast Breaking Dinner (Iftar)
Video Lecture Series:
Perspectives on Faith: Relevance of Rumi in Contemporary World
Perspectives on Faith: The Concept of God in Islam
www.ebru.tv
Documentary: Cat Stevens’ Transition to Yusuf Islam
Women in Islam
Scriptural Links: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Explore Islam: Muslim-Christian Views of One Another
Conferences:
2nd International Conference on Islam: Dialogue vs Conflict - Islam in the Age of Globalization
1st International Conference on Islam: Islam and Dialogue
Dialogue Trips
Organizing dialogue based trips to Turkey
2 nd Dialogue Trip
1 st Dialogue Trip
Please google for
The Fruits of Dialogue
video series

Why with a group of Turkish friends?
Because Turkey is:
historically one of the most interesting meeting places of Ancient, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman civilizations
location of many significant events for Christians, Jews and Muslims (many biblical references)
overly Muslim country but all religions promote each other hand in hand
Quran promotes dialogue and its among the sunnah of Prophet(pbuh)
home of many marvelous Jewish, Christian, Islamic structures
welcome to everybody with Turkish people’s warm hospitality
need dialogue more than any other country

Turkey – Quick Facts
Bicontinental country (a bridge between Asia and Europe)
Muslim but a secular country
Crossroads of peoples and faith communities over the centuries
The greatest centers of early Christianity were located in this region and most early ecumenical councils took place in what is today modern Turkey
Islam became the dominant religious faith later under the Ottoman Turks
The Ottomans offered hospitality and welcomed a sizeable group of Sephardic Jews who were forced to leave Spain and Portugal in the late 15th century.

Homeland of Mawlānā Jalāl-ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī
St. Nicolas(Santa Claus), Apostle Paul, Alexander the Great, Cleopatra, Julius Caesar are from Turkey
Antioch is the place where the followers of Jesus were first called Christians etc.

Importance of Rumi for Dialogue Topkapi Palace and Museum
Mawlānā Jalāl-ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī ( September 30,1207–December 17, 1273), poet, Islamic jurist, and theologian
After Rumi's death, his followers founded the Mowlawīyah , better known as the "Whirling Dervishes," who believe in performing their worship in the form of dance and music ceremony called the samā
Upon a proposal by Culture and Tourism Ministry of Turkey, the year 2007 was proposed as the "International Rumi Year" to UNESCO. This is intended for the commemoration of Rumi's 800th birthday anniversary and will be celebrated all over the world, one of the greatest poets, philosophers and scholars of the eastern civilization

Come, come again, whoever you are, come! Heathen, fire worshipper or idolatrous, come! Come even if you broke your penitence a hundred times, Ours is the portal of hope, come as you are . I hold no religion or creed, an neither Eastern nor Western, Muslim or Infidel, Zorastrian, Christian, Jew or Gentile. I come from neither land nor sea, am not related to those above or below, was not born nearby or far away, do not live either in Paradise or this Earth, claim descent not from Adam and Eve or the Angels above. I transcend body and soul, My home is beyond place and name. It is with the beloved, in a space beyond space. I embrace all and am part of all. ONCE a beloved asked her lover: “Friend, You have seen many places in the world! Now - which of all these cities was the best? He said: “The city where my sweetheart lives!” Seek knowledge which unravels mysteries Before your life comes to close Give up that non-existence which looks like existence, Seek that Existence which looks like non-existence!

Advocate of Dialogue Contemporary Rumi Fethullah Gulen
Born 27 April 1941, Erzurum Turkey, an Islamic scholar, writer, poet
Pioneer of thousands of “schools of dialogue and love” runs all over the world. There is a school almost in every country of the world
According to him "Dialogue is a must,” Gülen supports "Dialogue and Tolerance“
He personally met with religious leaders, including Pope John Paul II , the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomeos , and Israeli Sephardic Head Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron , Chief Rabbi David Aseo , the Armenian Patriarch and the New York Cardinal John O'Connor
Gülen has authored over 60 books and many articles on a variety of topics
His life and endeavors about dialogue has been topic for doctorate students and researchers all around the world

He embraces all humanity and is affectionate t owards the whole of creation
He is well-known for his ardent endeavours to strengthen bonds amongst all peoples of the world and promote Dialogue and Tolerance

“ If we want to start a revolution, we must begin with ourselves. We must eliminate from our vocabulary such words as "hatred," "enemy" and "revenge“ “ Love is the rose in our belief, a realm of the heart that never withers.” Applaud the good for their goodness appreciate those who have believing hearts and be kind to believers. Approach unbelievers so gently that their envy and hatred melt away. Like a Messiah revive people with your breath. “ Be so tolerant that your heart becomes wide like the ocean. Become inspired with faith and love for others. Offer a hand to those in trouble and be concerned about everyone” Whenever I see a leaf fall from branch of a tree in autumn, I feel as much pain as if my arm was amputated.”

John Paul II and Fethullah Gülen
“ Individuals come to maturity through receptive openness to others and through generous self-giving to them; so too do cultures. Created by people and at the service of people, they have to be perfected through dialogue and communion, on the basis of the original and fundamental unity of the human family as it came from the hands of God who ‘made from one stock every nation of mankind’” (Acts 17:26). -- “Dialogue between Cultures for a Civilization of Love and Peace” (2001)
“ Under the lens of tolerance, the merits of believers attain a new depth and extend to infinity; mistakes and faults shrink so much that they can be squeezed into a thimble. Actually the treatment of He Who is beyond time and space always passes through the prism of tolerance, and we wait for it to embrace us and all of creation.” -- “The Necessity of Interfaith Dialogue: A Muslim Perspective” (2001)

” In today’s world of global connectedness, we must develop the capacity to dialogue and create relatedness with people vastly different from us. Part of that project involves finding ideas, beliefs, purposes, projects, and so forth, on which we can achieve resonance with each other. That is we do not need to be the same, but we should find just enough similarity between us that, for a certain distance down the road, we can hold hands as fellow travelers in this life, all the while mindful of our differences in myriad ways.”

Dialogue in the Quran
Say: “O People of the Book! Come to common terms as between us and you: that we worship none but God; that we speculate no partners with Him; that we take not some from among ourselves for Lords other than God.” (Al-Imran 3:64)
Those who believe (in the Quran ), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians ,- any who believe in God and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. Quran 2:62
Say: "We believe in God, and that which has been sent down to us, and sent down on Abraham and Ishmael, Isaac and Jacob, and the Tribes, and in that which was given to Moses and Jesus, and the Prophets, of their Lord; we make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we surrender ( Muslimun ) Quran 3:83-84.
And argue not with the People of the Book unless it be in (a way) that is better. (Al-Ankabut 29:46)

Quick facts about Dialogue in Quran
Judaism and Christianity are validated by Islamic sources and the believers of these religions are called "People of The Book"
Muslims respect all Hebrew prophets and Jesus (PBUH) and Quran consider mother of Christ the most pious women
Peace is written in Quran 67 times
The word of sword is repeated only 2 times in Quran

Dialogue! Meeting point of all beliefs Peace Begins With Understanding Others

Why be so hopeless... Why become so pessimistic! A thorn has been disclosed, and the rose has been separated from the thorns. Happy days promised you by Al-Haqq will come tomorrow, or even before tomorrow, who knows? WHAT ABOUT YOUR FUTURE Today you are waited upon hand and foot. Today you are safe in somebody's arms. I wish we were able to promise such happiness concerning your future. Well, you had better not touch on that matter, nor let me mention it...

Th ank You

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International Dialogue and Dialogue International

by DialogueInternational on Dec 22, 2007

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International Dialogue and Dialogue International — Presentation Transcript