A Common Word: What Comes Next—and How?
Bradley Shingleton Monday, 1 December 2008
Today there is an increased recognition of the connection between religion and political conflict, and the appearance of "A Common Word Between Us and You" is timely and poignant. The project now faces two basic questions: What comes next? And how should it proceed? By its own terms, the letter neither proposes concrete steps nor suggests a method or procedure for advancing its program. Its vigorous assertion of basic continuities among monotheistic traditions is certainly valuable, especially as a corrective to media images associating Islam with extremism and intolerance. But how can these commonalities best be explored? How can such a dialogue contribute, if at all, to international stability, inter-faith tolerance, and cross-cultural understanding? Religion's capacity to be both a destructive and constructive force in international affairs is a dimension that must be addressed.
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