Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Interfaith Dialogue: Mystical Principles, Practical Initiatives

Abstract

In his response to the open letter accompanying “A Common Word Between Us and You”,1 Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew cited various consultations organized jointly (1986–1998) between the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought in Jordan and the Orthodox Center of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Switzerland, affirming seven basic values of dialogue between Christians and Muslims: First, (as he observes) our religions are not willing to disturb world peace to serve the deplorable military hysteria of political leaders. Second, our religions are not willing to overlook their teaching about the unity of the human race to serve recent ideologies of fragmentation. Third, our religions are not willing to replace the call put forward in their teachings for peace and justice in the world with the demand for war. Fourth, our religions are willing, through interfaith dialogue, to heal the wounds of the past in order to jointly serve the weak and suffering. Fifth, our religions are willing to jointly publicize the principles of mutual respect and understanding in educational curricula, so that blind fanaticism and religious intolerance may gradually be eliminated. Sixth, our religions are willing to cooperate through ecumenical dialogue to defend peace, social justice, and human rights among people, irrespective of religious, national, racial, social, or other differences. Seventh, our religions support governments and international organisations to achieve fuller awareness of these fundamental principles.