Need Of Interfaith Dialogue For Peace Building In Pakistan: An Approach Of Madrasa Teachers In South Punjab

Abstract

Dialogue among religions, as growing social need and tool for peace building, is coming on international limelight as response to intolerance and conflict. The phenomenon of interfaith dialogue is popularly carried out by sacred and religious leaders of varying faiths as being the most relevant stakeholders. This research was undertaken to explore the perspective of madrasa teachers about the need of interfaith dialogue in Pakistan. Male teachers of registered ahle-sunnat madaris in south Punjab constituted the population of the research study. 325 respondents were included in study by employing availability sampling technique. Five-point likert scale questionnaire was used to collect data. It was found from the results that teachers of madaris did not perceive interfaith dialogue as only step towards promotion of peace. Absence of interfaith dialogue has nothing to do with the phenomenon of terrorism, came up as opinion of madrasa teachers but in contrast some teachers took interfaith dialogue as helpful tool to control the peril of terrorism. Study also revealed that large number of madrasa teachers favored interfaith dialogue as instrumental to reduce the risk of conflict among various religious entities. Results also indicate that madrasa faculty considered interfaith dialogue needed to learn tolerance for counter beliefs. However many of the faculty members of madaris disowned the conduct of interfaith dialogue as their social responsibility.