RELIGIOUS LEADERS CALL FOR DIALOGUE AT BEYOðLU MEETING
Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Nov 29 2007
Representatives of three religions have called on the whole nation
to develop understanding, solidarity and dialogue between religions
at a meeting sponsored by Beyoðlu Municipality.
At a meeting held on Wednesday at the Point Hotel in Taksim, Muslim,
Catholic and Christian representatives said a long distance has been
covered in dialogue between religions thanks to recent international
conferences on solidarity among civilizations and called on the whole
nation to develop further understanding and dialogue between religions.
Delivering a speech at the meeting, Beyoðlu Mayor Ahmet Misbah
Demircan said the municipality has a great responsibility to create
an atmosphere of solidarity and fraternity among communities living in
the district. "We need to create synergy by gathering people residing
in our district together. We are eager to organize such conferences
every three months to develop cooperation and communication between
religions. We believe that people from different communities and
religions need to know one another better," he said.
Armenian Patriarch of Ýstanbul Mesrob II (Mutafyan) recalled that
Ýstanbul is a city of dialogue and the three religions have many
common points, even in acts of worship such as prayers and fasting.
"Indeed, by gathering together, we are doing something which actually
exists in our nature. I believe that it will be to our benefit to hold
such meetings often," said Mutafyan. He also added that significant
distance has been covered in dialogue between religions thanks to
recent conferences on dialogue and solidarity and recalled that he
frequently meets Jewish and Syriac representatives to deliberate on
various issues.
The Syriac Catholic bishop of Turkey, Bishop Yusuf Sað, on the other
hand, called on participants of the meeting to pray to God to give an
end to hunger, social imbalance and immorality on earth. "Let us pray
to God for all of humanity to lead honorable lives." Beyoðlu Mufti
Turgut Acarý said no one can deny the effect of religion on human
beings. "Religion was born with humanity. The first human being,
Adam, was a prophet. Humans were granted a devout nature from the
very beginning."
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
