Burbank Leader, CA
April 5 2008

IN THEORY:
Entering into interfaith dialogue

Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders have reacted positively to the
Saudi Arabian king’s proposal for dialogue among different faiths.
King Abdullah’s idea is to bring the faiths together under the idea
that they all believe in the same God. Many say the dialogue can’t
hurt, given the tension in the Middle East. What do you think?

I welcome the idea of interfaith meetings. But the particular context
of the meeting proposed by King Abdullah is based on two fallacies
that would make me personally hesitant to attend.

King Abdullah has proposed that we meet because `we all believe in
the same God.’ The truth is that we do not. Christians believe the
Bible’s clear statements about God’s triune nature. He is one God who
exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. `In
[Jesus] all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form’ says
Colossians 2:9 (New American Standard Bible).

Jesus Himself said that `He who has seen Me has seen the Father’
(John 14:9, NASB). To Jews and Muslims these are blasphemous terms.
When Jesus said, `I and the Father are one . . . the Jews
took up stones again to stone Him.’ (John 10:30-31).

King Abdullah referred to us as `brothers in faith.’ The truth is
that we are not. Paul addressed the `brethren’ in Thessalonica `in
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (2 Thessalonians 3:6).
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Those who deny the lordship of Jesus Christ deny themselves a title
as `brothers’ of Christians.

Let us meet together as human beings of equal worth before God, or
even as Abrahamic monotheists.

But Christians can never join under a banner of Christ-rejecting
beliefs. We pursue peace with all men, we pray for those who
persecute us, we make a defense before all for the hope that is in
us, but we must destroy, and never compromise with `speculations and
every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God’ (2
Corinthians 10:5, NASB).

PASTOR JON BARTA
Valley Baptist Church

The idea of dialogue among different faiths sounds like a positive
initiative to me. I don’t think it can hurt, and hopefully it’ll lead
to better relations between Jews, Muslims and Christians. I also like
the Saudi Arabian king’s focus, which is to address the lack of
ethical conduct by some and the weakening of the family system. The
implication here is that the three major monotheistic religions can
make a positive contribution with respect to ethical guidelines and
principles.

I invite all of us in the greater Glendale area to think about the
notion of dialogue among different faiths. I happen to be a member
and officer of the Glendale Religious Leaders Assn., which is an
interfaith organization. The purpose of our association is to provide
a forum where the recognized leaders of the various faith traditions
can gather together for the express purpose of dialogue, cooperation,
mutual support and service to the community.

We currently have representatives from the Christian faith and Baha’i
community that participate on a regular basis but would appreciate
more involvement from the recognized leaders of the Muslim and Jewish
traditions. Furthermore, since Glendale has such a large Armenian
population, more participation from the religious leaders of the
Armenian community would also be welcome.

One of the objectives of the Glendale Religious Leaders Assn. is to
serve the community in a tangible way. We have started doing this by
assisting PATH Achieve Glendale in feeding the homeless. But the
ideas and participation of other faith communities would also be
greatly appreciated. It can only enhance the quality of life in the
greater Glendale area.

AL GARCILAZO
Senior Chaplain
Glendale Adventist Medical Center

The Saudi initiative for an interfaith dialogue may initially seem
like a laudable effort, but I must admit that I am deeply skeptical.
If King Abdullah is sincere about bringing together various faiths to
usher in an era of understanding, he should initiate the process by
demonstrating real progress in his own country.

A prerequisite of any religious accord should be adherence to basic
human rights. Unfortunately, the Saudis have one of the world’s worst
records in this regard. Saudi Arabia is one of the only nations on
the globe where Christian, Jewish and Hindu houses of prayer are
forbidden. It also stands out as a country where Jewish people or
Israeli passport holders are not allowed to enter. Any effort to
convert from Islam is punishable by death. The regime also forbids
women from driving or voting, and treats them as second-class
citizens.

Judging from the way King Abdullah rules his dictatorship, I fear
that this call for dialogue is just a public relations ploy. It is a
brazen attempt to make a country with a dismal record on religious
freedom and human rights look like a progressive advocate of
tolerance and harmony. I hope one day to be pleasantly surprised by
some real change in Saudi Arabia – but until we observe a genuine
advance toward democracy, we should not feed their propaganda machine
by participating in a charade.

RABBI SIMCHA BACKMAN
Chabad Jewish Center

I agree. This dialogue would be good, and this initiative by King
Abdullah is a bold move in that direction. Jews, Christians and
Muslims all believe in God, but, of course, the problem is what kind
of God. It was good that King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia visited Pope
Benedict last November because he also is for dialogue.

More than a year before this meeting, Pope Benedict called for
dialogue in his famous talk at the University of Regensburg on Sept.
20, 2006. In that speech he called for a `genuine dialogue of
cultures and religions.’ He said that we could succeed only `if
reason and faith come together in a new way, if we overcome the
self-imposed limitation of reason to the empirically verifiable, and
if we once more disclose its vast horizons. In this sense, theology
rightly belongs in the university . . . .’

Science by its very nature deals with material things and is
therefore limited in its scope. But man is also a spiritual being and
knows that some things science makes possible are anti-human. The
great task of universities is to go beyond the material objects of
science and include the study of God.

Theology is essential in this dialogue of cultures and religions. In
that speech at the University of Regensburg, Benedict said, `The
courage to engage the whole breadth of reason, and not the denial of
its grandeur – this is the program with which a theology grounded in
Biblical faith enters into the debates of our time.’

THE REV. GENE FRILOT
Pastor Emeritus
Incarnation Catholic Church
Glendale

I hate always sounding like a stick-in-the-mud when it comes to
interfaith ecumenism, but there is simply one fact that we just can’t
get around when it comes up; that Christians believe Jesus Christ is
God.

Judaism denies this, and refuses that Jesus is even the Christ
(Messiah), divine or otherwise.

Muslims reject this core belief as well, so that pretty much settles
whether or not we all believe in the same God. The Bible states that,
`No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the
Son has the Father also;’ and Jesus said, `I and the Father are one’
(1 John 2:23; John 10:30 New International Version).

Simply acknowledging `god’ does not necessarily equate to `The God,’
if doing so simultaneously denies His triune nature of Father, Son
and Holy Spirit. It would be like saying that you knew my best
friend, but after describing his common similarities, you start
describing him so contrarily that I recognize you don’t. For
Christians, if you don’t know Christ, you don’t know God.

On the other hand, if Abdullah perceives the connection between the
three named monotheistic religions (all committed to some perception
of the one and only God of Abraham) then maybe we can temper our
theologies long enough to sit and discuss peace.

Even if we can’t embrace one another’s religious views, we could
embrace one another, and if Abdullah can live and let live, I am
certain that peace can come. I am not convinced that his country is
really there yet. Let’s talk peace, but let’s embrace religious
freedom.

Jesus asserted, `The truth will set you free’ (John 8:32).

THE REV. BRYAN GRIEM
Senior Pastor
Montrose Community Church

Of course, it’s a great idea. Whenever potential enemies are talking
instead of fighting, it’s a great idea.

However, no one should expect a lot right away if the dialogue does
get under way. In at least one place in the Gospels, Jesus says to be
innocent as doves and wise as serpents (Matthew 10:16, Revised
Standard Version). I personally believe that Christianity and its
adherents have often over-emphasized the being innocent (read
"naive") and under-emphasized the being wise. This time a little hope
mixed with a healthy dose of skepticism might be in order. But lest
somebody consider me as one with little faith, let me quote the late
David Ben-Gurion, one of the founders of the state of Israel; he said
that anyone who doesn’t believe in miracles is not a realist. O Lord,
please help me to be that kind of realist.

THE REV. C. L. `SKIP’ LINDEMAN
Congregational Church of the Lighted Window
United Church of Christ
La Cañada Flintridge

There is a great need for this meeting. I am very encouraged by King
Abdullah’s offer to host an interfaith and inter-religious
conference.

This is especially noteworthy coming from inside Saudi Arabia.

More dialogue, in person, among many religious leaders in the name of
`addressing the weakening of the family, increasing atheism and `a
lack of ethics, loyalty, and sincerity for our religions andhumanity’
will only promote more understanding and mutual respect. Ignore the
cautions for `too much optimism.’ Don’t be too cynical about
political and media spins even before such a meeting takes place.

Communication is considered the universal solvent in Scientology. All
familial, business, and political resolutions began with meeting and
communication. L. Ron Hubbard wrote, `For a great many years I asked
this question,

`To communicate, or not to communicate?’ If one got himself in such
thorough trouble by communication, then of course one should stop
communicating.

But this is not the case.

If one gets himself into trouble by communicating, he should further
communicate.

More communication, not less, is the answer, and I consider this
riddle solved after a quarter of a century of investigation and
pondering.’

May this meeting of monotheistic faith traditions be the first of
many in the Middle East. It is important to view this meeting as a
first step, a beginning. More communication will eventually bring
greater respect and understanding, building the foundation for future
peace and cooperation. True religious values of faith, compassion and
tolerance may be the real keys to the resolution of many worldwide
problems.

It is time for religion to come to center stage for the resolution of
conflict, not the puppet or scapegoat for further examples of man’s
inhumanity to man.

CATHERINE EMRANI
Volunteer Minister
Glendale Church of Scientology