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Where Is Islam Going, Challenged by Modernity? (Anita Mir) [ Abstract | Full Text ]
Un Dialogue avec l’Islam: Une crainte de la modernité ? (Anita Mir) [Résumé | À texte intégral ]

Un essai de synthèse [Claudio Monge]

List of Participants
Liste des participants

Group Photo
photo de groupe

Lettre de bienvenue de Carlos A Azpiroz Costa
Letter of Welcome from the Master of the Order

Letter of thanks to Carlos A Azpiroz Costa
Lettre de merci de Carlos A Azpiroz Costa

Vendredi / Friday (Modérateur : Jean-Jacques Pérennès

In the morning we had two talks on Islam exploring how it sees itself in relationship to modernity.

Anita Mir brought up how Islam is being radicalized as it reacts against modernism. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find moderate Muslims who are willing to reach across religious divides in public settings. Anita also identified two things that help to radicalize Islam, Wahabiism and literalism. Wahabiism has spread from Saudi Arabia because of its wealth and the because of the status of Mecca. It often is seen as the "standard" form of Islam, and this is problematic. Also, the decline of scholarship has led to a literalism where passages of the Koran are taken out of context.

Emilio Platti pointed out that there is a lingering difference that goes back to Islam as practiced in Mecca verses as it was practiced in Medina. Medina was a global religion, prescribing societal norms and political structures. Earlier in Mecca, religion was ethical, spiritual and mystical, but not political in its influence.

The discussion that followed the talks centered on how Islam, to be healthy, needs to find a balance between the concerns of Mecca and Media. There was also much discussion about what is driving the radicalization of Islam.

Samedi / Saturday (Modérateur : Pascal Paulus Nasir Masih)

Saturday's addresses by Christian Duquoc centered on how Islam challenges modern Christianity by pointing out some of its inherent weaknesses and uneasy compromises. The idea that provoked the most discussion was the straightforward moral and dogmatic nature of Islam and how that challenges the increasing complexity of Christian moral thought, where absolute moral norms are increasingly difficult to maintain. There was also much discussion about how Islam points out that having God muck about in history the way Christians think he does compromises his transcendence. Further discussion was about the different relationships of the individual to the group in the two religions, with a general agreement that Islam gives priority to the group and expects the individual to conform, while modern Christianity elevates the individual and his or her ability to act independently of the group.

The workshops in the afternoon were focused on regional concerns.

Dimanche / Sunday (Modératrice : Franka Igweilo)

Instead of focusing on the conflicts and difficulties between Christianity and Islam, Christian van Nispen's address on Sunday morning focused on how Muslims and Christians can already be united in prayer. In line with John Paul II, we can acknowledge that we are indeed praying to the same God. When we explore each other's faith commitments, we find many similarities. This unity in spirituality can serve to help us to work together and learn from one another.

The afternoon was free.

Lundi / Monday (Modérateurs : Chrys McVey et Wojciech Giertych)

In the morning session, a number of people summed up what had been said before or reacted to ideas that they had thought particularly important. Because of their many different opinions, there was not a unified theme to the discussion. But many of the reflections can be found on the Conferences page.

The afternoon had a similar number of disparate parallel discussions, and summaries of these can be found on the Notes page.