Forming a religious identity "without antagonism" in young Christians and Muslims
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Education, religious in particular, should not form identities in antagonism or in conflict, but on the contrary, while helping the youth to be well rooted in their own religious identity, it should favor the formation of identities open to other identities. This appears to have been the main focus of discussions in a meeting between the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and the Institute for the Amman based Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies (R.I.I.F.S.), held in Rome on "Human and religious values shared by Christians and Muslims for a common education. "
"Christians and Muslims - reads a statement released after the meeting - share basic human values like the sacred character of human life, human dignity and the fundamental inalienable rights deriving from it."
As for the religious values, “some of them are common to Christians and Muslims, meanwhile others are specific of each community. It is therefore important to point out commonalities and to identify differences. Respect for differences is in fact an important condition for an authentic dialogue”.
"Education, religious in particular, should not form identities in antagonism or in conflict, but on the contrary, while helping the youth to be well rooted in their own religious identity, it should favor the formation of identities open to other identities”.
"A privileged space of common education is that of the schools, institutions and universities, private and public, where Christian and Muslim children and youth study together. Such an experience is to be conserved and cherished, also because it gives the occasion to create strong and permanent friendships. "
The delegations, led by the president of the pontifical council Card. Jean Louis Tauran and the Director of RIIFS Kamel Abu Jaber, agreed to meet again within two years after a preparatory meeting.
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06/11/2008
