The Forum for Development, Culture and Dialogue in cooperation with the Center for Continuing Education at Haigazian University Launches Teaching Material on “Documents of Interfaith Coexistence”
The Forum for Development, Culture and Dialogue, in cooperation with the Center for Continuing Education at Haigazian University and with the Support of Arab Danish Dialogue Program (Danmission), launched teaching material and classes on “Documents of Interfaith Coexistence: To keep the dialogue channels open and active! ”
The initiative started with the increasing crisis in Lebanon and the region, in the aim of promoting dialogue as a means and solution to maintaining coexistence, thus, showing Lebanon’s rich heritage in preserving interfaith coexistence throughout history in the region.
This online course was comprised of 9 sessions, covered during the months of June through August 2021, and was attended by more than 100 participants from Lebanon, the Arab countries, Europe and the United States.
This cooperation between the organizing entities, brought together renowned experts in the field, from the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. They thoroughly discussed the different documents issued by the Vatican and the Azhar, along with other religious and social references.
Many distinguished keynote speakers brought their insightful participation in the rich interactive sessions: Rev. Dr. Riad Jarjour, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian, Sheikh Dr. Sami Abu Al Muna, Dr. Mohammad Al Sammak, Judge Abbas Halabi, H.E. Monseigneur Boulos Matar, Dr. Nayla Tabbara, Ms. Samira Luka, Ms. Lynn Ramsdal, Ms. Christina Karkala Zorba, Dr. Omar Hafi, Monseigneur Khaled Akshi and Dr. Mohammad Abdul Salam.
The sessions focused on the following documents: the 2 Vatican letters “Fratelli Tutti” and “Nostra Aetate”, the Marrakesh Declaration, Al-Azhar Document, the Arab European Dialogue, the Arab Group documents for Islamic-Christian Dialogue, the Amman Message and the Human Fraternity Document.
The sessions concluded with the important recommendations of including the contents of those documents in academic curricula, social and cultural life, religious media and education, in addition to publishing books with related topics, organizing forums with scientists, religious leaders and the youth, as well as including these documents in public policies, thus applying their values and principles in local initiatives that promote dialogue and maintain human dignity.
Mira Yardemian
Public Relations Director