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Peace be with you! La paix soit avec vous! As-salamu alaikum!
The world we live in is in desperate need for people who are willing to find ways to come together across their differences, and to seek to know and love one another in the midst of them. Far too often today, we see precisely the opposite. This site exists especially for people whose faith in God causes them to believe in the way peace, and for people who want to put that faith into action by reaching out to others instead of remaining divided from them.
More specifically, this page was made for Canadian Christians and Canadian Muslims who want to know one another more deeply, to grow in understanding of their respective faith traditions, and to draw upon the riches of their religious communities for building trust, reconciliation, and common cause. The need for such efforts in our time is self-evident, and increasing, both around the world and closer to home. And this is no small endeavor; real peoples’ lives are at stake.
Inspired by the 2007 letter A Common Word Between Us and You, the resources that are collected here are intended to help people do just that, in their churches, mosques, workplaces and communities. The idea is to give you some ready-made tools, and examples of things that have worked in other places, which you might try where you live. If these ideas also inspire you, then you are most welcome here!
Introduction
Here you can find out more about the origins of A Common Word and the foundational basis for this global dialogue initiative in both the Christian and Muslim traditions. You may also read the text of the original letter itself, available here in either English or French translations.
Local dialogue resource kit
Are you interested in organizing a Muslim-Christian dialogue event where you live, and in following a model inspired by A Common Word? This kit is made for you! Click through each individual section online, or download the whole set of resources as a printable PDF.
- Goals, Principles, and Rules for Dialogue
- Day of Dialogue Program Overview and Outline
- Suggested Readings/Recitations and Supplications/Prayers
- Suggested Topics and Themes for Dialogue
- Suggested Table Group Discussion Questions
- Day of Dialogue Task Checklist
- Appendix 1: Common Phrases and Key Terms in Christian-Muslim Dialogue
- Appendix 2: Important Muslim and Christian Holy Days and Observances
- Appendix 3: Manners and Etiquette for Muslim-Christian Relations
VIDEO RESOURCES
A Common Word has inspired numerous forms of engagement all over the world, including lectures and conferences from well known scholars and interreligious practitioners from both the Christian and Muslim communities. This is a curated sampling of some especially good video recordings of lectures, presentations, and panel discussions. More are being added all the time!
Presentations and Lectures about Christian-Muslim Dialogue
- Building Bridges Seminar (2011): Prayer
- Building Bridges Seminar (2012): Death, Resurrection, and Human Destiny
- Building Bridges Seminar (2014): Sin
- Building Bridges Seminar (2014): Forgiveness
- Building Bridges Seminar (2014): Reconciliation
- Building Bridges Seminar (2015): God’s Creation and its Goal
- Building Bridges Seminar (2016): Monotheism and its Complexities
- Building Bridges Seminar (2017): Power – Divine and Human
- David Ford Lecture: Reading Scriptures Together
- Harvard Divinity School Lecture: Muslims, Christians, and Interfaith Dialogue
- Miroslav Volf Lecture: Allah, a Christian Response
Presentations and Lectures about A Common Word
- A Common Word Global Leaders Forum (2009): Muslim-Christian Relations in a 21st Century World
- A Common Word Global Leaders Forum (2009): Religious Pluralism in the 21st century
- A Common Word Global Leaders Forum (2009): Religion, Violence, and Peace Building
- A Common Word Global Leaders Forum (2009): Where Do We Go From Here?
- A Common Word Conference (2013): The Boundaries of Religious Pluralism and Freedom, Part 1
- A Common Word Conference (2013): The Boundaries of Religious Pluralism and Freedom, Part 2
- E. Prof. Seyyed Hossein Nasr Lecture: Loving God and Neighbor in Word and Deed
- Dr. Leith Anderson Lecture: Loving God and Neighbor in Word and Deed
- Peter Ochs Lecture: A Common Word – Jewish Reflections
- Panel Discussion: Loving God and Loving Neighbor – Implications for Christians and Muslims
A Common Word Alberta
- A Common Word Alberta (2018)
- A Common Word Alberta (2019)
- Ustadh Ibrahim J. Long – The Heart of Hospitality – A Muslim Perspective (Part 1)
- Ustadh Ibrahim J. Long – The Heart of Hospitality – A Muslim Perspective (Part 2)
- The Rev. Canon Dr. Scott Sharman – The Heart of Hospitality – A Christian Perspective (Part 1)
- The Rev. Canon Dr. Scott Sharman – The Heart of Hospitality – A Christian Perspective (Part 2)
Background reading
Read more about how A Common Word has been received and endorsed by various faith communities, and access other statements and documents on the principles and importance of Muslim-Christian relations more broadly.
Anglican and Lutheran responses to A Common Word
- Response of Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams
- Response of Dr. David Ford
- Response of Lutheran World Federation President Bishop Mark Hanson
Other Canadian Christian responses to A Common Word
- Response of the Presbyterian Church in Canada
- Response of the World Council of Churches General Secretary, the Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia
- Response of the Episcopal Commission for Interfaith Dialogue of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
Documents and Statements About Interfaith and Christian-Muslim Dialogue
- Anglican Church of Canada: Guidelines for Interfaith Dialogue
- Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops: A Church in Dialogue – Catholics and Muslims in Canada
- Canadian Council of Churches: Who is my Neighbour?
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada: A Statement to Muslims in Canada
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada: Encountering People of Other Faiths
- Generous Love: An Anglican Theology of Interfaith Relations
- United Church of Canada: That We May Know Each Other
- Presbyterian Church in Canada: Reconciliation and Hope in a Multi-faith World
- Presbyterian Church in Canada: Living Peacefully with Muslim Friends and Neighbours
Related links
There are many other excellent organizations and initiatives that are doing the good work of interreligious dialogue. Please check them out as well.
- A Common Word International
- A Common Word Alberta
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada – Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
- Presbyterian Church in Canada – Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee
- United Church of Canada – Interfaith Relations
- The Anglican Interfaith Commission
- The Canadian Council of Churches Christian Interfaith Reference Group
- The North American Interfaith Network
- The Lutheran World Federation – Public Theology and Interreligious Relations
A Common Word Canada is a project of the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.
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