ISLAM-CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE

177 CHRISTIANS, LIVING UNDER SHARIA LAW Radio Maria 2015 - 1/04 - 2015 In order to live together it is necessary to talk to each other and in order to talk to each other we need to get to know each other: doing so we take distance from fun- damentalism. 1 - Overview of the Arab world Getting to know each other: - Demography, Poverty, Emigration - School system, mnemonic studies, illite- racy, critical thinking? - Prejudices towards local Christians Mu- slims bring with them from their young age, which are fuelled by the social con- text - Laws that privilege Muslim citizens 2 -Religion and identity “Islam and us”-Cardinal Martini Religion and civil status of the Mediterra- nean peoples are linked to the identity of the person; the Arab citizen feels his reli- gious identity as a priority over his political loyalty. The concept of Islamic community (Umma) prevails over that of citizenship. - Islam is not only personal faith, it is a very compact community reality, a wa- tchword launched by some authoritati- ve voice can recompose and lead back to unity (Card.Martini) Agnelli Founda- tion. - To understand and manage the presen- ce of Muslims in European countries need to comprehend the critical issues of cultural and religious minorities in the Middle East. 3 - Cultural project to eradicate fun- damentalism In order to create a peaceful coexistence, it is essential to create the conditions for immigrants to adhere to a cultural project, a minimum of knowledge of our social customs and habits, equality of citizens before the law, and the principles of the Christian majority religion in Italy to dispel prejudices. The lack of respect that Chri- stians have for their religion consolidates in Muslims the idea of a cultural and social inferiority, whose implications are concei- vable. - Distinction between religion and marital status, Free to choose one's religious status - To train imam preachers to reread the Koran in its historical, sociological, an- thropological, not literal context. - No to privileged treatment - Knowing Islam announce the gospel. 4 - How to reduce distances with Muslims in Europe? - Women's families live together every day. - Social and parish communities, univer- sity school - Service actions: education, literacy, lan- guage, jails - Religious Virgin Mary - Mercy Jubilee What positive influence can a proper inte- gration of Islam in Europe have on us, on Arab Islam and on the churches of the East? 5 - Human rights Universal Declara- tion - UN-10 December 1948 It is clear that the best response to extre-