On July 12, 2018, Queen Elizabeth II met with the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, Sheikh Aḥmad al-Ṭayyib, who is currently in the United Kingdom to participate in the Emerging Peacemakers Forum organized by al-Azhar and the Anglican Communion.

Queen Elizabeth II with Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury (Left) and Sheikh Aḥmad al-Ṭayyib, Grand Imam of al-Azhar (Right)

 (Source: Getty Images Europe)

One day later, on July 13, the former Archbishop of Canterbury (1991-2002) George Carey lectured at the St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Maadi, Cairo, on the need to reform religious discourse as a way of combating terrorism. This lecture was organized by the Anglican Diocese of Egypt in cooperation with the Center for Arab West Understanding. Along with twenty students of the Center for Arab-West Understanding, almost one-hundred people attended Lord Carey’s lecture.

Cornelis Hulsman of the Center for Arab-West Understanding chaired this meeting, and explained that Lord Carey’s lecture complemented the Intercultural Summer School which had been organized between June 25 and July 7, in cooperation with the Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development. Twenty-two students representing different countries and worldviews, from conservative Muslims and Christians to agnostics and alternative religious convictions, reflected on our shared humanity and the need to respect and understand each other’s beliefs without embracing a superficial relativism. Lord Carey expressed great appreciation for the work of the Center for Arab-West Understanding which was started in 2007. His lecture focused on the impact of the Protestation Reformation on Europe. Martin Luther put his Ninety-Five Theses on the walls of the church of Wittenburg, Germany in 1517, and made a very effective use of the newly invented printing press, something which can be compared to the social media of today. The Protestant Reformation was followed by fierce religious wars between Catholics and Protestants which took the lives of many Europeans. Europe has overcome this religious violence, and today one finds Catholics and Protestants working together. This is also possible, Lord Carey said, between Muslims and Christians. Muslims and Christians both believe in God. They believe in a God-given purpose in life, unlike people who believe that religions are mainly a source of violence which should be pushed to the margins of society.

Lord Carey asked his audience to consider other religions, and reflect on what we really like in a different faith tradition. If we can recognize the things we respect in other faith traditions, we will also show greater appreciation.

Group photo with our students after the lecture of Lord George Carey

From left to right: two Indian AIESEC interns, Lara (UK, intern, participant summer school), Islam (Alexandria, participant summer school), Meline (Brazil, participant summer school); Nanette (Netherlands, intern, participant summer school); Richard (Egypt, participant summer school); Joanna (Netherlands, intern, participant summer school); Dr. Matthew Anderson (USA, lecturer summer school); Lord George Carey (UK, lecturer), Youssef (Egypt, intern); Archbishop Mounir (Egypt); Indian guest; Dr. Sigward von Laue (Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development); Cornelis Hulsman (director CIDT); Soheila (Mansoura, participant Summer School); Riham (Egypt, participant Summer School); Rekaya (Tunisia, friend of Arab-West Report, daughter Eya participated in the Summer School) and Menna (Damanhour, intern, participant summer school).

Following the lecture, Archbishop Munīr Anīs [Mounir Anis] of Egypt spoke about the current status of Muslim and Christian relations in Egypt, and the work of Bayt al-ʿA’ila (The Egyptian Family House), a name that was chosen to clearly show that Muslims and Christians form one family. Shaykh al-Azhar called for the formation of the Bayt al-ʿA’ila after the bombing of the Two Saints Church in Alexandria on January 1, 2011, and asked Pope Shinūda III to co-chair this organization that brings Muslim and Christian leaders together to talk about addressing issues of concern and fostering better mutual ties between Christians and Muslims. Archbishop Munīr responded to the question of Lord Carey about what we like most in the tradition of other faiths. He said that he most appreciates the adhan, the Muslim call to prayer because of its acknowledgement, Allahu Akbar, which means God is the Greatest. The archbishop is pleased to hear the call to prayer five times per day. If we acknowledge that God is truly the greatest then we also should acknowledge that humans do not need to defend God. God is perfectly capable of defending Himself, and thus if Muslims or Christians feel offended by what other people do they should leave the judgment to God.

In related news, on 7 July, Pope Francis called all Eastern Church leaders to pray together in Bari, southern Italy, for peace and unity. He considers this another step for the decrease of the historical schism between Western and Eastern churches.

Day by day, we see religious leaders take positive steps to enable people with different beliefs to live together in peace and harmony. Muslims, Christians, and people of other convictions can cooperate together in order to make the future better for later generations.

Eslam Othman

Coexistence activist in Alexandria, Egypt

Participant in the International Summer School, June 25 – July 7, 2018