Is a Formal Forum the key to a more mature Christian-Muslim Relationship?

On Tuesday, the Home Secretary David Blunkett unveiled the plan of a new religious hatred law. If the law is passed successfully, all forms of incitement of religious hatred will be outlawed. Then on the following day, a proposal about the formation of a forum to enable dialogue between Christians and Muslims was brought up by a report to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.

According to the National Census 2001, the largest religion in the UK is Christianity with 72 per cent identifying themselves as “Christian”. Due to immigration, globalisation and many other factors, the number of Muslims are also growing in the country and is fast becoming the second largest religion in the UK. Nowadays, there are around two million Muslims that reside in the United Kingdom.

Dating back the history of interfaith dialogue between Muslims and Christians in England, the first initiative was opened up by a small group of Christians and Muslims in 2002. After the 9/11 terror attacks in the USA, the Archbishop of Canterbury of that time, Lord George Carey, was encouraged by the British Prime Minister Tony Blair to begin a Christian-Muslim dialogue at Lambeth Palace in January 2002. As Archbishop Carey recalled, "The support of the Prime Minister reflected the seriousness with which politicians are now taking religious issues in conflict resolution.”

This historical seminar brought together scholars of both faiths with a view to challenging the roots of religious extremism. It led to the publication of a book entitled "The Road Ahead". Later, Muslim-Christian relations in England have been led by the Bishop of Aston, Rt Revd John Austin, whose aim is establishing a national framework for dialogue between Christians and Muslims. The group of Christians and Muslims have visited over 500 individuals and organisations in both faith communities across England up until now.

Internationally, bloody violence has been caused by the conflicts between the two faiths throughout recent history, which has threatened the lives of many innocent individuals. Developing an understanding and partnership between the two faiths has been strongly recommended by the UK Christians and Muslims, reports the group.

The conclusion of the report is “a formal structure for dialogue and encounter would bring stability and promote understanding between the two faith communities as they encounter issues of difference and of common concern and seek to enhance their contribution to public life.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, who is the successor of Archbishop George Carey and has deeply committed to continuing interfaith work, commented, “I am tremendously grateful for this report. Patient listening is an indispensable part of true dialogue and the members of this group have listened carefully to the hopes and concerns of many Muslims and Christians. The result of this listening is a set of very promising proposals, from which I am confident that much good will flow over the coming years.”

The UK’s leading church, the Church of England also showed its support for the interfaith relationship. It welcomes the new legislation against people inciting hatred between different faiths.

The Bishop of Aston, the Rt Revd John Austin, who chaired the group which produced the report, said, “The people we met were genuinely enthusiastic in their conviction that a national organisation enabling Muslims and Christians to work together was necessary, timely and increasingly urgent. They were glad that the Archbishop of Canterbury had taken this initiative. It is our unanimous recommendation that a Forum of Muslims and Christians be created.”

The creation of the forum shows that the co-operation between Muslims and Christians in England has reached a mature point. Both Christians and Muslims are optimistic about the future of their relationship, with a determination to seek “harmony in diversity” in Britain, which is valued by the government.

The Bishop of Bolton, the Rt Revd David Gillett, will lead the group to work on the implementation of the proposals.