Saudis praised for spearheading a Unified One World Religion conference
Pastor Dale Morgan
Saudis praised for spearheading a Unified One World Religion conference*
The Saudi monarch unexpectedly called the conference about a month ago.
It brought together Jews, Muslims, Christians, Hindus and Buddhists
among other religions and was hosted by Spain. The meeting ended on Friday.
By CIARAN GILES
The Associated Press
Friday, July 18, 2008; 3:55 PM
MADRID, Spain -- Saudi Arabia won praise Friday for taking a leading
role in an interfaith conference, with participants saying it was
another sign the conservative Muslim kingdom is opening up.
Rabbi David Rosen, the only Israeli who attended the three-day meeting
led by Saudi King Abdullah, said he believes the oil-rich Persian Gulf
kingdom also wants to reaffirm leadership in the Muslim world for fear
of greater instability.
"The Saudis are definitely opening up," said Rosen, who heads
inter-religious relations for the American Jewish Committee and is a
former chief rabbi of Ireland. "I have heard from the Saudis that this
is a culmination of a process that began the moment Abdullah ascended to
the throne and that he actually wants to open up Saudi society."
The Saudi monarch unexpectedly called the one world religious conference
about a month ago. It brought together Jews, Muslims, Christians, Hindus
and Buddhists among other religions and was hosted by Spain. The meeting
ended on Friday.
Critics said the Saudis were the last people who should be leading a
conference on religious dialogue given that Wahhabism _ the austere
strain of Sunni Islam practiced in the kingdom _ is considered one of
the religion's most conservative. Many believe the conference was held
in Spain partly because it would be politically unpalatable for Abdullah
to allow Jewish and Christian leaders on Saudi soil.
However, Abdullah has made reaching out to other faiths a hallmark of
his rule since taking over the country in 2005. He met with Pope
Benedict XVI late last year, the first meeting ever between a pope and a
reigning Saudi king.
And in June, Abdullah held a religious conference at home in Mecca,
Islam's holiest city. At that meeting, participants pledged improved
relations between Islam's two main branches, Sunni and Shiite, and
Abdullah also rejected extremism, saying Muslims must present Islam's
"good message" to the world.
"It's also believed that he is very concerned about instability in the
region obviously in relation to Israel, Palestine, but especially Iraq
and even more the ascendancy of Iran and that there is a need to
reaffirm what he sees as Saudi Arabia's leadership in the region," said
Rosen, who holds dual Israeli-American citizenship.
William Baker, president of the U.S. group Christians and Muslims for
Peace, said the real significance of the meeting was that "it originated
in the heart of Islam."
"This could not come at a better time for the whole world and peace and
it could not have come from a better place as Islam is being
propagandized against, lied about and distorted in the West for
political purposes," said Baker.
Saudi Arabia presented the conference as a strictly religious
initiative. The World Muslim League, which organized it for the king,
was adamant there would be no discussions of political issues such as
the war in Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or Iranian nuclear
ambitions.
At the conference, delegates dwelt instead on issues such as dialogue
within the Islamic world and with other denominations. Other topics
debated were the need to protect the family, the role of women in
religion and ways to protect the environment. They agreed to try to
organize more conferences and involve the United Nations.
For Rosen, the fact that the conference took place at all was the most
significant thing.
"There have been interfaith world unity conferences before, but never by
the king of Saudi Arabia," he said. "This is an incredible advancement."
Related Link:
Revealing A One World Church Under Antichrist!
http://www3.telus.net/thegoodnews/worldchurch.htm