The New Nation - Internet Edition

Dr. M. S. Haq

It appears from an AFP dispatch from Riyadh - carried by The New Nation of Bangladesh on 07 July 2008 - Custodian of two Holiest Mosques of Islam and King of Saudi Arabia will launch an inter-faith conference in Spain later this month - from16 July to 18 July 2008 to be specific. The conference will be reportedly attended by representatives from People of Book of Almighty God - Jews, Christians and Muslims.

The conference is inter alia an outcome of King Abdullah's March 2008 proposal for inter-faith talks. The initiative and the timing plus the context of inter-faith conference appear prima-facie and as applicable to be appropriate, intelligent and forward looking. The move could, among other things, be considered as bold, constructive and free of narrow perceptions in pursuits of inter-faith reconciliation, per se. Congratulations!

Interesting though, the conference is taking place at the time when People of Book of Almighty God - Jews, Christians and Muslims - are in great need of positive developments in areas such as and as appropriate: one, re-establishment of missing links between and among them - I mean People of Book; two, rejuvenation and re-strengthening of faith-based common premises for common good; three, minimization, if not elimination of gaps between religious rhetoric and practices; four, reinventing self and societies in light of teachings of Holy Books of Almighty God under prevailing and evolving situations that are associated with say, life, living and continuity in the universe; five, liberation and protection of Almighty God's religions from say, misconception, misperception, misrepresentation, misunderstanding, misinterpretation, wrongful use, misuse, extremist's or terrorists' ideology, superstition, taboo and commercialism; six, more workable, result-oriented and sustainable strategies than those at present for peace, security, freedom, liberty, democracy, human rights, right to life, equity, equality, progress and prosperity for, as appropriate, all living things throughout the universe including inter alia human beings - on a continuous basis; seven, more efficient and effective implementation mechanics and follow-up regimes than those at present for above strategies; eight, mainstreaming knowledge, clues and other related things about say, universe transmitted to human beings and others by Almighty God via Holy Books in research, development and engineering (RDE) initiatives, as well as activities in areas of science, arts, engineering, technology and other branches of knowledge and application for ensuring maximum benefit to at least maximum number of people and other living beings (as applicable) on a continuous basis; and nine, rescuing human beings from moral, ethical and other kinds of degradation (used in a negative sense) in a sustainable fashion.

Taking into cognizance above and other related factors, it now appears challenges and opportunities of the conference will be, among other things, complex, inter-disciplinary, multi-dimensional, and of universe class - I would like to call it in that way.

Further, expectations about the outcome of conference are apparently running high due inter alia to nature, scope, place and stature of the conference.

It has, therefore, become incumbent upon the conference to focus on inter alia as to how to build consensus on a set of guiding principles and implementation mechanics that could facilitate taking the talk to next stages in pursuits of for example, formulating eventually a global action plan for enhancing and sustaining inter-faith support, inter-faith harmony, inter-faith cooperation and inter-faith coordination - aiming at meeting above challenges and harnessing above opportunities in the best and overall interest of living beings in the universe.

In that respect, it is expected challenges and opportunities concerning a further improvement of communication, interaction and relationship with the people other than known People of Book of Almighty God should be identified and examined with a view to promoting and sustaining world brotherhood and world sisterhood through the future.

The success of the conference would depend on inter alia: how best and quickest the participants could chart collectively a way forward in support of its missions and objectives. Wishing all the best to the inter-faith conference!