Displaying items by tag: religion

Mainstream media tend to associate extremism and terrorism with Islam, but evidence shows otherwise. The root causes of most present-day conflicts have very little to do with religion even if they may appear to have religious implications. For instance, the Israeli-Arab conflict is about land, dispossession and the right of self-determination, even if some religious fanatics are exploiting the issue for their own ends. The conflict in Kashmir is also about the right of self-determination; it is not a Hindu-Muslim conflict......................Download the full article in pdf attachment (below)

A seminar was hosted last month by Christians Together in England to consider ways to "stem the flight of black British youths to Islam and radicalisation". In an unprecedented move, Muslims were invited to attend - and they did. Together, both faith groups discussed the reasons why a growing number of young black people are choosing Islam in preference to Christianity. According to this morning's BBC Radio 4's Today programme, one in nine black Christian men are converting to Islam...................Download the full article in pdf attachment (below)

 

Afghan President Hamid Karzai flew to Egypt from Oslo on February 5, after signing a strategic Partnership Agreement with Norway. He arrived in Cairo to attend the 12th summit meeting of the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that began on February 6 with leaders from 56 Islamic nations, excluding Syria, gathered in Cairo to push for a solution to the Syrian crisis............. Download the full article in pdf attachment (below)

 

Given the fact that the basic principles of international law, which today is generally accepted to govern relations between states within the international community, originate from the traditions of “just war” It would be appropriate to see to what extent the basic doctrines of major religions,particularly Christianity and Islam, accord with the principles upon which the “just war” tradition is based. More specifi cally, it seems to be appropriate to see to what extent these general principles are intrinsic to both traditions, even if it has been Christianity that has most overtly been involved in their evolution. Of course, this assumes that the principles of international law are acceptable to both religious traditions and thus to the states that have evolved within the cultural domains in which they have emerged.)........ Download the full article in pdf attachment (below)

Often, but loosely, referred to as a “religion”, Islam may more accurately be depicted as a religiously based way of life, or Din—the Arabic term by which it is described in the Qur’an. This Quranically sanctioned way of describing Islam has the two important merits of, firstly, avoiding the dangers of misunderstanding which can easily arise from using the term “religion” with all the socio-cultural nuances and associations derived from the historical (mainly Christian) heritage and experience of the West in the context of which the term was primarily honed. Secondly and more importantly, it captures the essential characteristic of Islam as a comprehensive system of values and principles which encompasses the entire range of human experience—personal and social, economic and political, artistic and intellectual, creative or otherwise. All of these are sustained in Islam, by faith and endowed with religious meaning and ethical significance.......... Download the full article in pdf attachment (below)

 

IAIS Malaysia & Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) will convene a One-Day Forum highlighting Islamic teachings on Peace & Security from Islamic perspectives. Seven speakers offer presentations addressing theoretical and pragmatic issues on how Islam conceives of peaceful relations within society, and harmonious relations between nations.

 

Venue: IDFR, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jalan Wisma Putra, 50460 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

 

Date: 4^rth October 2011 (Tuesday)

 

Time: 09:00am - 04:30pm

 

Read more from the event link here >> Peace & Security Forum,  Tuesday 4^th October 2011

 

Last weekend, as tens of thousands of unarmed refugees marched toward Israel from all sides in a symbolic effort to reclaim their right of return, the world suddenly discovered the power of Palestinian nonviolence. Much like the "Freedom Flotilla," when nine activists were killed during an act of nonviolent international disobedience almost a year ago, the deaths of unarmed protesters at the hands of Israeli soldiers drew the world's attention to Palestine and the refugee issue............ Download the full article in pdf attachment (below)

There are two groups promoting the concept that Islam is tolerant of terrorism. The first is those wishing to hijack Islam for their political purposes and who have distorted and misquoted religious text to justify their abhorrent actions. The second are those who wish to spread fear and hatred of Muslims to suit their political or economic agendas, and similarly distort and misquote religious text to claim that Islam condones such abhorrent actions. However, mainstream traditional Muslims are and always have been very vocal in condemning both such extremist groups.......... Download the full article in pdf attachment (below)

 

by Katherine Marshall, Executive Director, The World Faiths Development Dialogue (WFDD), Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs (Georgetown University – Washington D.C.)

 

Read more from the event link here >> IAIS Seminar,  Monday 9^th August 2010