"Christians and Muslims in Dialogue" at AUK

The American University of Kuwait held a forum entitled "Christians and Muslims in Dialogue". The forum being the first of its kind was jointly sponsored by the Department of International Relations at AUK and the Islamic Christian Relations Council.

The two-hour event was divided into two panels, each lasting for one hour. Following opening remarks by AUK President, Dr. Win Thompson, the first session entertained a discussion about the perceptions of God in Christianity and Islam. The panelists were Archbishop Petar Rajic, the Vatican Ambassador to Kuwait; and Dr. Khaled Faraj, Imam and Professor at Al Hawza Al Ilmiya in Kuwait. The panel was chaired by Dr.Nizar Hamzeh, Provost and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences of AUK.

Archbishop Rajic initiated the forum by explaining the theological tenants which the Christian religion was established upon; such as the Holy Trinity and the miracles of Jesus. He asked the audience to perceive God spiritually, rather than mathematically. From his side, Dr. Faraj began his talk by confirming the existence of God. He said that the different perceptions of God in religions are not a reason to question God's existence.

The second session's tackled the subject of mercy and forgiveness in Christianity and Islam. The panelists were Reverend Harrison Chinnakumar, Pastor of St Paul's Anglican Church in Kuwait and Sheikh Hussein Al Azhari, Al Muzaini Mosque. The panel was chaired by Dr. Andrei Zavally Associate Professor of philosophy at AUK.

Reverend Chinnakumar and Sheikh Al Azhari provided an explanation of mercy in their respective faiths, both of which encouraged men and women to be merciful towards one another just as God is merciful towards us. Reverend Chinnakumar stressed that God's mercy and justice are not contradictory, rather they complement one another. Sheikh Al Azhari reiterated this by stating that mercy and forgiveness exist in every aspect of Islam, including the most sinful of actions. The theologians both agreed that God's mercy is a sign of his love and concern towards us.

Each panel ended with a significant number of questions from the audience to the panelists. The audience included a large number of students, staff and faculty members as well as the Dutch ambassador and the ambassador from Belgium. The forum is part of an ongoing project--the Christian-Muslim Conversation Group-- conducted and facilitated by Dr George E. Irani, Associate Professor of International Relations at AUK.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 19th March 2013