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Programme of the Foreword first Vienna International Christian-Islamic Summer University LECTURES and COURSES Ingeborg Gabriel, Austria Christianity in the Modern World: Andreas Bsteh, Faith - Ethics- Interreligious Dialogue svd Director of the St Gabriel Institute Nahda Shehada, Palestine for Theology of Religions, Austria Islam, Modernity and Multiculturalism in Contemporary Debates Dear Readers Tahir Mahmood, India of the VICI-Summer University Magazine. There are so many Human Rights, Religious Freedom and Minority things that trouble or even terrify us. Sadly, what looks promising Rights from the Muslim Perspective today, may turn out to be dangerous tomorrow. Wa’il Kheir, Lebanon All the more we must do our best, day in, day out, to retain and Human Rights, Religious Freedom and Minority Rights stabilize what is good in our life and to overcome what is evil. from the Christian Perspective I think the time you have spent in Altenburg this year, the program- me of the first “Vienna International Christian-Islamic Summer Saleha S. Mahmood, England, Maria Moser, Austria University”, was apt to demonstrate that it is worthwhile to strive Women, Family and Society in Islam and Christianity for a better world – not to leave things to those who are only after their own interests, but to support what is good wherever we have Stefan Hammer, Austria,Zarfishan Qaiser, Pakistan a chance to promote and serve the interests of all our sisters and Constitutionalism in a Globalized World / International Law Aspects brothers, especially of those who are needy and suppressed and who are dependent on being helped by others. Aicha Belarbi, Morocco Migration in an Interconnected World and Muslim Women in Europe I can still feel the cheerful atmosphere among all the participants in this Summer I CAN STILL FEEL THE Samuel Schubert, USA/Austria University, students as well as teachers. CHEERFUL ATMOSPHERE Religion and Political Violence Substantially borne by professors from all over the world who took part in the AMONG ALL PARTICIPANTS Shahla Ezazi, Iran “Vienna International Christian-Islamic Democracy and Civil Society Round Table”, in the years passed this new initiative was characterized by serious work, fruitful exchange Aid Smajic, Bosnia- Herzegovina of thoughts, and above all by our trust in God who wants all of us Interreligious Dialogue in the Modern World from the Muslim to become more and more learners of His wisdom and all-merci- Perspective (including: Introduction to Islam, Islamic Understanding fulness, of His loving care for all creatures. of the Role of Religion in Human Life, Spirituality in Islam) I am very pleased to have this opportunity to send my good wishes Joseph Ndi Okalla, Cameroon to all who participated in this year’s first VICI-Summer University Social Rights and Poverty at Altenburg Abbey. May some kind of movement for a better world evolve from this international Summer University, not least by this Gerhard Luf, Austria magazine which is meant to serve, also in the future, for uniting International Order and Religion students and professors in their efforts to promote the cause of peace in this our present and future global village. Richard Potz, Austria Religion and the State 02 VICISU VICISU 03 ISLSchool.indd 2-3 28.02.2009 13:53:10 Uhr Irmgard Marboe Professor, University of Vienna, Austria does not happen among cultures, Dialogue civilizations or Brigitte Öppinger-Walchshofer Ingeborg Gabriel religions, but dialogue happens among people.” The wisdom Managing Director of the Austrian Development Agency, Professor, University of Vienna, Austria of these words by Father Bsteh at the occasion of one of the Vienna, Austria first dialogue conferences became once more evident during our three unforgettable weeks in Stift Altenburg. To pass the European like to share with you on the spirit of our academic encounters and publications Johannes Hahn Year of Inter- some impressions of of the past years to the younger generation was at the origin Austrian Federal Minister of cultural Dia- the Summer Universi- of the idea of organizing this Summer University. In my Sciences and Research I would logue has ty which were important for me: The first impression I view, this corresponds ideally to the mission of a university, been an im- remember was the following: we are sitting in a circle in the namely to combine academic research with teaching and 2008portant opportunity to reflect on the subject of intercul- beautiful hall, where meals were served, and Father Bsteh let them both influence and enrich each other. tural dialogue and promote activities in this field. makes everybody tell his expectations of the weeks to come. Austrian Federal Ministry This was a good idea, but what struck me most: Several We were lucky to find Austrian institutions, above all the of Sciences and Research This is also why the Austrian Development Cooperation students, most of whom were out of their homecountry for Austrian ministry for Science and Research, which shared has supported events with has been active in supporting related projects throughout the first time said: what is important for me is, that what I and supported this idea. From the first day, I was impressed a focus on interreligious 2008. Among them was the Christian-Islamic Summer experience and am able to learn here, I want to pass it on how the 30 students coming from very different backgrounds Tdialogue betweenhe Christianity and Islam for many years. University from 30 June to 19 July 2008 in Altenburg Abbey, to others when I come home again. It impressed me very approached each other. They had the same curiosity and Thus, in the context of the “European Year of Intercultural a perfect environment for discussions on perspectives and much, that from the very beginning they did not only want respect as well as the openness and willingness to learn Dialogue”, it was a significant concern for the Ministry, different aspects of interreligious dialogue. to make the best for themselves of this experience, but were and understand. They actively participated in the classes, together with the University of Vienna, to realise an ex- eager to pass it on to others and thus contribute to a better contributed to the discussions and prepared ambitious emplary project in this domain: the first Vienna Interna- Religion forms an important part of culture. The positive world. This moment remains in my heart and gives me hope. presentations. I think that the particular merit was the tional Christian-Islamic Summer University. response to the first Vienna International Christian-Islamic And if I think of this one instance, it is also because it con- interdisciplinarity of the programme. Summer University and the participation of more than 30 stituted something of a ground tune of this Summer Uni- Over the period of three weeks, from 29 June to 19 July students from 10 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and 16 versity during the following three weeks. There was joy The students were confronted with theological, legal, 2008, 33 Christian and Muslim students from around professors, shows that interreligious dialogue is of high with learning, with knowing each other, with sitting together social and political approaches on the topics which was the world became acquainted in Stift Altenburg and relevance. The issues that were dealt with from the per- in the evenings in the court of the monastery and around quite demanding but obviously very well received. I was shared their ideas, hopes and visions. They lived together spectives of two religions, such as human rights, demo- the bonfire .. but there was also an immense sense of res- surprised that, even though the academic programme was under one roof, studying and debating. Here “dialogue” cracy, civil society and gender in society, are also of great ponsibility among the participants: we want to contribute very dense, the students still found time for common ac- took place in the truest sense, interest for Deve- to the good, to peace and understanding. tivities outside the courses. They organized soccer games 33 CHRISTIAN here friendships transcending lopment Coopera- RELIGION FORMS with mixed teams of Christians and Muslims, females and AND MUSLIM borders, cultures and religions tion in our partner AN IMPORTANT This I continue to take as an encouragement for myself. The male, with scarf and without. were formed. Even above the countries. Given future will belong to those, who give hope. And hope is STUDENTS knowledge-transfer from an the fact that the PART OF CULTURE given through goodness, through peace, through God. This THEY ORGANISED SOCCER SHARED THEIR international range of top- Austrian Develop- is another precious memory I keep from these days: Our grade lecturers, it was the ment Cooperation faiths never divided us, as it often has been in history and GAMES WITH MIXED TEAMS OF IDEAS, HOPES human encounter that took operates in a num- is still the case, but they truely united us. This was the basis CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS AND VISIONS centre stage. ber of countries of everything else – the learning and teaching, the shared with Muslim majorities or minorities, it is indeed indis- meals and the fun, even of the little anoyments, for instance, The success is evident: the pensable to deepen our knowledge of the social and legal when there was too little food (during night). They had passionate evening talks, sometimes about numerous words of thanks il- environments in Muslim countries. This – and more serious things – are the stuff life is made of, provocative movies, and even prepared two “intercultural lustrate the owerwhelming and lasting effect this stay had but what really counts are the underlying attitudes of faith dinners”. This was possible only because our hosts, the on all the participants, how the Summer University taught Mutual learning, understanding, respecting and tolerating and love – in which the weeks of a summer school were rich generous monks in Stift Altenburg, did not only let us something new and cleansed former prejudices.

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