LWF Studies 01/2003 Dialogue and Beyond: Christians and Muslims Together on the Way Dialogue and Beyond: Christians and Muslims Together Dialogue and Beyond: Christians and Muslims Together on the Way LWF LWF The Lutheran World Federation Studies 150, rte de Ferney 01/2003 CH-1211 Geneva 2 ISSN 1025-2290 Switzerland ISBN 3-905676-21-4 The Lutheran World Federation Dialogue and Beyond: Christians and Muslims Together on the Way LWF Studies 2003 March 2003 Edited by Sigvard von Sicard and Ingo Wulfhorst on behalf of The Lutheran World Federation Department for Theology and Studies Office for the Church and People of Other Faiths Dialogue and Beyond: Christians and Muslims Together on the Way The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the position of the Lutheran World Federation. LWF Studies, 2003 Published by Editorial assistance: The Lutheran World Federation 150, rte de Ferney Iris J. Benesch, LWF-DTS P.O. Box 2100 CH-1211 Geneva 2 Switzerland Design: © The Lutheran World Federation Stéphane Gallay, LWF-OCS Printed in Switzerland by Atar Roto Presse ISSN 1025-2290 ISBN 3-905676-21-4 LWF Studies 01/2003 Contents Contents 7........ Preface Ishmael Noko 9........ Introduction Sigvard von Sicard and Ingo Wulfhorst 11 .......Some Reflections on the Meaning and Aims of Interfaith Dialogue Olaf Schumann 23...... Christian–Muslim Relations: A Study Program of the Luther- an World Federation, 1992–2002 Roland E. Miller 35...... Greeting of the Governor of the Special District of Yogyakar- ta to the Dialogue Meeting between Christians and Muslims Sri Hamengku Buwono X 39...... Human Growth and Responsibility Komaruddin Hidayat 47...... Human Growth and Responsibility Roland E. Miller 61...... Interfaith Marriage – an Islamic Perspective Noriah Mohamed and Ghazali Basri 71...... Interfaith Marriages Sigvard von Sicard 83...... Neighborology and Pro-Existence M. Amin Abdullah 89...... Neighborology, Mutuality and Friendship David L. Windibiziri LWF Studies 01/2003 Dialogue and Beyond: Christians and Muslims Together on the Way 97...... Faith and Identity Muhammad Machasin 103.... Faith and Identity Olaf Schumann 113.... Reconciliation in the Indonesian Context Djohan Effendi 117.... Reconciliation in the Indonesian Context Andreas A.Yewangoe 125.... Message 131.... Diapraxis or Dialogue and Beyond Sigvard von Sicard 155.... An Indonesian Experience Martin Sinaga 159.... A Nigerian Experience David L. Windibiziri 165.... A German Experience Olaf Schumann 173.... An English Experience C. T. R. Hewer 177.... Contributors LWF Studies 01/2003 Preface Preface Ishmael Noko For many years, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has been engaged in Chris- tian-Muslim relations worldwide, ranging from humanitarian work in Mauritania to study programs on interfaith dialogue. From 1992 to 2002, the Department for Theology and Studies (DTS) carried out a study program on Islam. An initial period of inner-Lutheran deliberations was followed by a further phase that included Muslim dialogue partners. The LWF conducted three consultations of Muslim and Christian scholars in areas of conflict: Bethlehem/Middle East (1999); Dar es Salaam/Tanzania (2000); and Yogyakarta/Indonesia (2002). These consultations went far beyond academic dialogue; they led to an enriching, cross-cultural and interfaith sharing of theologi- cal reflections, life and faith, spirituality, interfaith prayer and a walking together toward peaceful neighborliness and pro-existence. Some of the lectures delivered at the Yogyakarta consultation are published in this book. It is our hope that the insights gleaned will encourage churches and Islamic communities in their dialogue and beyond, as they work toward reconcili- ation, peaceful coexistence and for a just, participatory and sustainable society. It is my strong hope that such dialogue will continue at all levels, and that new ways of working together will emerge. In so doing the LWF is motivated by the biblical imperatives expressed in such passages as Psalm 3:15 where the Psalmist notes that God fashions the hearts of all human beings and observes all their deeds, Acts 17:26ff. where Paul in his dialogue with the Athenians reminds them that God “made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, … so that they would search for God … and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us,” and the quranic dictum that God is closer to us than our jugular vein (Q. 50:16). With the publication of this book, the LWF working group on Islam concludes its voluntary work over the past ten years. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the members of the group: Roland E. Miller (coordinator), Willem Bijlefeld, Jan A. Henningson, Olaf Schumann, Sigvard von Sicard and David L. Windibiziri. Without their commitment and expertise this program could not have been carried out so successfully. Hance A. O. Mwakabana staffed the program until 2001, when he was succeed by Ingo Wulfhorst. LWF Studies 01/2003 Dialogue and Beyond: Christians and Muslims Together on the Way LWF Studies 01/2003 Introduction Introduction Sigvard von Sicard and Ingo Wulfhorst Throughout history, people of different religious traditions have encountered one another in a variety of situations. In some instances, representatives of these traditions have been enriched through the sharing in one another’s experiences and expressions of faith. In other situations members of these traditions have either withdrawn within the “secure” parameters they have set themselves, or have embarked on discussions from dogmatically determined positions not only as regards their own tradition, but also of the “other.” As the title of this volume indicates it has over the last decades become evident that neither of the above options are adequate in the “global village.” Christians and Muslims have to move beyond diatribe and fighting to a common commitmen in the service of humanity in obedience and faithfulness to their call. Both traditions have in their sacred texts the concept of “the way.” Christians were first known as the “people of the way” (Acts 9:2 etc. Cf. Ex 18:20) and Mus- lims are constantly reminded of the sirat mustaqim1—the straight path (Q. 6:161 etc.)—and the shar‘—the path that leads to the water hole, the clear path, hence the shari‘ah which guides the believer on the way (Q. 45:18, etc. Cf. Ps. 119:33). The way that Christians and Muslims are embarked on is not identical with God’s eternal statutes, cut in stone, because the way is alive, is the living way, for God is the Living God and it is His living way that He has revealed. It is not the path as such, but the life-giving water at the end of the path that is the goal. Christians and Muslims need to walk that path together to reach the water that will give life. In the preface to the first volume presenting the work of the Islam working group of the study program “Theological Perspectives on Other Faiths,” initiated by the LWF Department for Theology and Studies’ Office for the Church and People of Other Faiths, it was pointed out that a Christian theology pertaining to Muslims must be a relational one.2 Since that study the group has moved toward implementing that idea in practice by enabling Christians and Muslims to get together to consider ethical, economic, political and social concerns and issues facing their respective communities in local situations, issues however which have a wider relevance.3 The present volume offers some of these papers in the hope that they will inspire Christians and Muslims as people committed in faith to the service of God and their fellow human beings to tackle common concerns in their local areas. LWF Studies 01/2003 Dialogue and Beyond: Christians and Muslims Together on the Way The material is arranged in three sections. The essays by O. Schumann and R. E. Miller in the introductory section analyze the nature of dialogue and give an overview of the Christian-Muslim study program. The second section covers papers on issues of common concern to Christians and Muslims, looked at from their respective perspectives. It is a particular honor that it has been possible to include the address of the Sultan and Governor of Yogyakarta, Sri Hamengku Buwono X, whose stance embodies what Christian–Muslims Relations are all about. The “Message” from the Yogyakarta consultation offers a summary of the presentations and was approved by all—Christians and Muslims. The final section seeks to take the relationship between Christians and Mus- lims beyond verbal dialogue to the nitty-gritty of diapraxis of tackling situations together and includes examples of dialogue experience from Indonesia, Nigeria, Germany and Britain. It is hoped that these will challenge Christians and Muslims in other places to embark on similar undertakings. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Djaka Soetapa and Robert Setio of Duta Wacana Christian University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, for taking care of the local logistics, as well as to their students who contributed to the daily reflections from their respective faith traditions. Thanks are also due to Klaus Pähler of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung in Jakarta for the financial contribution to this consultation. We would like to thank the contributors who gave up their time to prepare their papers and participate in the meetings, readily and honestly sharing their insights and concerns on sensitive issues beyond their own circles. May the Almighty, to whom belongs all honor and glory and praise, grant that the spirit which breathes through these pages inspire and lead Christians and Muslims together on the way. Notes 1 In this publication an attempt has been made to simplify transliteration. 2 Roland E. Miller and Hance A.O. Mwakabana (eds.), Christian-Muslim Dialogue: Theological and Practical Issues, LWF Studies 3/1998 (Geneva: The Lutheran World Federation, 1998). 3 Consultations were held in Bethlehem, Middle East, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania and Yogyakarta, Indonesia.