Final Version of Dialogue
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
In The Name of God Managing Director: Dr. Mohammad Bagher Khorramshad Editor in Chief: Dr. Mohammad Reza Dehshiri Co-Editors: Dr. Seyyed Abdolmajid Mirdamadi, Dr. Mohammad Hossein Mozaffari, Dr. Sadrodin Moosavi and Dr. Mohsen Shojakhani Layout: Amir Mousavi Executed by: Sepideh Mandegar Iranian Ins. Center for Interreligious Dialogue (CID) Organization of Culture and Islamic Relations (ICRO) Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran http://cid.icro.ir i Table of Contents Foreword ii Editorial: Dialogue for Protection of Faith 1 Role of Religion in Modern Society 5 Mohammad Reza Dehshiri (PhD), Deputy President of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization The Catholic Church and Political Power: a Long 11 and Complex Relationship Alessandro Ferrari (Università degli Studi dell’Insubria – Como and Varese) Role of Religion in Society: A Philosophical- 25 Sociological Approach Humayun Hemati (PhD) Religion and Society 39 Rasoul Rasoulipour (PhD), Tarbiat Moallem University, Tehran Religion and Civil Society: A Philosophical and 55 Theological Perspective Rev. Prof. Andrea PACINI Islam and State 75 Mohammad Jafar Elmi (PhD) i Religion and Society 89 Dr. Seyyed Mahdi Khamoushi (PhD), President of the Islamic Propagation Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran Religion and Civil Society: Contemporaneous 107 Difficulties and Opportunities Prof. Silvio FERRARI, Istituto di Diritto Internazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano - Italy Religion and Society: New Paradigmatic Shifts in 119 Sociology of Religion Youness Nourbakhsh (PhD; Assistant Professor, University of Tehran, Sediqeh Sultanian (MA) Press Release 149 Don’t Break the Wings of Angles: (Religious 153 worldviews and Environmental Crisis: Islamic perspective) Bagher Talebi Darabi, Faculty Member, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran A Glimpse of the Sabaean Thought and Philosophy 169 Abdul Majid Mirdamadi (PhD) CID’s Initiatives for Convergence among Religions 177 and Cultures Foreword Asia is the birthplace of different religions, cultures and philosophical schools of thought all of which play a major role in constituting social bonds among many societies and nations. Most scholars and thinkers are of the opinion that the existing diverse cultures of this region can pave the path for closer cooperation and harmony among Asian nations. The shared values of Asia's rich diverse ethnic, religious and cultural communities such as mutual respect, non-violence and love for peace and justice, call on scholars and thinkers to make greater effort towards the enhancement of integration and harmony among Asian cultures and civilizations. Protecting and Respecting Cultural Diversity is essential for maintaining peace, justice and a civilized way of life on our planet. The common heritage of diversified cultures of Asia necessitates dialogue between cultures and religions; which in turn will strengthen the values shared by the peoples of Asia and enhance cooperation, peace and friendship while diminishing the risk of discrimination, violence and war. To achieve this objective, the Center for Interreligious Dialogue (CID) of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization proposed to the Sub-Committee on Protecting and Respecting Cultural Diversity held in Phnom Penh on 5 July 2010, to host an International Conference on "Dialogue among Religions and Cultures in Asia" jointly with the Islamic iii Parliament of Iran. The Conference will be participated by members of parliaments, religious scholars and thinkers from Asian countries who share their views and thoughts for promoting understanding and harmony. The proposal was endorsed in article 16 of the resolution on Protecting and Respecting Cultural Diversity in Asia which states: “We welcome the proposal contained in secretary- general’s report about the decision of the Islamic parliament of Iran and the Iranian Center for Inter-religious Dialogue (CID) to jointly host an “international conference on dialogue among religions and cultures in Asia” in 2011 and request the hosts to provide timely and detailed information on substantive and organizational arrangements for the conference to member parliaments through the secretary-general so as to ensure wide participation from across Asia.” The Resolution was eventually adopted in the APA Plenary in Damascus in November 2010 and in order to implement the decision taken by the APA, the CID in consultation with the APA Secretariat decided that the first round of this conference be held in Tehran on 11-12 Sep. 2011. Editorial Dialogue for Protection of Faith It is now ten years that the Dialogue has been being published. Despite the fact that some ups and downs at times have caused interruption in its publication, it has not interrupted the communication and connection between the Center for Inter-religious Dialogue and other religious institutions, associations and religious figures across the world. The primary objective of the establishment of the Center for Inter-religious Dialogue was to establish cordial relations with the leaders and followers of divine religions, religious denominations and sects, to be able to cooperate and play a part in the global developments. The prerequisite to such cooperation was primary mutual knowledge, understanding and exchange of views on the common religious and other issues, whose main objective is felicity, welfare and happiness of the followers of religions as well as achievement of a kind of peaceful coexistence among the leaders and followers of religions, religious sects and civilizations. We should reach a mutual understanding on the fact that divine religious teachings and doctrines, although stemming from the same root and coming from the same source, have grown in the context of different cultures and traditions and hence despite their unity, different readings are offered based on these sources. At the same time it should be borne in mind that the understandings and 2 Dialogue, 1, 2011 perceptions in different periods have led to negative judgments and perceptions. Dialogue as a method was emphasized upon from the early days of Islamic period. In fact there is clear reference to dialogue in early Islamic texts. Today, dialogue is a longstanding time-tested tradition for mutual understanding among nations. This tradition has been tested and experienced throughout history via positive constructive talks, leaving invaluable results for the people across the world. Those who entered the Islam- Christian dialogue in the early days of the past two decades were not much clear about its content and were speaking of some gaps in common understanding of the issues. The ambiguities about common understanding turned more serious when it came to divinities and theology. But the trend of dialogues and the experiences of the two sides as well as mutual understanding proved that dialogue is not confined to theology and divinities, philosophy and theosophy, polemics and trial and convincing or domination of the “other”, rather the main objective of dialogue is mutual understanding, exchange of views and cooperation in the social fields as well as protection of collective faith. In the course of dialogue attempts should be made to deepen the faith in God Who is the Creator of all creatures and human beings and is the Source of all good and values. In fact this approach can help the participants in the dialogue to expand and promote sublime ethic and spirituality among the youth and youngsters. In fact these social groups are exposed to convictional threats and creedal menaces. They are exposed to certain cults that have no respect for God-oriented values and traditions, which are the manifestation of all perfect, beautiful and glorious attributes of God. On the other hand these cults are the manifestation of all Editorial 3 bad and nastiness, i.e., Satan, who was repelled and has been misguiding human beings since the early days of creation, but unfortunately is being worshiped as god. It is terrible that such cults call themselves mystical schools. If the Abrahamic religions did not have even a single commonality in divinities, ethics and commandments, they enjoy a common viewpoint about Satan and also have common approaches to his tricks and ploys for misguiding human beings. Satan is misguided and misguiding and following his commandments is wrong and is disobedience to the Almighty God. God and Satan are the borders of fidelity and infidelity, good and bad and value and counter value. Indeed the community of believers belong to one single camp which is exposed to the attacks of Satan, Satan worshiping and followers of Satan. Hence they need a specific unity among themselves in this great challenge to be able to guarantee the collective faith of their followers, particularly the youth. Thus, today’s dialogue is not a dialogue for mere mutual understanding; it is a dialogue for protection of the faith. 3 4 Dialogue, 1, 2011 Role of Religion in Modern Society Mohammad Reza Dehshiri (PhD) Islamic Culture and Relations Organization’s Deputy President for Research and Education Text of speech delivered at the seventh round of dialogue between Center for Interreligious Dialogue of Iran and Vatican Catholic Church Today, modern societies pay double attention to religious values because the modern world has come to make a distinction between the soft power of religion and its role in promoting ethics, spirituality and creating a safe and sound atmosphere for social interaction, intellectual perfection and human upbringing. After the