Vienna International Christian-Islamic Summer University 2014 Vienna International Christian-Islamic Summer University 3 to 23 August 2014 First Week Second Week Third Week Prof. Dr. Ingeborg Gabriel Dr. Gudrun Harrer Dr. Fatimah Husein University of Vienna, Austria University of Vienna, Austria The State Islamic University “Introduction to Christianity” “Religion and Politics” Yogyakarta, Indonesia “Religious Pluralism” Prof. Dr. Mualla Selçuk Prof. Dr. Ann Elizabeth Mayer Ankara University, Turkey University of Pennsylvania, USA Prof. Dr. Stefan Hammer “Introduction to Islam” “Islam and Human Rights” University of Vienna, Austria “Religion and the State” Prof. Dr. Irmgard Marboe Dr. Edward Salifu Mahama University of Vienna, Austria University of Development Studies Prof. Dr. Wolfram Reiss “International Law and in Tamale, Ghana University of Vienna, Austria Human Rights” “Religion in Africa” “Building of Mosques and Churches in Christian and Muslim Countries” Index VICISU in Brief The Vienna International Christian-Islamic Summer University 2014 . 2 Forewords By Barbara Weitgruber, Director General (BMWFW). 4 By Father Michael Hüttl, Prior of the Abbey of Altenburg . 5 By Daniel Bacher, DKA Austrian Catholic Children’s Movement . 6 Articles A Time to Remember (Irmgard Marboe). .7 The Summer University: A World Reality Check (Ingeborg Gabriel) . 9 Nothing Could Be More Urgent (Edward Salifu Mahama) . .10 VICISU 2014 – A Cross-Cultural Experience (Wolfram Reiss). 12 What if? (Artun Akar). 14 Interreligious Dialogue from an Orthodox Perspective (Cezar Ungureanu) . .17 A Friend in Need Is a Friend Indeed (Elza Seferian). 19 Dealing with the Static and the Dynamic (Rifqi Fairuz). 21 Muhammad, Teach Me to Be a Christian (Florian Mayrhofer). 23 Practicing Tolerance in a Religious Society (Hinan Javaid) . .27 The Beautiful Spirits and the Ugly Dilemma (Ismail El Mouttaki) . .30 Neither Is Wrong! (Mahmoud Khairy) . 31 The Significance of Diversity (Maryam Akram) . .34 One Thousand and One Nights (Twenty One) in Austria (Mazza FarajAllah) . .38 “Educate, Change and Transform Lives” (Nabeel Victor). 41 Places Stay, Yet Time Goes By (Philipp A. Sutner). 44 Breaking Down VICISU (Pia-Maria Jordan-Lichtenberger) . .45 Religious Aggressiveness (Robert DerMesrobian). 47 1 VICISU in Brief The Vienna International Christian-Islamic Summer University 2014 By Irmgard Marboe and Katharina Albrecht-Stadler he Vienna International Christian-Islamic Sum- offers a variety of sporting facilities as well as comfor- T mer University (VICISU) is a three week summer table living space. programme that aims at bringing together students and professors from universities spanning across all 40 students from universities in 15 different European five continents. It evolved from the “Vienna Internati- and non-European countries like Afghanistan, Egpyt, onal Christian-Islamic Round Table” (VICIRoTa), an Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, initiative by academics from different fields of speciali- Pakistan, Switzerland, Palestine, Romania, Saudi Ara- sation, such as law, theology and social sciences, which bia, Turkey and Aus tria participated in VICISU 2014. met between 2000 and 2006 to discuss the most im- The academic programme consisted of lectures and tu- portant questions concerning our today’s world, from torials such as “Introduction to Islam”, “Introduction to a Christian and from a Muslim perspective. Four resul- Christianity”, “International Law and Human Rights”, ting edited volumes and a “VICIRoTa-manifesto” were “Religious Pluralism”, “Religion in Africa”, “Religion published in German, English, Arabic and Urdu (see and the State”, “Islam and Human Rights”, “Religion http://www.rti-stgabriel.at/book-listings/vicirota. and Politics” and “Building of Mosques and Churches html). in Christian and Muslim Countries ”. In addition, round tables and discussions took place in the evenings. Prof. Andreas Bsteh, the founder of the Summer University, recapitulated the beginnings of the interreligious dia- logue initiatives in Austria. Father Michael, the Prior of the monastery and responsible for guest relations, gave a guided tour through the Abbey of Altenburg and the Garden of the Religions. Martin Kienl from the Austrian Foreign Ministry informed about the “Austrian Dialogue Forum Islam”, and Dr. Michael Lugger from the Islamic Religious Community in Austria presented the Austri- an Islam Law of 1912 and current reform initiatives. On August 13, Abbot Thomas Renner and the community of the Abbey of Altenburg invited all the participants of the Summer University as well as prominent guests from Vienna and Lower Austria to a celebratory sum- The Summer University of 2014 lasted from 3 to 23 mer reception. August 2014 and took place again at the Abbey of Altenburg , a Benedictine monastery in Lower Austria. The extracurricular programme of VICISU 2014 was It is well known for its Garden of the Religions and com- complemented by an excursion to the Abbey of Melk and bines the spiritual atmosphere of a Baroque building a boat trip on the Danube, a visit to the castle of Rosen- with the comfort of a modern campus, equipped with burg as well as a number of social events and sporting the facilities necessary for teaching and studying. It also activities. Two highlights of the social programme were 2 VICISU in Brief the multicultural talent show and the intercultural dinner, where the participants perfor- med dances and songs from their home countries and cooked traditional meals. The last days of the Summer University took place in Vienna where the students received their certificates of participation by Vice-Rector Prof. Faßmann of the Univer- sity of Vienna. They visited the city, including the main building of the University of Vienna and the United Nations , and were invited to a reception in the Vienna City Hall and a farewell party in a Viennese restaurant . Economy (BMWFW). Additional sponsoring is provi- ded by the Austrian Ministry for Europe, Integration The Vienna International Christian-Islamic Summer and Foreign Affairs (BMEIA), the Dreikönigsaktion University is organised by the University of Vienna and (Austrian Catholic Children’s Movement), the Province mainly funded by the Ministry of Science, Research and of Lower Austria and the City of Vienna. ◊ 3 Forewords By Barbara Weitgruber, Director General for Scientific Research and International Relations (BMWFW) he “Vienna International Austria has a long tradition in of Altenburg for their hearty and T Christian-Islamic Summer building bridges between cultures generous support of this important University – VICISU” was held for and religions. The Austrian Fede- dialogue initiative and I certainly the fourth time already. This inter- ral Ministry of Science, Research hope that the Abbey will host disciplinary summer course carried and Economy has supported the VICISU also in the future. out by the University of Vienna academic Christian-Islamic dialogue assembles students, professors and activities for many years – in coope- In view of the recent global political lecturers from many renowned aca- ration with other Austrian authori- developments driven by hate and demic institutions around the world ties – to stimulate intercultural and mistrust we are fortunate to have for three weeks and is dedicated to interreligious exchange and under- initiatives like VICISU and I would the scientific reflection of character­ standing. Since 2008 VICISU has like to thank every one involved in istics, similarities and differences of been organized by the University of the success of this initiative for their the two major religious movements Vienna and has taken place every enthusiasm and continuous per- in the world, Christianity and Is- two years at the Abbey of Altenburg sonal commitment. I hope that all lam. The relaxed atmosphere on the in Lower Austria, which is a tru- the participants will continue to be country side in Lower Austria is the ly inspiring location with a unique part of the VICISU community as I perfect environment for academic atmosphere and hence is the ideal am convinced that all of them have discussions as well as for an intense place for such a challenging under- benefited from the spirit of mutual and enriching personal exchange of taking. understanding, respect, openness opinions among the participants. In and have enjoyed both the intellec- my view both aspects are equally im- Let me take this opportunity to tual discussions and the personal portant and are needed for a better express my sincere thanks to the encounters. ◊ mutual understanding. abbot and the convent of the Abbey 4 Forewords By Father Michael Hüttl, Prior of the Abbey of Altenburg et all guests who arrive be over the world – a bit of insecurity, also disturbing. There was full life L received like Christ, for He is perhaps also a bit of anxiety – but in these days, perhaps this was the going to say, “I came as a guest, and also much expectation and hope in most important. The strangers who you received Me” (The Rule of Bene- view of the days to come. had come be came people with na- dict 53,1) mes in these days. The strangers It was again very new, very different, who had come grew close to our WELCOME! again so good to become acquainted hearts in these days. The strangers with young people who are open who had come left as friends, as sis- In August 2014, the VICISU took for dialogue. To experience peo ple ters and brothers. place in our monastery for the who have a position but who are fourth time. For three weeks, in a also interested in the other. To meet Our monastery again has received way, the whole world was our guest. people who are ready to engage in a lot. We have perhaps made only a Already in the first evening we had something new, with open eyes and small contribution, but the world of a heartwarming encounter with the open hearts. those who were participants in this participants in a first round of intro­ fourth VICISU has changed. ductions. Many told us that it was There was a lot of discussion in these their first visit to Europe, some were days, perhaps sometimes too inten- And this fourth VICISU has changed outside of their home countries for se.