Based in Jerusalem, the IEA has 29 ongoing groups. Stolov says that they are not an interfaith organisation in the regular sense. For IEA, interfaith dialog is a tool that they use to build better relationships between people.
Stolov talks about how when the encounters began seven years ago at the height of the intifada, the Jews involved had never met had never met Muslims before, and vice versa – they only information they had about each other was via the media, whose chief message was that the other group only wanted to kill them. By the end of the encounter weekend, many strong friendships had been formed.
The UK’s out-there Radio Salaam Shalom (strapline: “Muslims and Jews Talking Together”) has just revamped its web site. Their main content is audio podcasts, which provide interesting perspectives on Jewish-Muslim relations. They’re avant guard, and not particularly shy.
Some good news! Amid the bleak reality of the infantile ghoulish media pouncing on every opportunity to stir up inter-faith arguments, it was great to see the rabbis of the US come out and side with the Pope about the RC bishop with the holocaust revisionist ideas. When Jewish leaders come out and point out that the Pope did the right thing in removing the bishop and give their reasons for backing his general approach, its a great sign. I’m encouraged. If we do this enough, maybe the media will have to stick their icky hands in to other issues. See http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles-2009/White-Left-Wing-Of-The-Catholic-Church-Destroying-The-Faith-Says-Orthodox-Rabbi.php
Muslims in general and Muslim leaders particularly have often been severely criticized for not more energetically condemning the violent acts of Muslim extremists.
Violent extremists are on one edge of the Muslim community. They are counter-balanced by a growing movement of Muslim peacemakers.
Equally as notable as Islamic militancy but less noted are Muslims’ 1) widespread condemnation of terrorism and other violent acts; 2) promotion of interfaith dialogue; 3) education of Muslim youth and reeducation of extremist Muslims; and 4) promotion of peaceful conflict resolution.
The report concludes:
It is common knowledge that some Muslims espouse extremist interpretations of Islam, and some of these extremists engage in religiously motivated violence. But what is much less widely recognized is the extent of peacebuilding within the worldwide Muslim community. A large majority of Muslims denounce religiously motivated violence and are disgusted by the abuse of their religion. Evidence of this can be seen in Muslim leaders’ widespread condemnation of terrorism and religiously motivated violence around the world after 9/11, as well as after recent events in India. In addition, this report has described the efforts of many Muslim organizations and leaders to promote more frequent and effective dialogue with Christians and Jews to enhance mutual understanding and create practical steps to improve relations. Efforts are also under way in many places to vigorously educate Muslim youth about the core Islamic teachings of tolerance, peace, and pluralism. In addition, governments and institutions in Muslim countries are working to reeducate Muslim extremists about the falsity of the doctrines they advocate and to find alternative nonviolent methods to express their discontent.
Finally, there are growing indications of Muslim individuals and organizations promoting peaceful conflict resolution.
While the number of Muslim peacebuilding organizations is rising, many are small and struggling financially. International donors could make an important contribution to world peace by aiding these organizations and strengthening their programs. Several American Muslim organizations have recognized the important roles they can play in reinforcing pluralism within Islam worldwide, and they should be encouraged and supported. Muslim leaders who promote nonviolence, pluralism, and tolerance should be recognized and their efforts publicized. Key Muslim organizations around the world are mobilizing to counter extremism within Islam, and they should be applauded.
The report is well worth a read, and provides a viewpoint we don’t get in the mainstream media, because it doesn’t sell papers.