Six years after the United Nation’s adoption of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s proposal to mark a week of harmony among religions (on the first week of February), I believe it is incumbent to focus every year on specific issues instead of reiterating the views annually addressed to the local population, in particular. On the other hand, our “expressed views” are mostly intended to denote that we are "brethren" and that "harmony" among the followers of religions would come true, thus we look for terms that corroborate this view. I believe that we have transcended this stage decades ago.
I propose that we focus this year on five major points that help speakers in seminars, held in our beloved country, base their addresses on practical cooperation rather than on verbal expressions:
First: There must be a joint stand by the followers of religions, particularly Muslims and Christians in the world against terrorism, extremism and bigotry which distort religions. Focus should be made on this “joint stand” as asserted by His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al- Hussein in every forum that conduction of war on terrorism is not restricted to Muslims only, but rather to Christians and to followers of other religions as well. His Majesty also stresses that this war is not limited to the battlefield since there are ideological and intellectual wars as well. So, it is necessary not to only to limit curbing infiltration of our border by extremists, but rather to block extremist ideas that influence our sons and daughters.
Second: Focus should be made on media outlets, particularly electronic media, so as to have them renounce ethnic-, religious-, or ideological-based hatred. From this premise, it is incumbent on various media outlets to strictly renounce hatred discourses as well as be ethically and firmly committed to serving genuine harmony.
Third: This year is the “Year of Mercy”, as proclaimed by Pope Francis and recognized worldwide. We can disseminate this important view in seminars in two ways, namely by providing evidence from the Holy Bible and the Koran about “mercy” by stating that God is merciful and that He wants of humans to be so; and by focusing on solidarity with and support for the poor, the forcibly displaced, the sick, and those weary of the burdens of life.
Fourth: Dialogue is not the end-goal. It is a means to attain the main target, namely good citizenship and equality among people from a constitutional and verbatim point of view on the one hand, and in reality on the other. Dialogue should transcend courtesies and dogmatic debates by viewing global affairs and the major challenges being encountered namely, globalization, education, school curricula, environmental affairs, climate change, and ethics that concern all stages of human life.
Fifth : We have to consider the 50th anniversary of the Declaration on the Relation of the Church to non-Christian Religions (Nostra Aetate) issued by the Second Vatican Council, the Amman Message, a Common Word, Conference on the Challenges facing Arab Christians and the World Interfaith Harmony Week. Yet, we have to look for the means “to disseminate” these Jordanian positions to the whole world, and refrain from mere focusing on eloquent speeches that have become effete by repetition.
Happy anniversary!
