Editorial

After September 11^th, 2001, one of the fears of many of us has been that the divisions between people in our world, divisions of culture, religion, physical and economic condition, would become so wide and deep that they would never be bridged and would eventually lead to catastrophe.

The urgent need we all have to work for respect and understanding across the cultures is obvious. It is important that leading Muslims in the UK have made it clear that suicide bombing is not Islamic and that it is to be deplored. Dr. Zaki Badawi has said that, “Committed Muslims know that suicide bombing and the killing of innocent people is a very serious breach of the Law of Islam..”

He also points out that many Muslims around the world feel that the West has not been just in its dealings with the Muslim world, and especially with the Palestinian people, most of whom are Muslim.

The suffering of all the people of the Middle East is included regularly in our magazines, this time in “A critical month in world history,” and in the “Holy Land march for Peace with Justice.”

It is not enough for people of good will to read about the Middle East, and about how people of other faiths than our own feel about terrorism. It is also important that none of us ever miss an

opportunity to listen and learn and also to speak out when an opportunity arises. It is easy to stand back when criticisms of people of other cultures and faiths are being voiced, but it is not honourable. High profile initiatives are of great value, but they are of limited influence unless there is commitment to understanding and justice at every level.

There is a great need in the present climate for life in general to be taken seriously and for special care to be given to living, day by day, with people of other faiths and cultures. Trust and respect may only grow if time is taken and listening is open. One of the questions we might ask is “What is God doing with the other people, of other cultures and faiths?”

It is encouraging that Christians and Muslims have met together at Lambeth Palace, to learn from each other and to begin to work together for a way forward. It is encouraging that the meeting has the support of the British government.

Let us hope that this meeting is symbolic of a new stage in our pilgrimage of life, towards new and firm friendships and understandings, new and shared commitment to justice and peace.

Barbara Butler