India: Summer School on Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations

Summer School on Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations 2024 at the Henry Martyn Institute

The Henry Martyn Institute in Hyderabad recently hosted the Summer School on Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations in 2024. The program was held from April 29th to May 4th and focused on the need for four types of dialogues with Muslims.

These dialogues included the dialogue of life, where individuals strive to live in an open and friendly way by sharing their joys and sorrows, their human problems, and preoccupations; the dialogue of action, where Christians and Muslims collaborate towards common good; the dialogue of religious experience, where people rooted in their religious traditions share their spiritual riches, and lastly, and the dialogue of theological exchange, where scholars engage in deep discussions that help to build understanding and foster mutual respect.

The program included comprehensive classroom presentations on a range of Islam-related topics, delivered by both Muslim and Christian scholars on Islam. These presentations were complemented by visits to a local mosque, a madrasa, a shia ashur khana, a Sufi dargah, and the Students Islamic Organisation's office. During these visits, participants had the opportunity to learn and interact with Muslims on different aspects of Muslim life in India.

One of the participants of the Summer School, Mrs Sunanda Victor, shared her learning that dialogue is a form of reciprocal communication that establishes a deeper level of interpersonal connection. She further emphasized that dialogue is an attitude of respect and friendship that is crucial in promoting mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence among individuals of different faiths.

Ms Hebsiba, another participant, learned that Christians must have a solid understanding of their faith and traditions to engage in a meaningful dialogue with Muslims. She added that Christians and Muslims must have a clear identity and approach each other with an open mind and positive attitude while engaging in dialogue.

Joseph Victor Edwin SJ, who coordinated the program, highlighted that the Summer School aims to equip participants with the skills to recognize themselves as pilgrims of truth and peace. Rev Dr Packiam T Samuel, the director of the Institute emphasized that Christians and Muslims should come together to listen, get to know and respect each other and collaborate towards the greater good. Essentially, the program underscored the significance of interfaith dialogue in fostering mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence in our increasingly diverse and interconnected world.