Studying Islam

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[quote]The 200 invitees included vocal critics of Islam, notably the Rev. Franklin Graham, a conservative Evangelical who has called Islam an &quot;evil and wicked&quot; religion. He cannot attend because he is preparing for a trip to North Korea, a Graham spokesman said.

Former Vice President Al Gore and the Archbishop of Canterbury were also invited, but declined because of prior engagements, their offices said.

Spain was chosen as the conference site, Saudi officials said, because of its historical symbolism as a place where Muslims, Jews, and Christians lived in relative peace under Islamic rule from the 8th to the 13th centuries.

Given the Saudi religious community's suspicions toward non-Muslims and deep hostility toward Israel, it would have been extremely difficult to hold the event in Saudi Arabia.

Nihad Awad, founding executive director of the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations, says the venue demonstrates that the Saudis are willing to meet Western religious leaders on their home turf.

&quot;It's good to bring people in [to Saudi Arabia]; however, we want more Muslim scholars and leaders to go and interact with Western intellectuals, and Spain is a good choice to start with as it represents a place of interfaith tolerance historically,&quot; says Mr. Awad, who recently met Abdullah. &quot;The fact that the king is going is a powerful statement that he's investing in this personally and wants it to succeed.&quot;

Rabbi Rosen, who also serves as chairman of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations, had a different view, writing that holding the conference in Saudi Arabia would have given it &quot;far greater significance both in the Muslim world and in the 'West.' &quot;

Abdullah first disclosed his plans for an interfaith dialogue during a meeting with visiting Japanese scholars last March, describing it as something that had &quot;obsessed [him] since two years ago.&quot; He said he was preparing an initiative in which &quot;believers of the three main religions: the Torah, Bible, and Koran will be of priority.&quot;

But all religions would be invited, he added, because &quot;we all believe in the same God.&quot;

The goal would be &quot;to agree on something that would maintain humanity against those who tamper [with] religions, ethics, and family systems.&quot; He said he was distressed by disintegrating family ties, a rise in atheism, and &quot;an imbalance of reason, ethics, and humanity&quot; in today's world.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0708/p01s03-wome.htm[/quote]

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