Malaysian realities: View from the street

 Christianity, Development issues, Ethnic and inter-religious relations, Islam, Malaysian history, Sustainable development  5 Responses »
Feb 202011
 

This was the sort of day for me that encapsulated a lot of what it means to be Malaysian today.

Interfaith dialogue, understanding one another

In the afternoon, I dropped by at the St Anne’s Catholic Church in Bukit Mertajam, which was holding a dialogue session with Dr Dzul, the MP for Kuala Selangor and Pas central committee member.

This is Dr Dzul engaging in open and frank dialogue with Fr Henry Rajoo, the parish priest over some of the contentious issues in Malaysia. This was a dialogue and not a debate, the crowd was told. The mood was one of willingness to listen to the other’s point of view, trying to get to know and understand one another. Continue reading »

 Posted by Anil Netto at 11.53pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

Egypt: Christians, Muslims for freedom

 Africa, Christianity, Democracy, Ethnic and inter-religious relations, Global justice movement, Human rights, Islam, Universal spiritual values  6 Responses »
Feb 072011
 

More images and accounts have emerged of the Muslim-Christian understanding on the streets calling for a new dawn in Egypt.

A Muslim holds aloft a Qur'an while a Christian carries a cross in a mark of Muslim-Christian solidarity in Tahrir Square - Photo credit: Huffington Post

See another picture here. And see this Reuters video.

This is an except from an Irish Times report:

MUSLIMS PRAYED with Christians yesterday in Tahrir Square at the heart of Cairo. A priest from Egypt’s ancient Coptic rite held high a cross, read verses from the Bible and in a deep, sonorous voice led hymn singing. The mostly Muslim throng joined in, familiar with the Arabic phrases the faiths share. Continue reading »

 Posted by Anil Netto at 3.40pm  Tagged with: , , ,

Muslim-Christian solidarity in Tahrir Sq

 Africa, Christianity, Democracy, Ethnic and inter-religious relations, Human rights, Islam  20 Responses »
Feb 062011
 

Muslims prayed while Christians protected them. And today, Muslims returned the favour as they stood guard around Christians participating in a Sunday service. Tahrir Square continues to witness remarkable scenes of inter-religious solidarity in the struggle for freedom and justice.

Visual of the day: Father Fawzi Khalil holding the Bible standing next to an Imam holding the Qur'an.

See another picture here. And see this Reuters video.

Remember this renewed solidarity is happening in a land where a Coptic Church in Alexandria was attacked on 1 January 2011 in a suicide bombing, killing 23 and injuring 97.

thedailynewsegypt.com reports:

CAIRO: Christians and Muslims recited in unison the “Our Father” prayer in Tahrir on Sunday, a day intended to commemorate those killed in pro-democracy protests since Jan. 25. Continue reading »

 Posted by Anil Netto at 11.05pm  Tagged with: , , ,
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