Doha Center to boost inter-religious dialogue

Dubai, Nov 3 (UNI) The Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue, the first of its kind in the Gulf, aims to find a common ground of understanding among the three major monotheistic religions of Islam, Christianiy and Judaism, DICID Chairman Prof Ebrahim Saleh Al Naimi said .

The Chairman, former president of Qatar University and head of the executive board of the institute, said the board--which was set up in May at Doha, was currently appointing the centre's director and building up a team to work on the projects.

''The centre represents an important project that challenges misconceptions about the three monotheistic religions and extremism.

There is a need for dialogue among the three main faiths and the centre will be a focal point in the region for this purpose,'' he told Gulf News.

The Center which was launched in May this year at the Fifth Interfaith Conference organised by the Qatar University functions on the fund provided by the Emir of Qatar Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani.

It aims at organising the annual interfaith conference and conducting academic researches on issues of concern to the three faiths to find a common grounds of understanding.

Al Naimi said the centre will neither be a theological nor a religious institute. He said it will represent an academic and research focal point where members of the three monotheistic faiths, Islam, Christianity and Judaism, can talk in a constructive way.

''Today, the three religions face common challenges such as the changes affecting the family worldwide, the ethical issues related to scientific discoveries or those linked to the medical sphere, just to mention a few. Our research will create a fruitful debate around these topics,'' added the Chairman.

The centre will also work on the creation of a database with regard to the three religions to be accessible to all, said Prof Ebrahim.

UNI