Browsing by Author "Lao, Cairoden Datu Solaiman"

This research is a field study of the Forum Bishops and Scholars in the Philippines, non-governmental organizations engaged in Muslim-Christian dialogue in the Philippines. After the declaration of Nostra Aetate by the Vatican II, the religious dialogue in the Philippines has received great attention from advocates and clergies. Many religious, social, economic and political problems have been resolved in the Philippines as a result of religious dialogue between Muslims and Christians in the country. The study aimed to identify the concept of religious dialogue in Christianity and Islam, and attempted to clarify issues and methods of religious dialogue in the country. It also emphasizes the methods used in the religious dialogue such as seminars, conferences, publications, media and visits. The researcher compared between the views of the bishops and scholars on the concept of religious dialogue, objectives, conditions, motives and obstacles in the country. The researcher made personal interviews with a dozen of scholars and prominent bishops in religious dialogue, with an analytical study of the published materials on the subject. The researcher came to a number of conclusions, among which is the most significant issues of religious dialogue in the Philippines, including peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians, mutual understanding and tolerance among themselves as well as cooperation between the two parties. The study recommended that there is the need to re-examine and make appropriate adjustment to the approaches used in Islamic or Christian institutions to ensure that such methods are valuable, meaningful and beneficial in order to achieve the goals of the Islamic-Christian dialogue in the near future. Moreover, there is a need for scholars to engage themselves in dialogue between Muslims and Christians, and some should be specialized in this area. The study also recommended to the International Islamic and Christian Institutions to financially support the Islamic and Christian organizations engaged in religious dialogue in the Philippines and other countries.