الحوار الإسلامي - المسيحي في الفلبين : المؤسسات الإسلامية نموذجا

Abstract

This research is a field study of selected Islamic non-governmental organizations engaged in religious dialogue with Christians in the Philippines. In the past four decades, 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 who form the minority and Christians who are the majority in the country. The study identifies some important reasons that led to religious dialogue. This includes the attempt to reconcile between Muslims and Christians in the country for peaceful and harmonious coexistence, to respond to the allegations raised against Islam and Muslims and to perform Da'wah by calling people to the message of Islam. It also highlights the formal techniques, such as seminars, conferences and publications and informal techniques, such as, visits and weekly studies, which these organizations employ during their dialogue with Christians. Finally, it explores the effects of dialogue on the political, social and religious planes of the Philippines. Based on field research, the researcher has made a personal interview with prominent figures of eight selected Islamic organizations, with analytical study of the published materials on the subject. The researcher came to a number of conclusions, among which is the need to reexamine and make appropriate adjustment to the approaches used in Muslim-Christian religious dialogue to ensure that such approaches are suitable for the Muslim community in the Philippines and workable within the Philippine context. In the light of this result, the researcher provides a number of recommendations and suggestions to solve the problems and obstacles encountered in religious dialogue. This includes the need to benefit from the Qur'anic and Prophetic approaches of dialogue with People of the Book, to ensure that those preachers who are engaged in religious dialogue with Christian are well trained, and to appropriately utilize the formal and informal techniques of dialogue taking the advantage of modem Information and Communication Technology.