04 January 2006
MUSCAT -- On an invitation from the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, and as part of its efforts to invite prominent Arab and world thinkers to the Sultanate, well-known German scholar Hanz Kong, President of the International Morals Foundation and Professor of World Religions at the University of Tupengen in Germany, gave a press conference on his visit to the Sultanate and his works on compared religions, here yesterday.
Hanz Kong has been visiting the Sultanate regularly for the last 10 years and has given numerous lectures on relations and dialogue between religions at Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. "Oman provides me a safe and peaceful environment to live, work and think as it combines Islamic traditions and modern life. I have read about Islam and Oman before the renaissance led by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos where it was an isolated place not known to many, and when I visited it for the first time 10 years ago, I was surprised on how modern Oman is.
I believe it's an ideal place to live in peace and harmony with others," he said. "I was honoured to be invited to participate in the country's celebration of the 35th National Day in November where I sensed the modernity, peace and order unlike many places I have been to in the Middle East. I am happy to have an old personal friendship with Shaikh Abdullah bin Mohammed al Salmy, Minister of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, who visited me at my home in Telmingin in Germany.
Since then I realised how important it is for us to establish a dialogue between Islam and Christianity and reach a common understanding between the two heavenly religions. This is the seventh time I am in Oman on his invitation and I believe it's an important opportunity for us to get together and further converse on the matter." Answering a question on how a place like Oman can be modern and friendly to world cultures and an ideal example of Islamic enlightenment at the same time Regarding Kong's international mission aiming towards enforcing dialogue between civilizations and cultures, he says there were two main factors to think of in this matter.
"First of all, how to establish an environment of communication between the parties away from conflict and struggle, and second thing was the mechanism needed to reach a common understanding as a result of this dialogue. I realised at the beginning of this project that it was neither a hypothetical issue nor was it simply a cultural one, but a major political dilemma as people normally resort to violence in case of conflict of interest or lack of communication. Therefore I thought, dialogue is inevitable but is more needed in times of struggle," he added.
MUSCAT -- On an invitation from the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, and as part of its efforts to invite prominent Arab and world thinkers to the Sultanate, well-known German scholar Hanz Kong, President of the International Morals Foundation and Professor of World Religions at the University of Tupengen in Germany, gave a press conference on his visit to the Sultanate and his works on compared religions, here yesterday.
Hanz Kong has been visiting the Sultanate regularly for the last 10 years and has given numerous lectures on relations and dialogue between religions at Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. "Oman provides me a safe and peaceful environment to live, work and think as it combines Islamic traditions and modern life. I have read about Islam and Oman before the renaissance led by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos where it was an isolated place not known to many, and when I visited it for the first time 10 years ago, I was surprised on how modern Oman is.
I believe it's an ideal place to live in peace and harmony with others," he said. "I was honoured to be invited to participate in the country's celebration of the 35th National Day in November where I sensed the modernity, peace and order unlike many places I have been to in the Middle East. I am happy to have an old personal friendship with Shaikh Abdullah bin Mohammed al Salmy, Minister of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, who visited me at my home in Telmingin in Germany.
Since then I realised how important it is for us to establish a dialogue between Islam and Christianity and reach a common understanding between the two heavenly religions. This is the seventh time I am in Oman on his invitation and I believe it's an important opportunity for us to get together and further converse on the matter." Answering a question on how a place like Oman can be modern and friendly to world cultures and an ideal example of Islamic enlightenment at the same time Regarding Kong's international mission aiming towards enforcing dialogue between civilizations and cultures, he says there were two main factors to think of in this matter.
"First of all, how to establish an environment of communication between the parties away from conflict and struggle, and second thing was the mechanism needed to reach a common understanding as a result of this dialogue. I realised at the beginning of this project that it was neither a hypothetical issue nor was it simply a cultural one, but a major political dilemma as people normally resort to violence in case of conflict of interest or lack of communication. Therefore I thought, dialogue is inevitable but is more needed in times of struggle," he added.
By Khalid al Jadidi
© Oman Daily Observer 2006
