Back and Next - Back and NextFocus on inter-faith dialogue
Friday, June 27, 2008
For the first time in the history of the International Roots Homecoming festival, a communique on interfaith dialoque was signed. The one and half page PowerPoint communiqe was signed by representatives of all the three religious faiths in the Gambia.
Dr Omar Jah signed on behalf of the Supreme Islamic Council (SIC), Mr Sammy Davies signed for the Gambia Christian Council (GCC) and Mr Robert Bob Arrington for the Bahai Faith, while Mr Momodou C Joof, director general (DG) of the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC), in his capacity as the chairman of the organising committee for the international roots festival signed the communique document as a witness.
The communique came at the end of a one day forum on interfaith dialoque on the theme "Unity in Diversity", held on June 1st, in the conference hall of the Friendship Hostel in Bakau. The forum centred on the need to strengthen and embrace the already existing traditional culture of mutual co-existence between different religious faiths in the Gambia among other aims and objectives.
Pastor Forbes of the Abiding Word Ministries, who presided over the forum read out the 8-point communique, which stated among other things, the need to affirm the existence of Almighty God as a supreme being, to advance both individual initiative and human fellowship through mutual trust, understanding and respect, to seek the truth in the spirit of love, to integrate reason, faith, science and religion, to ensure that all aspects of life be kept in dynamic balance for maximum health and wellbeing, to provide present and future generations with opportunities for full realization of their potentials, to also respect the teachings of the prophets and sages of all times and cultures among other valuable points in the interest of promoting ideals of peaceful co-existence and unity in The Gambia, Africa and the world at large.
The Arts and Culture anchorman,this week, decided to focus analysis on the said communique because of its importance. Gambians undoubtedly are amongst the most peace loving people on the face of the earth. Signing of such an important and historic document would go a long way towards inculcating the culture of peace and the spirit of tolerance in the minds and hearts of both old and young ones.
The Gambian leader, President Jammeh, must be commended for initiating the International Roots Festival and the national organising committee also deserve kudos for coming up with such a brilliant and wonderful idea in our quest for sustainable development. However, signing of the document is one thing and implementation of it’s recommendations another thing. I therefore urge the parties not to let the document gather dust.
A guide book on virtue co-authored by Dr Linda Kavelin and John Popov, describes unity as a very powerful virtue, which brings great strength. The said book defined unity as a way of seeing the universe as one designed by the one who created us all. Unity brings harmony like the music made by the different instruments in an orchestra. Peacefulness on the other hand, means an inner sense of calm that comes in moments of silent gratitude or prayer. Peacefulness, the book went on, is a way of being very quiet and looking at things so that you can understand them. It’s about facing your fears, letting them go and trusting that things will be all right.
Dr Omar Jah signed on behalf of the Supreme Islamic Council (SIC), Mr Sammy Davies signed for the Gambia Christian Council (GCC) and Mr Robert Bob Arrington for the Bahai Faith, while Mr Momodou C Joof, director general (DG) of the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC), in his capacity as the chairman of the organising committee for the international roots festival signed the communique document as a witness.
The communique came at the end of a one day forum on interfaith dialoque on the theme "Unity in Diversity", held on June 1st, in the conference hall of the Friendship Hostel in Bakau. The forum centred on the need to strengthen and embrace the already existing traditional culture of mutual co-existence between different religious faiths in the Gambia among other aims and objectives.
Pastor Forbes of the Abiding Word Ministries, who presided over the forum read out the 8-point communique, which stated among other things, the need to affirm the existence of Almighty God as a supreme being, to advance both individual initiative and human fellowship through mutual trust, understanding and respect, to seek the truth in the spirit of love, to integrate reason, faith, science and religion, to ensure that all aspects of life be kept in dynamic balance for maximum health and wellbeing, to provide present and future generations with opportunities for full realization of their potentials, to also respect the teachings of the prophets and sages of all times and cultures among other valuable points in the interest of promoting ideals of peaceful co-existence and unity in The Gambia, Africa and the world at large.
The Arts and Culture anchorman,this week, decided to focus analysis on the said communique because of its importance. Gambians undoubtedly are amongst the most peace loving people on the face of the earth. Signing of such an important and historic document would go a long way towards inculcating the culture of peace and the spirit of tolerance in the minds and hearts of both old and young ones.
The Gambian leader, President Jammeh, must be commended for initiating the International Roots Festival and the national organising committee also deserve kudos for coming up with such a brilliant and wonderful idea in our quest for sustainable development. However, signing of the document is one thing and implementation of it’s recommendations another thing. I therefore urge the parties not to let the document gather dust.
A guide book on virtue co-authored by Dr Linda Kavelin and John Popov, describes unity as a very powerful virtue, which brings great strength. The said book defined unity as a way of seeing the universe as one designed by the one who created us all. Unity brings harmony like the music made by the different instruments in an orchestra. Peacefulness on the other hand, means an inner sense of calm that comes in moments of silent gratitude or prayer. Peacefulness, the book went on, is a way of being very quiet and looking at things so that you can understand them. It’s about facing your fears, letting them go and trusting that things will be all right.
Author: by Sanna Jawara
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