We are pleased to present a new series of Working Papers: Three Global Spiritual Leaders in a Time of War and Violence, co-authored by Mitchell Institute International Advisory Board Member, Ambassador Akbar Ahmed with Frankie Martin and Dr Amineh Hoti.

There are few things more important than promoting understanding and bridge-building between people of different religions and cultures.  It is not as simple or easy a task as it seems.  On the contrary, it is complex and subject to push-back from the different parties as too often some interfaith practitioners end up arguing that their point of view is better or more valid than that of their dialogue partners of other religions.  Conversely, sometimes religious differences or the unique worldviews and perspectives of the “other” are glossed over or not adequately discussed—thus allowing questions and stereotypes to remain.  Muslims in the early twenty-first-century in general are having a tough time in this environment.  It is critical that they are involved in dialogue and promoting both the understanding of their faith and the faiths of others.

With this in mind, we the authors who are committed to building bridges and promoting understanding, are proud to present three towering spiritual leaders who have been vigorously promoting interfaith dialogue especially involving Muslims wherever they could.  

These three figures represent the three Abrahamic faiths and each one of them has reached the pinnacle of his society–Lord Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury for the Christians, Lord Dr. Jonathan Sacks, the Chief Rabbi of the UK for Judaism, and Dr. Haris Silajdzic, the Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, for Muslims. 

All have seriously considered the major challenges facing interfaith and intercultural harmony in the twenty-first century and how they may be overcome. As such, they each have much to teach us about how to practically move forward with this essential and urgent task.

This paper is adapted from the authors' forthcoming study, The Mingling of the Oceans: How Civilizations Can Live Together. The book is about those people in history described as "Minglers," who have embraced those not of their group—their religion, race, ethnicity, nation, or tribe—and how they did so. A Mingler is someone who tries to bring people together, who points to the dangers of exclusivism and insists on seeing humanity in a single framework stressing human unity. 

Commenting on the papers, Mitchell Institute Director Professor Richard English said:

"The relationship between religious leadership, conflict and peace is a crucial and often misunderstood one.  These original articles offer valuable and fascinating reflection on this major subject and the Mitchell Institute is delighted to host them."

Read the papers here.

 

Author biographies

Akbar Ahmed is Distinguished Professor and the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, School of International Service, American University, Washington, DC, and Wilson Center Global Fellow. He is a member of the International Advisory Board for the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice.  He was described as the “world’s leading authority on contemporary Islam” by the BBC. Among his many books are his quartet of studies examining the relationship between the West and Islamic world published by Brookings Institution Press: Journey into Islam (2007), Journey into America (2010), The Thistle and the Drone (2013), and Journey into Europe (2018).

Frankie Martin is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Anthropology at American University. He was senior researcher for Akbar Ahmed’s previous quartet of Brookings Institution Press studies on the relationship between the West and Islamic world and holds an MPhil in Anthropology from the University of Cambridge. His writing has appeared in outlets including Foreign Policy, CNN, the Guardian, and Anthropology Today.

Dr Amineh Ahmed Hoti is Fellow-Commoner at Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge and Governor, St. Mary’s School, Cambridge. She was also a senior researcher for Akbar Ahmed’s quartet of Brookings Institution Press studies on Western-Islamic relations. She received her PhD from the University of Cambridge and co-founded and directed the world’s first Centre for the Study of Muslim-Jewish Relations at Cambridge.  Her most recent book is Gems and Jewels: The Religions of Pakistan (2021).