http://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/print/content/view/print/317202 I have always had very interesting religious discussions with Saudis. The Christian Science Monitor - CSMonitor.com In Saudi Arabia, a landmark welcome of a Christian scholar Leonard Swidler, a Christian scholar at Temple University in Philadelphia, visited Saudi Arabia's ultra(*)conservative Al Imam Muhammed bin Saud Islamic University earlier this summer, underscoring a shift toward greater openness in some official religious institutions. By Caryle Murphy, Correspondent posted August 3, 2010 at 4:30 pm EDT Riyadh, Saudi Arabia In a country that endorses Islam as the official religion, bans conversion to other religions, and forbids Christian proselytizing, Saudi Arabia's recent welcome of an American Christian scholar is a landmark. Leonard Swidler, a professor of Roman Catholic thought and interreligious dialogue at Philadelphia's Temple University, is the first such scholar invited to exchange views with faculty at Al Imam Muhammed bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh the citadel of Saudi Arabia's ultraconservative brand of Islam. Dr. Swidler's visit in late June underscores a shift toward greater openness in some official Saudi religious institutions, which previously had been leery of contact with outsiders of different faiths. "Maybe it's not exciting for some people, but it's a very big change in Saudi Arabia," says Fahad al-Alhomoudi, a faculty member at Al Imam who helped arrange Swidler's visit. Swidler called his meetings at Al Imam campus "kind of a breakthrough" during an interview here. "The opportunity to meet with 40 Saudi professors in the area of interreligious dialogue for me was quite extraordinary," he says. Ten of the 40 were women, who participated via videoconferencing. "I would say that we are experiencing a tipping point right now in relations in the field of religion between the West ... and Islam," added Swidler, a world-recognized expert in interreligious dialogue. "I mean, you can't get more heartlander than Saudi Arabia, as far as Islam is concerned." First dialogue with Christians and Jews Swidler's visit came after 14 Al Imam faculty participated last fall in a week-long course at Temple's Dialogue Institute, founded by Swidler more than 30 years ago. The Saudis in the program "were so excited because, for the first time in their lives, they had dialogue with Christians and Jews," says Mr. Alhomoudi, now a consultant to the rector of the all-female Princess Noura University in Riyadh. "They all said that this [experience] should be expanded." Swidler's visit was intended to discuss areas of future collaboration between his Dialogue Institute and the university's King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Center for Islamic Contemporary Studies and Dialogue of Civilizations. "We need to understand each other," said Abdulmohsin Al Sumih, the center's dean. "That's why we are very keen to see Professor Swidler with us here in our university." The center was established two years ago in response to a major push by the king to encourage Saudis to communicate with each other and with foreigners of all religious backgrounds. In 2007, the king became the first Saudi monarch to meet a Catholic pope, and the next year he hosted an international conference on interreligious dialogue in Madrid, which was widely seen as an effort to repair Islam's damaged image after 9/11. While many Saudis are embracing the new trend of dialogue, the kingdom's official religious establishment has been ambivalent about it. They'll need time, said Alhomoudi. "It's hard for them to swallow a big change." © The Christian Science Monitor.
That's good to hear. Hopefully that attitude will translate into full religious, political, and social reforms over time. But it all has to start somewhere.
I'm sorry, but I've lived in both Saudi and Kuwait. And I've seen the difference in the religious environments between both of those and the other countries I've been to. No, it is quite often not as bad as some make it out to be. But it is also far from being a testament to tolerance.
Me too.. for a couple of decades.. I found both to be far more laid back than the western media would lead one to believe.
Unless you are a follower of a non-abrahamic based religion... Then you can get your head cut off when they accuse you of turning people into newt!
And you a taqqyia spouting saudi man who advocate the persecution and beheading of religious minority... We make a great pair... or not...
Can't you even follow the story? The Sudanese was a Muslim. Meanwhile, remember that Peter denied Christ 3 times. That's taqquiya.
I bet he wasn't really. Just like many identify themselves as christian, like you do, and yet follow a totally different religion, just like you do. being a sudanese, he wouldn't have any choice but identify himself as a muslim if he wanted to live in peace, since they really don't like non muslim there... Ask the people of Darfur... He most probably was an animist which is quite present in Africa and many other place on this earth. Hell, even in north america, most native tribes still practice animism even though they were converted to christianity. (*)(*)(*)(*), for one who accuses other of not being educated you are surelly lacking in knowledge... Or you're just plain dishonest Mr. Saudi man. And taqquiya is a permission to lie to protect your faith or your honor. You do this often...
