January 25, 2012 - 10:30 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net
- In his opening remarks to the international conference on "The
Christian Presence and Witness in the Arab World", taking place at the
headquarters of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias,
Lebanon, His Holiness Aram I said that "in view of the changing
political landscape in the Arab world, the Christian communities are
called to engage in dialogue with all trends of Islam which advocates
democracy, coexistence and non-violence".
He reminded that
Middle East “is at a crucial juncture of its modern history", and that
"although the present situation is depicted by some as Arab spring or
Arab revival and by others, the end of autocracies and emergence of
democratic processes or simply regime change, the common denominator in
all these characterizations is that the region is in a process of
transformation".
Aram I warned the conference of misleading
approaches which "may distance us from concrete realities, such as
conceptualizing, westernizing and generalizing this process of
transformation". He advocated "an existential, not conceptual, a Middle
Eastern, not Western, a contextual, not general approach to the events
that are taking place in the region". According to His Holiness "the
region is still facing uncertainties, ambiguities and polarizations.
Hence, if this process of transformation is not sustained by a strategy
of active non-violence and if it is not led by people with a clear
vision, the region may be exposed to even greater and far-reaching
dangers".
Among challenges and priorities before the Christian
communities, Catholicos Aram believes that "the Christian unity must
acquire a top priority; and the Middle East Council of Churches provides
the proper framework for the churches to speak with one voice and act
together". In his opinion the Christian-Muslim dialogue needs to be
"broadened and deepened in its horizontal and vertical dimensions and
expressions to cover the basic concerns and critical issues pertaining
to their common life". His Holiness challenged the Christians and
Muslims "to move from being good neighbors to real partnership as
co-citizens. This partnership must be articulated: by building together
democratic societies, by ensuring for Christians a broader space for
active and full participation in decision-making structures and
processes; and by providing for Christians all the possibilities to
preserve their own values and traditions and organize their community
life, being at the same time integral and inseparable part of larger
society".
Catholicos Aram I reminded the conference that "the
Christians are deeply concerned about their future in the Middle East.
Uncertainty, anxiety and fear are increasingly dominating their life.
But the Christians should not turn to their Christian brothers and
sisters in the West; they should turn to their Muslim co-citizens and
partners to share with them their concerns and expectations". It is the
firm expectation of Aram I that "Muslims respond frankly and
realistically to the growing concerns of Christians".
The
conference on the Christian presence and witness in the Arab World is
organized by the World Council of Churches in collaboration with the
Middle East Council of Churches. More than seventy people, Muslims and
Christians, from different parts of the Arab world, including special
guests from Europe and North America attend the conference, reported the
Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia.
You need to be talking about how Christians are persecuted by the "jews". How many Christians know it's illegal to hand out Christian literature in israel. AMERICA'S SUPPOSED MAIN ALLY! Also, how many thousands of Palestinian Christians have the israelis murdered? Have the Muslims taken by subterfuge and war almost every economy on earth? No, the "jews" have. Do Muslims control America's economy, legal system, media, politicians, elections, schools, institutions, and military apparatus? No, "jews" do. Do "jews" consider Moslems pagans? Yes. Do they consider Christians pagans? Yes. Will the "jews" be exterminating all of us "pagans" when they take over the world? Of course, if their talmud is any indication. ALL REAL CHRISTIANS AND REAL AMERICAN CONSERVATIVES KNOW "JEWS" ARE OUR CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER. DEAN BERRY MINISTRIES
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