The open letter from A Common Word brings up some essential convergences for the contemporary encounter between Christians and Muslims. Most importantly, I think, is the often overlooked fact that Muslims and Christians make up over half of the world’s population. Ironically, both sides are preaching peace yet carrying on an undeclared World War. Devastating religious warfare has returned to the international landscape and like the document states “the future of the world depends on peace between Muslims and Christians” (2). When I’ve discussed with fellow Christians and others about the need for interfaith collaboration, the document’s second point is my stronghold. All religions have their version of the Golden Rule and adherence to a message of peace and love towards one’s neighbor could go a long way in addressing the world’s modern conflicts. Religion is for most people a tool for living a righteous life. It’s time the media caught on to the viewpoint of the masses.
James Cutsinger, a professor of Theology at the University of South Carolina, wrote an intriguing response breaking down the horizontally superficial human experience and the vertically empowering human experience. The horizontal experience, he writes, breeds the hate and the bigotry found in conversations that circumambulate around the differences—Jesus, the Qur’an, and the role of Muhammad, to name a few. That being said, said his view is somewhat simplified as horizontal dialogue can be resourceful for information exchange. Intercultural competency is strongly developed through experiential and honest dialogue. The vertical experience, however, absolutely coincides with A Common Word’s message. Rooted in the internal feeling towards the external, whether a love for God or a love for neighbor, deep bonds of love and friendship can be formed between two seemingly polar groups. As the world thinks about ways to begin dialogue, the horizontal is often an easy way out of a challenging conversation. On the other hand, no one ever said the most enriching of experiences were easy.
Reflections of an Urbanist 