Istanbul (AsiaNews) – As heated debates take place in Europe over Turkey's entry into the European Union, in this country people try to find some common ground for Christian-Muslim dialogue.

It is this shared desire to know and respect one another that led the Capuchin Friars Minor and the Faculty of Theology of Marmara University to organise the second Islamic-Christian Symposium that was held from October 7 to 9 in Istanbul.  Its main topic was the relationship between God and Creation.

There were many prominent speakers; among them: Fr Maurice Borrmans, professor of Comparative Theology and Spirituality at Rome's Pontifical Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies (PISAI); professor Ilaria Morali, professor of Dogmatic Theology from the Università Gregoriana; Ismail Taspinar, professor of History at the universities of Istanbul and Konia; Mustafa Sinanoglu, professor at Istanbul's  Centre of Islamic Studies, Omer Faruk Harman and Kursat Demirci, professor of History of Religions at the University of Marmara. Representatives of Turkey's Catholic community also took part such as Mgr Louis Pelatre, Apostolic Vicar in Istanbul, as did many university students, both Christian and Muslim, and ordinary people of every age.

Despite real cultural and religious differences, respecting and listening to one another inspired and enriched the participants. Together, they tried to find answers to fundamental questions that humans have had to grapple with throughout time: "Who is Man? Why does he exist and live on the earth? Why do evil and self-destruction touch humanity?"

Participants pointed out that on this issue the two Holy Scriptures –the Qu'ran and the Bible– converge. Professor Taspinar clearly made this point when he said that "in the verses of the Qu'ran that speak about Adam's creation, humanity's first man, it is said that God created him in a special way and put him at the centre of creation. God let a breath of His essence into the future sovereign. He taught him the nature and the names of all things. Finally, He ordered all the Angels to prostrate themselves before Man. But this man, free to use his faculties for better or worse, capable of knowing good from evil, opposed God and thus began his early journey."

Professor Faruk emphasised that "Man, who is endowed with intelligence and passions, is ranked between Angels and animals. Because of these traits he is considered the most beautiful of creatures, but he is also bound to face the peril of spiritual and moral fall. For this reason God has not left him alone but provided him with orders to be God's vicar and servant".

In a passionate tone, outraged by terrorist violence (a bomb exploded near the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate as the Symposium was underway) Faruk referred to the Qu'ran in words reminiscent of a passage by Saint Paul: "Religious differences between religions of the book are a fortune that must not lead to hatred. The Qu'ran  (al-Hujurât, 49: 13) emphasises that men are from different tribes and nations so that they may better know and communicate with one another. In another verse it is written: "[. . .] To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way. If Allâh willed, He would have made you one nation, but that (He) may test you in what He has given you; so strive as in a race in good deeds. The return of you (all) is to Allâh; [. . .] (Al-Mâ'idah, 5: 48).

According to Father Borrmans, today God is more than ever urging people "of good will" to do just that, i.e. to transcend religious and geographic barriers, because "true believers will save humanity so that Man can be once again in God's image".

The three-day symposium was a time full of debates and discussions, exchanges of ideas and explanations, but also a time of conviviality and shared meals, of informal talks and friendships.

Was there complete agreement? No! Dialogue then does not mean the levelling of ideas; instead, it is but a step forward towards mutual respect based on honesty and self-criticism.

The cordial nature of the interactions far from polemics and sterile discussions were sufficient to make the symposium a success.

Next year's appointment will touch an even hotter topic: Jesus.