Religious Tolerance: A Vision for a New World

The world is out of joint—religious conflicts are increasingly becoming a threat. Suspicion and fear, often fuelled by religious fanatics, are growing between the western world, where religion has become a matter of individual choice, and societies, particularly in the Islamic world, which are more inherently religious. Shaikh Abdullah bin Mohammed al Salmi counters this development decisively. As Minister for Religion in Oman he is familiar with the religious affairs of the traditional yet cosmopolitan Sultanate, and is at home in the world of international diplomacy. In his speeches to institutions on four continents Shaikh al Salmi tirelessly promotes his vision of a new world in which religion is no longer misused for war and oppression. He bases his arguments on the Koran, the Jewish scholar Ibn Kammuna, the Dalai Lama or the Catholic theologian Hans Küng, who, thanks to Shaikh Abdullah’s initiative, was able to lecture in the Grand Mosque in Muscat as the Shaikh himself did in Aachen Cathedral. According to his understanding, all religions are based on a common foundation of values such as freedom, equality and tolerance, in short: on humanity. This is the chance that religion offers to mankind. The seven addresses by Shaikh Abdullah bin Mohammed al Salmi contained in this volume illustrate the continuity of his critical thinking and of his attempts to strengthen both understanding between peoples and in particular the belief in God’s will—a will that desires progress and wellbeing for all humanity. Al Salmi brings back into focus Islam’s peace-loving spirit towards Judaism and Christianity and towards the other religions and cultures of the world, and speaks boldly and clearly about the role of politics and religion in the age of globalization. Shaikh al Salmi’s argument is influenced by his personal view of the past and the future. He uses his wealth of knowledge to challenge the religious and political stereotypes of the Islamic world and its relationship with the West. His commitment to religious tolerance and mutual understanding is a shining example in an age when humanity’s need for positive role models is greater than ever.