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CATHOLICOS ARAM I ATTENDS INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE MEETING IN TEHRAN
tert.am
15.05.12
The fifth meeting of the Interreligious Dialogue, which was initiated
some 15 years ago by His Holiness Aram I and Ayatollah Taskhiri,
was held on Monday 14 May in Tehran.
The theme of the meeting was "The role of religion in promoting
ethical values in society". The introductory remarks were made by Dr.
Mohammed Reza Dehshiri, Vice president, Center of Research, Education
and Academic Exchange and by Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, the
Primate of the Armenians of Tehran, the press service of the Cilicia
Patriarcate reported.
Ayatollah Taskhiri as the first director of the Center greeted the
conference highly appreciating the role of His Holiness Aram I in
promoting interreligious dialogue on global level. Inaugural speech
was given by Dr. Mohammed Bagher Korramshed, president of Organization
of Culture and Islamic Relations. He emphasized the importance of
dialogue and the centrality of moral values for Islam.
The key note address was given by His Holiness Aram I. His Holiness
considered the moral values the core of religion. He said that
"Religion has its divine and human dimensions. Distinction between
these two dimensions is important. Revelation as a God given reality
generates human response, which is affected by time and space".
Speaking about moral values, Aram I said that they touch all aspects
of life. His Holiness emphasized that "moral values should sustain and
govern the life of a society, otherwise it may lose its identity and
direction and disintegrates". His Holiness identified three areas
of concern: relativism of moral values, politicization of moral
values, and increasing decay of moral values. According to Aram I,
"Dialogue is an efficient way of creating mutual understanding and
peaceful coexistence among nations". The Catholicos considered lack of
mutual trust an evil force that dominates the life of many societies:
"Religion should not create fear and mistrust but should generate
mutual understanding, tolerance and trust".
The keynote address of Aram I was followed by the following
presentations: Dr. A. Gavahi, "Islam ethical approach to society,
politics and international relation", Mr. R. Biglarian "A glance
at the role of ethics in resolving international crisis with
special reference to environment issues", Dr. M. Merghati "Ethics-
jurisprudence relations and their compatibility in today's human
issues", Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian "Fundaments of morality in
Christianity", Dr. K. N. Barzegar "The ethical culture of Muslims
to impact peaceful coexistence", Ms. Emilia Nersisians "A historical
approach to ethics and trade with special reference to Isfahan during
the Safavid era", Dr. H. Shomali "The social aspects of Islamic
ethics". Each presentation was followed by discussion.
More than hundred people attended the conference. At the end of the
conference, a joint statement was issued. The statement emphasized
the pivotal role of moral values and called for better relations and
greater collaboration between religions in general and Christianity
and Islam in particular. The statement reminded that: "The religions
of the world, besides their differences, have also common values and
share common perspectives and approaches in respect to global issues
and challenges. Therefore, we believe that developing a common and
global ethical framework could provide a firm basis for religions
and particularly to divine religions for joint action".
tert.am
15.05.12
The fifth meeting of the Interreligious Dialogue, which was initiated
some 15 years ago by His Holiness Aram I and Ayatollah Taskhiri,
was held on Monday 14 May in Tehran.
The theme of the meeting was "The role of religion in promoting
ethical values in society". The introductory remarks were made by Dr.
Mohammed Reza Dehshiri, Vice president, Center of Research, Education
and Academic Exchange and by Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, the
Primate of the Armenians of Tehran, the press service of the Cilicia
Patriarcate reported.
Ayatollah Taskhiri as the first director of the Center greeted the
conference highly appreciating the role of His Holiness Aram I in
promoting interreligious dialogue on global level. Inaugural speech
was given by Dr. Mohammed Bagher Korramshed, president of Organization
of Culture and Islamic Relations. He emphasized the importance of
dialogue and the centrality of moral values for Islam.
The key note address was given by His Holiness Aram I. His Holiness
considered the moral values the core of religion. He said that
"Religion has its divine and human dimensions. Distinction between
these two dimensions is important. Revelation as a God given reality
generates human response, which is affected by time and space".
Speaking about moral values, Aram I said that they touch all aspects
of life. His Holiness emphasized that "moral values should sustain and
govern the life of a society, otherwise it may lose its identity and
direction and disintegrates". His Holiness identified three areas
of concern: relativism of moral values, politicization of moral
values, and increasing decay of moral values. According to Aram I,
"Dialogue is an efficient way of creating mutual understanding and
peaceful coexistence among nations". The Catholicos considered lack of
mutual trust an evil force that dominates the life of many societies:
"Religion should not create fear and mistrust but should generate
mutual understanding, tolerance and trust".
The keynote address of Aram I was followed by the following
presentations: Dr. A. Gavahi, "Islam ethical approach to society,
politics and international relation", Mr. R. Biglarian "A glance
at the role of ethics in resolving international crisis with
special reference to environment issues", Dr. M. Merghati "Ethics-
jurisprudence relations and their compatibility in today's human
issues", Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian "Fundaments of morality in
Christianity", Dr. K. N. Barzegar "The ethical culture of Muslims
to impact peaceful coexistence", Ms. Emilia Nersisians "A historical
approach to ethics and trade with special reference to Isfahan during
the Safavid era", Dr. H. Shomali "The social aspects of Islamic
ethics". Each presentation was followed by discussion.
More than hundred people attended the conference. At the end of the
conference, a joint statement was issued. The statement emphasized
the pivotal role of moral values and called for better relations and
greater collaboration between religions in general and Christianity
and Islam in particular. The statement reminded that: "The religions
of the world, besides their differences, have also common values and
share common perspectives and approaches in respect to global issues
and challenges. Therefore, we believe that developing a common and
global ethical framework could provide a firm basis for religions
and particularly to divine religions for joint action".