Mercy Global Concern - 2003

Annan urges greater understanding between Muslim and Western countries

15th September

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged greater mutual understanding in order to bridge the misperception about Islam among non-Muslim westerners as well as resentment of the West among people in Muslim countries.

Mr. Annan's remarks came at the opening of the fifth lecture in a series aimed at strengthening international dialogue. Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr, a respected Muslim scholar at George Washington University, presented the lecture, which focused on the topic "Islam and the West."

"When we talk about 'Islam and the West," it sounds as if these were two opposites. Yet Islam is a universal religion, with adherents in almost every part of the world, whereas 'the West' is a geographical, or perhaps geo-political expression," Mr. Annan told the audience.

" It is also true that Muslim states and Christian states competed with each other -sometimes in war, but also peacefully, in science and philosophy and art. The West as we know it today is a product of many Islamic influences - and it has many Muslim inhabitants."

Professor Nasr said that the events of September 11, 2001 and the reaction to them raised the spectre of a "clash of civilizations."

"Personally, I don't believe in such a clash, because I don't believe that there are distinct and separate 'civilization' in the world today. I think we all live in one world, and that in every country there are many different religions and cultures that need to respect and live peacefully together. Historically the 'Christian West' and Islam have the same roots - the monotheistic world of Abraham. Judaism played an important role on the formation of both these world religions."

With the rise of Islam, the Christian west saw Islam as the "other" and therefore needed to be watched. In the 12th century Pope Urban X111 began the first known Ji-had, with the Crusade against Islam. This was a defining moment in history, but the crumbling of the Islamic world is not matched by a crumbling of religion. The only thing that changed in many Islamic countries was the colour of the flag! Western geographers divided up their spoils into 'nation states', and countries were governed by an ethos, which was not Islamic. Anti- Western attitudes came about as a result of this process. In some societies there is a desire to better understand the West, but in others there is a closing of doors. The need for mutual understanding has never been greater.
The destiny awaiting us is to find ways in which mutual opposition can become mutual understanding.

Deirdre Mullan RSM
MGC