Rivals or Brothers?

In examining an ecumenical basis for promoting interfaith communication the first point of opportunity must be the common ancestry these faiths have in their father Abraham. One of the few generalities one can be comfortable with is that all brothers are rivals for their father's affection.

Rivals or brothers, the Qur'an (Q.29.46) confirms that Muslims, Christians and Jews worship the same God. Indeed, they all view God as the creator of the world and all life on it and He is all powerful and all knowing.

Each of these faiths believe that God has sent mankind many prophets, messengers of His word. Each believes that in the end, God demands an accounting from His children for how they have conducted their lives.

In each of these religions, charity is a valued attribute. Prayer is a common central component in all these faiths. They all value honesty and social justice. They all promote loving ones fellow man and cherish the ideal of living life in peace.

In the most basic ideals, each of these religions can make a strong argument for being an ecumenical partner in a growing interfaith movement. The stumbling block that needs to be removed also happened to be a trait all three religions seem to have in common. It is articulated well in a 1992 publication by the World Council of Churches who note that Muslims and Christians tend to view themselves in the ideal and the other in the actual.

http://www.oikoumene.org/resources/documents/wcc-programmes/interreligious-dialogue-and-cooperation/interreligious-trust-and-respect/issues-in-christian-muslim-relations-ecumenical-considerations.html