Harder work is needed to find common ground in religious, political and cultural spheres than ever before, according to leading theologian, Professor Martyn Percy.
Speaking at the second Al-Maktoum Institute Open Lecture in Dundee (Tuesday, January 25) Professor Percy said there was an opportunity for an “overlapping consensus” to be discovered.
“Christianity and Islam are the largest and second largest religions in the world, making up over a third and over a fifth of humanity, respectively,” said the Professor, Principal of Ripon College Cuddesdon in Oxford, which last year signed a unique educational agreement with the Institute.
“Together they comprise more than half of the world’s total population, making the relationship between these two religious communities one of the most important dynamics in contributing to meaningful global peace.
“So let our differences not cause further differences. Rather, let us work together in righteousness and good works, respecting each other with kindness and sincerity, living in peace, harmony and mutual goodwill.
“I suspect we may have to work harder on finding our common ground, not only in inter-religious dialogue, but also in our political and cultural spheres to discover what our overlapping consensus might be.”
Professor Percy also argued that the function of a national church – even one that is tied into an evolving monarchy – might still represent a viable form of Church-State relations in a modern state.
“The idea of (Christian) establishment as an essential organic and living part of national identity that still has a valuable role to play in local, regional, national and international life has plenty of life left in it,” he said.
And with a Royal wedding now set for April, Professor Percy said that Britons seemed to like their monarchy more than even they knew, adding that the Queen’s Golden Jubilee sparked off widespread and heartfelt celebrations.
The Principal of the Al-Maktoum Institute, Professor Malory Nye praised Professor Percy’s wide-ranging lecture.
“To discuss the significance of multiculturalism and diversity to the contemporary Christian church with a theme that included faiths, nationhood and the establishment was hugely stimulating,” said Professor Nye.
“We are very pleased that Professor Percy agreed to visit the Institute for the second in our series of Open Lectures.”
Last year, the Institute and Ripon College Cuddesdon established a formal collaborative link that recognised that priests, who will be working in a multicultural Britain, need to have a firm understanding of the Islamic and Muslim communities in Britain and the wider world.
The agreement provides for the Institute to send a scholar of Islamic studies each year to spend a semester at Ripon College Cuddesdon as a Visiting Fellow.
Dr Alhagi Manta Drammeh, Lecturer and co-ordinator MLitt programme in Islamic Studies, is now in Oxford for a term to deliver a course on Islam and engage in the life and community of the college and the University of Oxford.
