Ramadan is also important for Christians
The month of Ramadan is important not only for Muslims, but also for believers of other religions, “especially Christians”, the Vatican said this week.
In a message of good wishes to Muslims around the world, the Vatican’s interreligious dialogue department said that during the month of Ramadan, existing friendships are strengthened and new ones are built, “opening the way to more peaceful coexistence, harmonious and joyful”.
“This corresponds to the divine will for our communities, and in fact for all members and communities of the one human family,” reads the text, published Friday by the Vatican.
Such peaceful and friendly coexistence is threatened by “religiously motivated extremism, radicalism, polemics, disputes and violence”, the message states, and these threats “are fueled by a culture of hatred”.
Such a culture must be countered and overcome by “rather strengthening, strengthening love and friendship, especially between Muslims and Christians, because of the ties that bind us together,” the Vatican office says.
While differences can be seen as a threat, we should not ignore or forget what we have in common, the post continues.
It means overcoming negative attitudes towards those who are different from us such as “suspicion, fear, rivalry, discrimination, exclusion, persecution, polemics, insults and backbiting,” the message reads.
Getting down to specifics, the message argues that social media platforms are “common spaces for such harmful behavior”, and thus pervert their role as a means of communication and friendship into “instruments of enmity and combat”.
What is needed instead is “respect, kindness, charity, friendship, mutual care for all, forgiveness, cooperation for the common good, help to all who are in need and environmental protection,” the text reads.
“A world of justice, peace, brotherhood and prosperity please (sic) the Almighty and brings joy, therefore calling for our sincere and shared commitment,” he adds.
Breitbart
