'It's Time to Uproot Religious Exclusivism'

In his talk, Dr. Guiderdoni discussed the nature of scientific and religious truths, stressing the limitations of both endeavors. Citing the Qur'an, he argues for a diversity of approaches, including religious pluralism, as an essential feature of God's intended order for humanity. "The acquisition of religious knowledge," said Guiderdoni, "is also an open process, and we should travel on the path towards the Truth with great humility." -- Billy Grassie, Metanexus

Bismi-Llahi-r-Rahmani-r-Rahim

I begin this address by pronouncing the traditional sentence "in the name of God the Compassionate the All-Merciful." With this formula, the Muslims initiate all the ritual acts of their religious life, and also all the important acts of their everyday life which consequently acquire a sacred value. Before each act, I should always ask to myself: Will I truly act in the name of God the Compassionate the All-Merciful? And if this act does not manifest God's Love and Mercy, it is better that I refrain from performing it. This formula is written at the beginning of each chapter of the Koran, one hundred and fourteen times, so that it appears as a key principle for reading and interpreting it. Unfortunately we, human beings, are sinners, and we do not often live, in the name of God the Compassionate the All-Merciful, the core of the spiritual quest that founds our human dignity.

I am a scientist and I am a believer. As a scientist, my interest goes to the cosmos. I try to unravel the puzzles of the physical reality. As a believer, my interest goes to God and to his action within the human. I try to accept the mystery of the ultimate reality and the multiple ways it appears in the human condition. I feel deeply concerned by our 21st century. The terrible events of September 11 cast a dark shadow on it. Do we have reasons to hope again? Can we prepare seeds for the future? Do we still believe in the human?

We are looking for peace. But we have first to understand that peace will never be possible without justice. How is it possible for me to live quietly when my neighbor, on the other side of the street, is hungry, thirsty and cold? But why should I help my neighbor? Because we share the same human nature that requires this type of charity. We thus have to understand that we shall never have justice if we do not consider the truth that defines our human condition.

According to many theologians, the two challenges of the 21st century deal with the nature of scientific truth and the nature of religious truth. Both of them are linked to the human condition.

Continued on page 2: »