Read the Qur'an - cleric
2003-09-30 21:58
Johannesburg - Christians should read the Qur'an to gain a better understanding of their Muslim neighbours and bring peace to Africa.
This was the suggestion of Dr Ishmael Noko, secretary-general of the Lutheran World Federation, at an inter-faith conference on peace in Kempton Park on Tuesday.
Noko said dialogue between people of different religions was important. In this way, people would pay attention to each other and mistrust and uneasiness could be reduced.
He said people from different religions should make time to visit one another and learn to read one another's holy scriptures with patience.
"I ask myself, how many Christians read the Qur'an? To lay a foundation for peace, we have to get to know one another and read each other's scriptures."
He added that one could only love one's neighbour if one knew that person.
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