A tale of two dialogues: 21st century Christian-Muslim initiatives

Abstract

The nature of the relationship between Muslims and Christians has been ever marked by three fundamental dynamics: mutual antipathy, mutual affinity and mutual inquiry. In the modern era, and certainly since the mid-20th century, a sense of genuinely mutual inquiry – that is, of seeking, together, to understand each other, learn about each other, and strive together for the greater good of the common world we together indwell – has clearly emerged and become active. Such inquiry is born out of the sense of affinity, and given urgent impetus by the realisation of the negative consequences of allowing antipathy to gain the upper hand.