Photo: Vladimir, Metropolitan of Kishinev and the whole Moldova, Patriarchate of Moscow and Vincenzo Coli, Custodian of the Sacred Convent of Assisi - reflecting about how to love God and one's neighbour



 
Photo: At the conference talk "the Civilization of Coexistence in a Time of War", Susanna Tamaro, famous italian writer touched the hearts of many listeners with her phrases:
"you open your hearts not with tolerance but with humbleness!" and
"to respect means to know where I end and where you begin"



 
Photo: Conference Talk: "The Civilization of Coexistence in a Time of War" - Elias Chacour, Melkite Archbishop from Israel is famous for his interreligious peace activism in the Middle East. He invited the audience to reflect upon the question:
"First study the other, then meet for dialog, otherwise there will be only monologs" where persons only want to bring forth their own perspective...and...
"is the "otherness" of the other a threat or a challange?"

Isn't that an important question that we can ask ourselves again and again... because doesn't it change the whole perspective if we can learn not to feel threatened by someone who is different from ourselves, who has different points of views, maybe comes from a different cultural and religious background...If we can see all that as a CHALLANGE, as a possibility to grow spiritually and intelectually and a chance to understand more about ourselves and about the other, what a difference would that shift of our perception bring about?! Would we be a step closer to peace? Is that more then an interesting reflection? Can we even encourage ourselves and try it out ? Can we actually really practice to perceive the otherness of the other as a challange instead of as a threat and then see what will be the result within ourselves and around us?!