The Silsilah Summer Course on Muslim-Christian Dialogue this year have been a great occasion of friendship without the limitation of the COVID10 of the previous years. This program was conducted in the spirit of “Dreaming Together” to prepare a big gathering of Silsilah alumni next year on the occasion of its 40th anniversary.
STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT FOR THE DIALOGUE PATH TO PEACE
We, the Muslim-Christian participants of the 37th Silsilah Summer Course 2023, comprising sixty (60) individuals from diverse backgrounds (educators, community development organizers, religious leaders, and seminarians) across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, hereby declare our commitment to uphold and promote the culture and spirit of dialogue through all means and continuous efforts, following the signs of the times.
During the Basic Course period, participants had the opportunity to live with their foster (Muslim-Christian) families. Through this experience, we, as participants, encountered new challenges, underwent personal transformations, and rediscovered the beauty and goodness within everyone, regardless of culture and religion. It opened our hearts and minds to the realities of the world, challenging us all to promote solidarity, harmony, and peace.
Considering the present developments in our religions and their underlying realities of violence, fanatic fundamentalism, terrorism, radicalism, extremism, and negative stereotyping, which hinder the promotion of a culture of dialogue path to peace, we enriched our understanding of various religious traditions and cultures throughout this year’s summer course program. We forged friendships and built relationships amidst diversity, embracing the profundity of humility and responsibility in shaping our similarities while continuing to embrace our differences in the spirit of dialogue. We gather as one community, respecting differences in our cultures, beliefs, and identities. Therefore, we commit to:
- Illuminate various misconceptions and misleading thoughts regarding our differences;
- Develop a deeper understanding of the history, current issues, and future state relations between our two major religions (Muslim and Christian);
- Seek diverse purposes and directions within our families, communities, and churches in the pursuit of dialogue and peace;
- Encourage the pursuit of spirituality of life-in-dialogue as essential in amplifying the narratives and empowering the marginalized, less privileged, and misrepresented, who need to be heard and listened to with sincerity.
As catalysts for peace, we commit to creating a more humane and harmonious world through personal and social transformation.
Padayon!