Faith in Ethiopia
Abune Tessefelassie Medhin is the Catholic Eparchy of Adigrat in Ethiopia. He explains how Christians and Muslims are working together to tackle fundamentalism, improve water supplies and combat HIV and AIDS.
The Christian Church in Ethiopia is one of the oldest in the world. It has preserved a distinct identity untainted by colonialism. Some regions are either almost completely Muslim or Christian, whilst in others both religions can be found. Traditionally relations have been cordial, although historical factors favour Christians over Muslims in politics and ownership of land.
The current Constitution has tried to redress the balance, stating:
"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion” and "Every Ethiopian citizen has the right to the ownership of private property."
Fundamentalism has been creeping in over recent years. In both Islam and Christianity it shares the certain characteristics of absolutism, blind faith at the sacrifice of reason and no distinction is made between bearing legitimate witness and deplorable proselytizing. Quite often these are accompanied by unspoken political implications that breed antagonism.
The Church in Ethiopia does not exclude fundamentalists from any inter-religious dialogue or sharing. But as reciprocity is unlikely to be a characteristic of fundamentalisms those on the hard edges of both Christianity and Islam tend to remain there.
The Eparchy runs a number of schools, which serve mainly non-Catholic students including many Muslims. Muslim children can choose whether to attend classes on Christian ethics. Development projects such as improving the water supply are shared by Christians and Muslims alike. The ‘Orthodox Muslim Catholic association’ comprises religious leaders united in tackling HIV and AIDS. Its motto is "Unity to Save Life".
A centre will provide facilities for community activities, cultural entertainment, ecumenical inter-religious meetings and workshops on issues of social justice. At a national level The “Interfaith Peace-building Initiative” comprises 13 different organisations? and takes as the starting point the “Golden Rule” of their respective faiths “ Do to others as you would have them do to you”.
Recommendations include:
· Through “common ethical codes”, and cultural, social, educational, fields of common concern we can counter conflicts and human misery, diseases, HIV and AIDS, etc.
· Reconciliation, justice and peace generally are concerns for entire communities, irrespective of creed. Working on the many shared values between the two faiths, Christians and Muslims can contribute greatly towards restoring peace and reconciliation in our societies and nations.
· Freedom of religion is essential: it includes freedom to share one’s faith, to propose, not impose it, to accept and welcome converts who choose what they want to believe.
For every £1 given to our Give it up! appeal this Lent, including Lent Fast Day, the government will donate another £1 – doubling your donation and changing even more lives |
884 million people do not have access to clean, safe water. Pray with us this Lent that waters may flow and injustice may be washed away. |
Help us turn the tide on water poverty. Join our Thirst for change campaign and ensure world leaders hear our call: taps and toilets for all. |
