7:31am Saturday 10th January 2009
AN EXPERT in Christian-Muslim relations will speak at the Hilfield Friary near Dorchester next week.
Dr Chris Hewer, a fellow of St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace in London will lead a four-day course called Understanding Islam from Friday, January 16 to Monday 19.
Dr Hewer has been studying and teaching about Christian-Muslim relations since 1986 and from 1999 to 2005 worked as an adviser on inter-faith relationships to the Bishop of Birmingham.
Dr Hewer also worked at the University of Birmingham’s Centre for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations before beginning work for St Ethelburga’s centre in 2003 and has published a book entitled Understanding Islam.
He said: “The friary course will involve around 18 hours of teaching, taking a look at how Muslims view creation and the world.
“We will also be looking at understanding the prophets of Islam, starting with Abraham and ending with Mohammed, and taking an overview of Muslim history.”
He added: “This is my first visit to the friary.
“I think Islam is an important topic, firstly because we are all citizens of the world these days, but also because it is a faith tradition followed by more than a billion people. I don’t think you can be a truly well-educated human being in this day and age without knowing something about Islam.”
Dr Hewer’s work for St Ethelburga’s Centre is funded by both Christian and Muslim charities.
The programme for the friary course includes sessions entitled Laying The Foundations, which will begin at 11am on Friday, January 16.
On Saturday, attendees will explore Beliefs, Practices And Other Faiths and on Sunday they will engage in a seminar entitled Building A Just Society.
The course will end on Monday, January 19, with a seminar under the title of Britain, Europe And The Future.
Organisers say the course is free to attend but that they are happy to receive donations towards costs.
Organisers added that people will benefit most from attending the whole course but that they can also attend individual sessions as day guests.
Anyone wishing to find out more about the course should contact Sarah Hargreaves at the friary on 01300 341741 or email hilfieldproject@franciscans.org.uk
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