Dialogue and Alliance Interfaith Circle 33rd Francophone Scriptural Reasoning

The main face-to-face meeting was held at the Espace Barrault in Paris, with Zoom connections from several countries, including Belgium, Canada, Congo, France, Haiti, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Nigeria, Peru, Portugal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sao Tome, Senegal, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States.

The meeting was moderated by Ms Soraya Ayouch, a member of the Dialogue and Alliance sponsorship committee.

The first reading was from a Buddhist perspective. It was the very first speech given by the Buddha to his five ascetic companions. It was commented on by Mr Jean-André GALEYRAND, on behalf of the Venerable Michel THAO CHAN, founding president of the Cercle de Réflexion des Nations.

As a short cultural break, we then listened to “Environné de calme et de puissance”, a sung version of the poem written to his fiancée for Christmas 1944 by the Lutheran pastor Dietrich BONHOEFFER, when he was imprisoned for his resistance to the Nazis. It was performed by Tanya MONNIER.

The second reading provided a Christian perspective. It was John 14:27, and was commented on by Monsignor NICOLAS, Orthodox Patriarch of the Nations, Paris.

The third reading brought a Muslim perspective. It was verses 7 to 13 of the XIII Sura of the Koran (The Thunder). It was recited by Cheick Saad EL GHAMIDI from Saudi Arabia, then commented on by Dr Mouslim FIDAHOUSSEN, an Islamologist.

The meeting ended with a question-and-answer session and some remarks by Mr Jean-François MOULINET, coordinator of the Dialogue and Alliance circle, who announced that the next meeting would be held on Sunday 4 February on the theme of “World Interfaith Harmony Week” and “International Human Brotherhood Day”.