Int'l conference on religion

Int'l conference on religion

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher is
scheduled to open an international conference on Islam-
Christianity relations at Horison Hotel in North Jakarta
Thursday.

Chairperson of the organizing committee, H. Murni Djamal, said
in a statement yesterday that the three-day conference would be
attended by 92 local experts and 35 experts and professors from
18 countries.

Murni said the conference would be aimed at studying the
history of the relationship between Islam and Christianity,
especially in the dimensions of religion and sociopolitical and
socioeconomical affairs.

"The conference is aimed at discussing ways on how to improve
intensive dialog and cooperation between Islam and Christianity,"
Murni said.

Murni said the conference was based on a rationale that the
two prominent religions -- Islam and Christianity -- have many
similarities as universal religions, in which their followers
believe in one God.

"Moreover, the two religions are based on divine revelation
and they also have noble teaching -- building love and justice in
the world," Murni said. (hhr)