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)