Wednesday, 20 May 2009

Thank God for interreligious dialogue

The German federal state of Hessen is trying to award the Hessian Culture Prize for Interreligious Dialogue to those deemed to have been doing really good work in that field. Two Christians were chosen, a Jew was chosen and an individual representing that other religion that is really beginning to get so much on everybody’s nerves was chosen. But the individual representing the religion that is really beginning to get so much on everybody’s nerves, and who has done such wonders for interreligious dialogue over the years, apparently, declined to accept the prize as it would have meant him having to share a podium with a Jew! Another individual representing that same religion was then chosen, but the two Christians then protested on grounds that this individual has been known to utter negative statements concerning the symbol of the cross. So nobody representing the religion that is really beginning to get so much on everybody’s nerves is receiving one of the prizes this year. Hey ho . . .