Building Bridges Of Understanding In A Divided World

On Saturday the 28th March our minister Rev Gayle Taylor was invited to attend the Annual Peace Symposium in Edinburgh hosted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Gayle was invited by Dr Abdul Hayee who is the Regional President and who worships in the Dunfermline Muslim Community now based at the James Allen Community Centre. Over 200 people were in attendance representing all the faith communities, charities and public sector offices in the East of Scotland. A panel made up of former Moderator of the Church of Scotland The Very Rev Sally Foster Fulton, Archbishop Leo Cushley from the Roman Catholic Church, the leader of the Edinburgh Interfaith Society, MP’s and MSP’s and leaders from the Muslim community made up the panel who lead a Q and A discussion.

The main focus was the Israel- Palestine Crisis and the urgent need for peace. The message, as Muslims finished Ramadan and Christians approached Holy Week and Easter, that the Holy Land is still so troubled and humanity more divided than ever. The keynote speaker, Mr Fareed Ahmad, National Secretary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community explained that although the Quran has a prophecy about another world war – a prophecy is not a predication, it can be averted if we all work together for peace. One poignant question was about first steps, what to do straight away. This lead nicely into a meal together with wonderful hospitality shown and many conversations and deeper connections made in the room.

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