Interfaith meeting told mistrust risks violence

By Tom Heneghan, Religion Editor

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut (Reuters) - Christians and Muslims mistrust each other so much that a few terrorist attacks could trigger dramatic and violent religious tensions, a Jordanian prince told an interfaith conference on Tuesday.

Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal, sponsor of a Muslim appeal to Christian leaders to work together for peace, said the two religions must work together or face possible violence that risks turning into genocide.

The warning was a stark reminder to the 150 participants, theologians and faith leaders who came to discuss common views on love of God and neighbour, of the dangerous potential religion can have when intertwined with political conflicts.

"Christians and Muslims routinely mistrust, disrespect and dislike each other, if not popularly and actively rubbish, dehumanize, demonize, despise and attack each other," said Ghazi, a special adviser to Jordan's King Abdullah.

A recent global survey showed that 60 percent of Christians disliked Muslims and 30 percent of Muslims reciprocate, he said. "With such an explosive mix, popular religious conflicts, even unto genocide, are lurking around the corner," he said.

"God forbid, a few more terrorist attacks, a few more national security emergencies, a few more demagogues, a few more national protection laws, and then internment camps, if not concentration camps, are not inconceivable in some places."

Participants at the conference, the first of several due to bring Islamic and Christian leaders together in coming months, said Ghazi's warning sounded stark to an American audience but reflected fears often heard in the Middle East.

"The fears are real," said Scott Alexander, an Islamic studies professor at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.