Inter-religious and Interdisciplinary Conference in Rome to define ‘Sacred Place’

December 13, 2011: Religious Muslims, Jews and Christians from more than a dozen countries (U.S., Israel, Iran, Ukraine, Turkey, United Kingdom, Italy) will meet in Rome on 14 and 15^th of December, in an unprecedented effort to examine the roots of theological, political and social conflicts concerning the management of sacred sites on which different religions at the same time have rights and authority. The goal of the conference is to reach a shared definition of "sacred place" in order to verify, on a theological legitimacy of the exclusion of members of other religions.
Thousands of people have died and continue to die in the world, from Israel, the Middle East, India in the disputed and often in bloody battles for control and management of these places. The opposition often took the form of events apparently irrational and absurd, as in the case of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, where a scale of 200 years of waiting to be moved from the place where he is, just because there is no agreement on Who has the authority to do so.
The control of the places sacred to religions constitutes a global problem but the comparison can turn on at the same time on one occasion for dialogue between religions aware and open to the possibility, if not peace, at least peaceful coexistence.
Experts from around the world gather in Rome with the goal to give practical solutions to issues in which they often are part of political convenience and emotion. The conference is expected to be intensive and will discuss a wide range of topics: from the concept of "sacred" to its theological significance for different religions, from negotiation to resolve conflicts analysis of successes and failures that occur in the world.
According to Professor Breger "What might be the way to share the sacred space depends largely on the common theological and philosophical meaning of sacred space. If it is holy, how can it be exclusive? If the sacred does not mean exclusivity, then there are possibilities. Rarely discussed the theory and theology on this subject but they have a key role in the process towards a peaceful co-existence. "
The conference is co-sponsored by Rabbi Jack Bemporad, director of the John Paul II Center for Interreligious Dialogue at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, by Professor Cole Durham of Brigham Young University, and Professor Marshall Breger, of the Catholic University of America.
The conference is supported by The International Foundation for Interreligious and Intercultural Education (IFIIE), Italia and Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.