Muslim-Orthodox Relations in Russia: Contextual Readings of A Common Word
Abstract
The publication in 2007 of A Common Word between Us and You (ACW) was an unprecedented instance of outreach by Muslim leaders to Christianity on a global scale. The website dedicated to it contains hundreds of related materials, including over 70 responses from Christian leaders and scholars. The response by Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II was a significant contribution to the discussion, which set a precedent in the Muslim-Orthodox relationship by introducing a theological reflection on biblical texts that was applied to the Russian context. While neither ACW nor Alexy claimed that their assessments were exhaustive, their substantive insights and observations may well encourage future collaborative studies and dialogue on the founding texts and core values of both traditions. This chapter first examines Muslim-Orthodox relations in Russia today, then studies the use of biblical texts in the two documents. After an overview of other Orthodox responses to ACW, it concludes with a reflection on the significance of this exchange for future Muslim-Orthodox dialogue.
Keywords
Religious Community Religious Identity Muslim Community Traditional Religion Biblical TextPreview
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Notes
- 1.For the results of the 2012 sociological survey and mapping of religious adherents in Russia based on self-identification, see: “Apexa. Aтлac peπигий и нaциoxaπьнocтeй Poccии..” Πpoeκт cπyж6ьτ Cpeдa—http://sreda.org/arena (accessed April 21, 2013). The 2010 Census had estimated the ethnic Muslim population of Russia at 16 million. See Alexey Malashenko, “The Dynamics of Russian Islam” (Muslim Migrants in Russia), February 1, 2013—www.carnegie.ru/2013/02/01/dynamics-of-russian-islam/f890# (April 21, 2013). On the main Muslim institutions: the Central Spiritual Board of Muslims in Russia led by Sheikh ul-Islam Talgat Tadzhuddin; the Council of Muftis of Russia under Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin; the Spiritual Board of Muslims of the Asian Part of Russia led by Sheikh Nafigulla Ashirov; the Coordination Center for Muslims in the Northern Caucasus under Mufti Ismail Berdiev; and the Muslim Spiritual Board of the Republic of Tatarstan led by Mufti Gusman Iskhakov, see Alicja Cecylia Curanovie, “Relations between the Orthodox Church and Islam in the Russian Federation,” Journal of Church and State 52:3 (2010), 507.Google Scholar
- 3.James W. Warhola, “Religion and Politics under the Putin Administration: Accommodation and Confrontation within ‘Managed Pluralism,’” Journal of Church and State 49 (Winter 2007), 79.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 6.Alexander Verkhovsky, “Public Interactions between Orthodox Christian and Muslim Organisations at the Federal Level in Russia Today,” Religiou, State & Society 36:4 (December 2008), 385.Google Scholar