The monumental steps are leading to the Greek-Roman Temple of Artemis (CE 150), Jerash, Jordan.

Who are we ?

 

Non-Profit-Association OUVERTURES a.s.b.l. 

The aim of the association, founded by Annelie Löhr-Campion, is to promote the interreligious and intercultural dialogue by advocating tolerance and peace.
 It will also be entitled to pursue its social goals by promoting concerts, artistic events, exhibitions and meetings, by organizing conferences and by supporting the publication and distribution of printed, audio, and video books all over the world.
                                                               October 18th 1996, Brussels, Belgium

 

Introduction

In response to the challenges arising in today’s world, which is marked as much by violence, the fear of others, misunderstanding, mutual distrust and the rise of intolerance and incomprehension as it is by the will to cooperate and understand each other, we, practising believers or simple followers of the monotheistic religions of the Book and the other spiritual traditions represented in Malta, basing ourselves upon certain areas of convergence in our respective spiritual heritages, consider it more urgent than ever to develop and deepen the inter-faith dialogue so as to consolidate peace, mutual understanding, forgiveness and reconciliation.
This dialogue, far from ignoring the differences between our respective spiritual heritages, enables us, on the contrary, to discover those differences, to become better acquainted with one another and to enrich one another. Its effect is not to cause each individual to blend into the others, but rather to reinforce his or her convictions: it is not aimed at a merging of spiritual identities nor at developing some form of syncretism, nor again at providing a platform for proselytism, but it stands for openness, respect and recognition of the possibilities of living together in a pluralistic context.
UNESCO, Malta Declaration, June 1997 quote.

Concept

1. To discover the others by meeting them, and by giving the example of openness to dialogue and solidarity.
2. To create a dynamic process of mutual understanding that will contribute to peace, tolerance and respect for differences.
3. To touch the conscience in the moments of introspection offered by eminent representatives of the speech, music, and sacred art, and to share the inspiration conveyed by the great traditions.
   
   

The Objectives:

Education for future generations to create pedagogical tools and to introduce appropriate lessons that introduce young people, especially those who live in a multicultural and multi-religious environment to dialogue, openness to the other and mutual respect.

Human Duties and Rights

3300 years ago we received the « Ten Commandments » or what we may call in our language today:

The Universal Declaration of Human Duties.

On December 10 1948 in Paris, at the General Assembly of the United Nations, Monsieur René Cassin, the representative of France and editor of the Chart, together with Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt read in front of more than 58 nations: the Universal Declaration of Human RIGHTS.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

His friend, Monsieur André Chouraqui, professor and writer, present at the declaration, still likes to tell how much Mr. Cassin liked to compare this Declaration to the Decalogue.
These two texts, separated by more than thirty-three centuries, both appear in history at the end of particularly troubled periods.
The Decalogue is bound up with the Torah, the Gospel and the Koran to remove all barriers of ignorance and hatred and to consider the Human being, be it Christian, Muslim or Jew, specifically responsible for calling entirely contained in the Decalogue.

The spirit of the Ten Commandments contains a general code of Universal Ethics inclusive of all realities of heaven and earth, and of humanity in all its forms.

The Ten Commandments open the doors of Utopia. Nowadays the supreme condition for our very survival, they carry with them a Universal Declaration of Human DUTIES, with an aim to build the Universe and to reconcile Man with the Human.

« Les Dix Commandements aujourd'hui », The Ten Commandements today, André Chouraqui
Editions Robert Laffont, 2000, Paris, quote, translated from French.

Conclusion :

« There will be no peace in the world without peace between religions, but there will be no peace among religions without the awakening of the consciousness of every one of us... » 

Prof. Dr. Hans Küng, Foundation for a Global Ethic, 1990

Non Profit Association Ouvertures a.s.b.l., Annelie Löhr-Campion, Belgium ouverturesforpeace.eu

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