1. Home
  2. Slideshows
  3. In times of divisive politics, these interfaith leaders show us how to get along

In times of divisive politics, these interfaith leaders show us how to get along

Published December 2nd, 2016 - 02:57 GMT

Xenophobia seems to be everywhere these days: Brexit in the UK, Trump is headed to the White House, and too many countries in the Middle East are embroiled in sectarian conflict. Jordan, home to a sizeable Christian population, and which plays host to millions of refugees, has its points of tension - and the needle swings both ways on this - but for the most part, the tiny Kingdom shows the rest of the world how to get along. And luckily, Jordan isn’t the only place this is happening. In the spirit of Christmas and the New Year approaching, here are some of the best examples of tolerance and unity.

View as a slider
View as a list
In 2015, The Prophet’s birthday (PBUH) and Christmas fell on the same day, and both Christian and Muslim religious leaders congratulated one another on the holiday.

In 2015, The Prophet’s birthday (PBUH) and Christmas fell on the same day, and both Christian and Muslim religious leaders congratulated one another on the holiday.

The Restaurant of Mercy, which was inaugurated by Caritas Jordan and the Latin Archdiocese in December 2015, served free Ramadan iftars and regularly doles out free meals to the underprivileged in Amman. “This is an initiative to emphasise our faith in humanity, overlooking borders and terrorism,” said Dana Shahin of Caritas Jordan.

The Restaurant of Mercy, which was inaugurated by Caritas Jordan and the Latin Archdiocese in December 2015, served free Ramadan iftars and regularly doles out free meals to the underprivileged in Amman. “This is an initiative to emphasise our faith in humanity, overlooking borders and terrorism,” said Dana Shahin of Caritas Jordan.

This Orthodox church in Mafraq opened its doors to help Syrian refugees living in the community. Though their congregation is made up mostly of Jordanians, the priest decided to start educational programs to help all the kids in the town - whether Muslim or Christian - keep up with their education.

This Orthodox church in Mafraq opened its doors to help Syrian refugees living in the community. Though their congregation is made up mostly of Jordanians, the priest decided to start educational programs to help all the kids in the town - whether Muslim or Christian - keep up with their education.

Since Daesh took control over Mosul two years ago, many Iraqi Christians fled the city and came to Jordan, where they’ve taken refuge in Assyrian, Catholic, and Orthodox churches. The churches often work in conjunction with NGOs to provide food, clothing, and other necessities to the families.

Since Daesh took control over Mosul two years ago, many Iraqi Christians fled the city and came to Jordan, where they’ve taken refuge in Assyrian, Catholic, and Orthodox churches. The churches often work in conjunction with NGOs to provide food, clothing, and other necessities to the families.

Earlier this year, Pope Francis met with the grand imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, after a long break in relations between the two institutions. Al-Azhar previously broke off relations with the Vatican to protest comments made by then-Pope Benedict XVI.

Earlier this year, Pope Francis met with the grand imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, after a long break in relations between the two institutions. Al-Azhar previously broke off relations with the Vatican to protest comments made by then-Pope Benedict XVI.

Pope Francis himself has been a leader in showing the rest of us how to accept one another and to comfort the afflicted. Francis has visited refugees throughout Europe and held a ceremony blessing refugees - Muslims and Christians alike. He also personally brought 12 refugees - all of them Muslim - back to Italy with him.

Pope Francis himself has been a leader in showing the rest of us how to accept one another and to comfort the afflicted. Francis has visited refugees throughout Europe and held a ceremony blessing refugees - Muslims and Christians alike. He also personally brought 12 refugees - all of them Muslim - back to Italy with him.

In April, King Abdullah of Jordan issued a royal decree for restoration work to Christ’s tomb in Jerusalem. The action was commended by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, emphasizing the Jordanian royal family’s “unique historic role in the preservation of both Christian and Muslim Holy Sites in Jerusalem and the Occupied Territories.I

In April, King Abdullah of Jordan issued a royal decree for restoration work to Christ’s tomb in Jerusalem. The action was commended by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, emphasizing the Jordanian royal family’s “unique historic role in the preservation of both Christian and Muslim Holy Sites in Jerusalem and the Occupied Territories.I

Nezam Neema, a Jordanian Christian artist, made a replica of the Dome of the Rock on top of his house in Amman. “There should be values of tolerance, mercy, affection and respect among us and I do not differentiate between a Jordanian, a Palestinian or a Syrian,” Neema said.

Nezam Neema, a Jordanian Christian artist, made a replica of the Dome of the Rock on top of his house in Amman. “There should be values of tolerance, mercy, affection and respect among us and I do not differentiate between a Jordanian, a Palestinian or a Syrian,” Neema said.

In 2015, The Prophet’s birthday (PBUH) and Christmas fell on the same day, and both Christian and Muslim religious leaders congratulated one another on the holiday.
The Restaurant of Mercy, which was inaugurated by Caritas Jordan and the Latin Archdiocese in December 2015, served free Ramadan iftars and regularly doles out free meals to the underprivileged in Amman. “This is an initiative to emphasise our faith in humanity, overlooking borders and terrorism,” said Dana Shahin of Caritas Jordan.
This Orthodox church in Mafraq opened its doors to help Syrian refugees living in the community. Though their congregation is made up mostly of Jordanians, the priest decided to start educational programs to help all the kids in the town - whether Muslim or Christian - keep up with their education.
Since Daesh took control over Mosul two years ago, many Iraqi Christians fled the city and came to Jordan, where they’ve taken refuge in Assyrian, Catholic, and Orthodox churches. The churches often work in conjunction with NGOs to provide food, clothing, and other necessities to the families.
Earlier this year, Pope Francis met with the grand imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, after a long break in relations between the two institutions. Al-Azhar previously broke off relations with the Vatican to protest comments made by then-Pope Benedict XVI.
Pope Francis himself has been a leader in showing the rest of us how to accept one another and to comfort the afflicted. Francis has visited refugees throughout Europe and held a ceremony blessing refugees - Muslims and Christians alike. He also personally brought 12 refugees - all of them Muslim - back to Italy with him.
In April, King Abdullah of Jordan issued a royal decree for restoration work to Christ’s tomb in Jerusalem. The action was commended by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, emphasizing the Jordanian royal family’s “unique historic role in the preservation of both Christian and Muslim Holy Sites in Jerusalem and the Occupied Territories.I
Nezam Neema, a Jordanian Christian artist, made a replica of the Dome of the Rock on top of his house in Amman. “There should be values of tolerance, mercy, affection and respect among us and I do not differentiate between a Jordanian, a Palestinian or a Syrian,” Neema said.
In 2015, The Prophet’s birthday (PBUH) and Christmas fell on the same day, and both Christian and Muslim religious leaders congratulated one another on the holiday.
In 2015, The Prophet’s birthday (PBUH) and Christmas fell on the same day, and both Christian and Muslim religious leaders congratulated one another on the holiday.
The Restaurant of Mercy, which was inaugurated by Caritas Jordan and the Latin Archdiocese in December 2015, served free Ramadan iftars and regularly doles out free meals to the underprivileged in Amman. “This is an initiative to emphasise our faith in humanity, overlooking borders and terrorism,” said Dana Shahin of Caritas Jordan.
The Restaurant of Mercy, which was inaugurated by Caritas Jordan and the Latin Archdiocese in December 2015, served free Ramadan iftars and regularly doles out free meals to the underprivileged in Amman. “This is an initiative to emphasise our faith in humanity, overlooking borders and terrorism,” said Dana Shahin of Caritas Jordan.
This Orthodox church in Mafraq opened its doors to help Syrian refugees living in the community. Though their congregation is made up mostly of Jordanians, the priest decided to start educational programs to help all the kids in the town - whether Muslim or Christian - keep up with their education.
This Orthodox church in Mafraq opened its doors to help Syrian refugees living in the community. Though their congregation is made up mostly of Jordanians, the priest decided to start educational programs to help all the kids in the town - whether Muslim or Christian - keep up with their education.
Since Daesh took control over Mosul two years ago, many Iraqi Christians fled the city and came to Jordan, where they’ve taken refuge in Assyrian, Catholic, and Orthodox churches. The churches often work in conjunction with NGOs to provide food, clothing, and other necessities to the families.
Since Daesh took control over Mosul two years ago, many Iraqi Christians fled the city and came to Jordan, where they’ve taken refuge in Assyrian, Catholic, and Orthodox churches. The churches often work in conjunction with NGOs to provide food, clothing, and other necessities to the families.
Earlier this year, Pope Francis met with the grand imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, after a long break in relations between the two institutions. Al-Azhar previously broke off relations with the Vatican to protest comments made by then-Pope Benedict XVI.
Earlier this year, Pope Francis met with the grand imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, after a long break in relations between the two institutions. Al-Azhar previously broke off relations with the Vatican to protest comments made by then-Pope Benedict XVI.
Pope Francis himself has been a leader in showing the rest of us how to accept one another and to comfort the afflicted. Francis has visited refugees throughout Europe and held a ceremony blessing refugees - Muslims and Christians alike. He also personally brought 12 refugees - all of them Muslim - back to Italy with him.
Pope Francis himself has been a leader in showing the rest of us how to accept one another and to comfort the afflicted. Francis has visited refugees throughout Europe and held a ceremony blessing refugees - Muslims and Christians alike. He also personally brought 12 refugees - all of them Muslim - back to Italy with him.
In April, King Abdullah of Jordan issued a royal decree for restoration work to Christ’s tomb in Jerusalem. The action was commended by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, emphasizing the Jordanian royal family’s “unique historic role in the preservation of both Christian and Muslim Holy Sites in Jerusalem and the Occupied Territories.I
In April, King Abdullah of Jordan issued a royal decree for restoration work to Christ’s tomb in Jerusalem. The action was commended by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, emphasizing the Jordanian royal family’s “unique historic role in the preservation of both Christian and Muslim Holy Sites in Jerusalem and the Occupied Territories.I
Nezam Neema, a Jordanian Christian artist, made a replica of the Dome of the Rock on top of his house in Amman. “There should be values of tolerance, mercy, affection and respect among us and I do not differentiate between a Jordanian, a Palestinian or a Syrian,” Neema said.
Nezam Neema, a Jordanian Christian artist, made a replica of the Dome of the Rock on top of his house in Amman. “There should be values of tolerance, mercy, affection and respect among us and I do not differentiate between a Jordanian, a Palestinian or a Syrian,” Neema said.

You may also like

Subscribe

Sign up to our newsletter for exclusive updates and enhanced content
Subscribe Now
Loading content ...