For years, people
killed each other in the name of religion. Looking backward, you may conclude
that a world with this huge mixture of cultures cannot survive. I, sometimes,
have the same doubts. Lebanon is a country with over than 19 religious sects.
In 1975, we experienced our first civil war, a war mostly based on religious
conflicts, and until now, Lebanon is still fighting hard to survive.
Should we lost faith?
Should we retreat and claim surrender? Should we consider a mixed culture
country as a dream?
If you think so, you
have to read this.
In Berlin, a rabbi, an
imam and a pastor have a unique dream: to build a common place of worship for
Christians, Jews and Muslims. Called the "House of the One," this
place is open to everyone. It would be a place where the faithful of the three
monotheistic religions can practice their faith together.
The architecture of
this plan should reflect the great message “Respect the particularity of each
religion, while promoting mutual recognition.” The house of one will be
composed of a single large room, divided into three equal spaces: the mosque,
church and synagogue. Each space will be designed to match the needs and
particularities of each religion. This project is the first of it is kind and
it shows that religions could coexist without having to fight.
Respecting others and
accepting the difference between us are things we failed to do for years. Let
us take Lebanon as an example. Although we live within the same borders, Christians and Muslims do not really live together. We live in adjacent cities
maybe streets creating culture borders that prohibit us from building a one
united country. I am not sure that a “Lebanese house of God” would fix our
eternal problems, however it might be a step in a journey of thousand miles.
Praying in the same place will help people from different background to meet,
chat and build human relationships. It will shorten the distance between them
and make them used to coexistence.
All around the world,
Religious conflicts have been killing people, leaving them homeless and shaping their
live by fear. The difference in ethnicity and race would become a great
treasure instead of being a great problem if we accept each other. “The house
of one” is a beautiful and peaceful idea, and I wish the world would take
lessons from the three men who were behind it.
Rihab
