Rula Samain, The Jordan Times

AMMAN — Terrorism is not an Arab or Islamic product; rather, it is affiliated with fringe groups present around the world and can only be countered by spreading a peaceful culture to heal its root cause, according to the Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies (RIIFS).

In his opening speech at the Love and Forgiveness conference, Michel Hamarneh, RIIFS’ outgoing director, said the harm and psychological effect terrorism causes in society cannot be faced with advanced weapons, but by spreading the culture of love and forgiveness.

“The centre focuses on spreading the human and ethical values shared by Abrahamic religions which [call for] accepting and respecting the other. These values are needed especially in these times where chaos and confusion dominate our world,” Hamarneh noted.

The two-day conference, which concluded Tuesday, was organised by  RIIFS in cooperation with the nonprofit organisation Salam Institute for Peace and Justice (SIPJ).

HRH Prince Hassan, chairman of RIIFS’ board of trustees, attended the second day of the conference and commented on the papers presented during its sessions.

Interfaith dialogue, he said, takes place between people rather than texts, adding that religion is too important to be only left to the men and women of religion.

“I believe in human virtue and not in virtual reality. I believe in human dignity,” the prince noted.

He called for activating dialogue between the various Islamic schools, noting that mosques and churches should interact with people and understand their aspirations and desires in order to exercise good governance.

Mohammed Abu-Nimer, SIPJ president and founder, said the Arab World is in transition and that through proper educational systems, societies will start to reject terrorism and build peace and stability.

During the meeting, participants from the US, Lebanon, Egypt, Sudan, Palestine and Jordan shared their personal stories that reflect love and forgiveness.

Mary Johnson, founder of the From Death to Life organisation, recounted how she was able to forgive the person who murdered her son.

She said reconciliation and forgiveness start with oneself.

“When you pray for someone else, you start to look at him differently,” Johnson added.

Alison Crowther said she founded the Red Bandana Project upon the death of her firefighter son in the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York in order to help others in pain “without looking at their religion, race, or colour”.

She noted that extremists impacted her family members’ lives and at first it was difficult to deal with the pain.

“But in order to move forward, we must understand that we are one human family connected to help each other,” Crowther added.

Also speaking at the conference, Awqaf Minister Hayel Daoud said religions are established on love and forgiveness, and those who do not practise such values have no relation to religion.

Catholic Bishop of Jordan Maroun Lahham told The Jordan Times that to forgive and love is not a weakness, and it is not an easy process.

“Love is a healing process aimed to restore social order, completed by forgiveness,” Lahham said.