Posted on 05/05/2006 8:35:26 AM PDT by Dark Skies
LONDON - Prince Charles on Thursday officially opened London's most unlikely new landmark - a large Bedouin tent that will be used to promote peace and reconciliation.
Created of out goat hair, the structure stands in the garden of the former St. Ethelburga's Church which was destroyed by an Irish Republican Army bomb in 1993.
The church reopened as a center for peace and reconcilication in 2002 and the tent - built in Saudi Arabia and designed to withstand London's regular rain showers - will be used for events promoting interfaith dialogue.
Addressing leaders from nine faiths, Charles on Thursday argued for greater understanding between the faiths.
"We are all trying to explain the nature of mystery and in a sense it is almost impossible to explain, he said.
"If only we could understand each other's groupings to understand the mystery, not try to overdo the way in which we decide that we know everything, we might perhaps reduce the level of conflict and violence and misunderstanding."
The opening received messages of support from international figures including the Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former U.S. President Bill Clinton and rock star Bono.
Academic Keith Critchlow designed the tent according to the tenets of geometry, algebra and astrology rather than on traditional religious lines.
It is carpeted with rugs woven in conflict zones.
A tent was chosen because it is associated with the nomadic origins of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
St. Ethelburga's attracts up to 5,000 visitors a year from conflict areas as far apart as Northern Ireland and Tibet.
Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Zoroastrians, Sikhs and members of the Baha'i faith were represented at Thursday's ceremony.
In his message, Clinton praised the center.
"As the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 in my country and the devastating attack on the church at this site so painfully demonstrated, there are still those who place their difference above our common humanity, who prefer to demonise people who are unlike them rather than learn from one another," he said.
Daniel 11:37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
Things that make a person go, hmmmmm.
Nothing would surprise me about Toronto. The vibrant mix of multi-cultures- as per the Toronto Star.
I knew Trudeau had gone to the Middle East. I hastily GOOGLED the names and found that he did indeed meet Colonel Moammar Gaddaffi. I found it hard to confirm about the dance in the tent, but would guess that is where Pierre lightly tripped.
I remember that some well known person - either in the entertainment world, or other had a birthday party. It was a two million dollar job in North Africa. Many of the beautiful people were flown there. This was about 15 years ago.
Elizabeth Taylor went. Oh oh, the lovely lady dwelt on the line ups for the porta potties. Said she was not impressed. At least she saw the whole desert moonlight, sheiks and sand dunes, in a different context.
He's already on record as saying that upon accession he would most likely change his title from "Defender of the Faith" to "Defender of the Faiths."
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