In today’s context of a continuing Islamophobia in the West, where tensions between Christians and Muslims can run high, Chandler proposes a fresh approach to building respect and friendship between the two faiths by focusing on their commonalities. Chandler, who has spent much of his life within the Islamic world, presents creative thinking in the area of Christian-Muslim relations by exploring how these two historic religions - which share much common heritage, beliefs and practices – can not only co-exist, but also enrich each other.

 

In this presentation, Chandler advocates a practical way forward based on both the Muslim pillars of faith and the teachings of Jesus (whom Muslims also love and respect), encouraging Christians to return their own practices of faith to our Muslim brothers and sisters, albeit in a different manner. Chandler draws on what he has learned from living many years in the Middle East, North Africa and West Africa, and on his experience of the transformative power of art in building bridges of peace.

 

Artwork: The presentation features inspiring artwork by Middle Eastern contemporary artists commissioned for CARAVAN’s peacebuilding exhibitions.