"Understanding between religions is an essential condition for ensuring peace in the contemporary world". So said Louise Gramstrup, researcher at programs of study Religious at the University of Edinburgh (Scotland), at the framework of the international congress 'Abrahamic religions and interreligious relations in the past and present'. The activity was organized by the project 'Religion and Civil Society' of the Institute for Culture and Society of the University of Navarra.

"In an increasingly global world, where people of different religious traditions and cultures interact on a daily basis, interfaith understanding becomes even more relevant," he said, as it "can combat stereotypes, prejudices and unfounded fears of others and thereby break down barriers so that peaceful relations between people of different religious traditions can be ensured."

Louise Gramstrup said that while such understanding "may be an ambitious task," she believes it is certainly possible: "It begins by providing spaces at meeting for people of different religious traditions, including those who do not belong to any. In them, understanding can flourish as long as all participants are willing to listen to each other and share their thoughts."

Understanding and respecting differences

The expert from the University of Edinburgh pointed out that, precisely, interfaith initiatives at the micro level - individual or based on group- "can help build strong communities and connect people who are close to each other". In that sense, he stressed that in that context, in which the other is known in a way staff "very strong interfaith relationships are formed, which is crucial especially when fear of the other on religious grounds is prevalent."

He added that in encounters at this level, "people belonging to different religious traditions can become each other's religious allies," which contributes to strengthening harmony in the communities. 

"Usually, when people participate in an interfaith meeting , they discover the extent to which they share fundamental values, despite belonging to different religious traditions. The similarities provide a basis for really trying to understand and respect differences," he concluded.

Louise Gramstrup holds degrees in Religious Studies from the University of Edinburgh ( programs of study ) and Women's Studies from the University of Oxford (UK) ( programs of study ). She is currently completing her doctorate in Edinburgh. In her research activity she focuses on the processes of similarities and differences in the framework of the interfaith American women's group 'Daughters ofAbraham', located in Boston. Specifically, she analyzes the influence of such processes on individual understandings of the religious facet of self and other. Her specific interests of research focus on interfaith relations, Abrahamic religions, and religion and gender.

Louise Gramstrup was among more than 30 researchers from universities in 18 countries who discussed interfaith dialogue between Christianity, Islam and Judaism at framework of congress 'Abrahamic Religions and Interfaith Relations in the Past and Present'.

The participants, specialists in fields such as social sciences, history, Philosophy and Humanities, presented research that sought to shed light on how to achieve greater understanding between the Abrahamic religions.

Keynote speakers included Monawar Hussain, Muslim Imam and advisor at the Hospitals NHS Trust of the University of Oxford (UK); Carlos Eire, Professor of Religious History and programs of study at Yale University (USA); James Conroy, Professor of Religious and Philosophical Studies at the University of Glasgow (UK) and Professor of Religious and Philosophical Studies; and Tania ap Siôn, Deputy Director of St. Mary's University (UK).); James Conroy, Vice President of internationalization at the University of Glasgow (UK) and Professor of Education Religion and Philosophy; and Tania ap Siôn, Deputy Director of research center St. Mary's in Wales and Research Fellow at the research Religion Unit and Education at the University of Warwick (UK).