India: Conference on Mother Mary, Christians and Muslims

Prof Rita Tvrtkovic

Lakshmi Menon Bhatia Institute of Dialogue with Cultures and Religions, Loyola College, Chennai and Islamic Studies Association, Delhi organised a webinar on Mother Mary: Christians and Muslims on 24th October 2021. The webinar was presented by Professor Rita George-Tvrtković (Associate Professor of Theology, Benedictine University, Illinois, USA).

Prof Rita George Tvrtkovic in her lecture highlighted the representation of Mother Mary both as a bridge between Christians and Muslims and also a barrier to mutual relations between these two sets of believers. She used various documents ranging from the 5th century Byzantine records to the Spanish Cantigas to illustrate her point.

She also pointed out that in an outburst of missionary zeal, the Dominican scholar like William of Tripoli (d. 1291) in line with Thomas Aquinas believed that faith cannot be imparted to the other in intellectual fencing matches. He affirmed that the points in common to both religions such as 'doctrines on Jesus and Mary' could be used as 'stepping stones' (bridges) for better understanding between Christians and Muslims. William of Tripoli did praise the piety of Muslims and their reverential fear of God despite being critical of Islam in his writings (Treatise on the Saracen State).

Further, Professor Tvrtković pointed out that Mother Mary has been represented as per the various socio political interests and compulsions of those times. The Portuguese in medieval times represented Mother Mary as a barrier for Muslims and as someone who only represented the interests of the Christian Faith. She was also pulled into various Intra religious tussles between the Catholics and other branches of Christianity.

Prof Tvrtkovic then went on to highlight various shared shrines that are dedicated to Mother Mary across the world, where people of multiple beliefs gather in Faith. These range from shrines in Syria, Lebanon to India and show how uniting is her holy Presence. The works of the French Catholic Scholar of Islam, Louis Massignon who coined the term "Abrahamic Faith" in the late 1950's once again throws light on Mother Mary's role as a bridge between the Christians and the Muslims.

This enlightening presentation was followed by a discussion moderated by Fr Mary Arul Raja. The 50 odd participants from all across the world share their thoughts and views and raised some important questions. The discussions ranged from queries about why God couldn't be known by a similar name across traditions, to how Shared shrines could be used as a starting point as dialogue spaces and what can be the associated risks as well as opportunities for the same. It was also shared as to how the Sufi understanding of Islam can help one bridge the gaps in the understanding regarding Mary and Jesus and the two faiths.

The Session was moderated by Professor Mary Arul Raja SJ, the director of IDCR, Chennai. The Session began with Sanskrit Prayers dedicated to the Divine Feminine in the form of Goddess Saraswati & Goddess Gouri from the ancient Vedic Tradition and ended with a vote of thanks by Joseph Victor Edwin SJ, secretary of Islamic Studies Association.