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Editorial
The Editors

Jews Christians and Muslims all claim Abraham as "Father" and iii some sense belong to the same family. They share a common faith in God, the same view of the w&rld and the human vocation within it. Close relations between them could be expected. Yet in many pa.-ts of the contemporary world where Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities live alongside each otl:er, relations are distant, marked by ignorance and suspicion, sometimes hostile and even violent. Th-_ unredeemed nature of our world is, starkly revealed by these relations.
The vocation of Abraham, which Jews, Christians and Muslims : nherit, was to know and reveal the ONE God in a world of idol-worshippers. In doing so it was prozr,.ised that "by you all the nations of the world will bless themselves" (Gen. 12:3). Relations between the t r ree Abrahamitic communities should reflect their common faith in the One God, creator and sustainer of all human life. To achieve this is the vocation to which they are called today and which would begin f o create the conditions for the unification of humanity. This is the most compelling demand of our present situation and the only way to save the earth. How can the peoples of Abraham transform their relationships and commit themselves to this sublime vocation?
It is an immense undertaking and is beset with obstacles. Yet it has =)egun. Reports of experiences which are described in this issue of SIDIC reveal small efforts. The pro€;l ess is slow yet real. In Europe these efforts grew out of Jewish/German-Christian reconciliation programmes after the Second World War. They were inspired by the presence of Muslims (Turkish Guest Workers in Germany and settled communities in France and U.K.) but also by the desire to build up a different relationship from that prevailing in the Middle East. Sidic wants to support these initiatives, to encourage them, certain that they will be blessed.
The content of this issue reflects the state of this dialogue. There is no major article setting out the rationale and the source of this dialogue. Not enough progress has yet been made for this. What could be said would be too theoretical. Instead there are some reflections on the basis for this dialogue, on the vision and way of St. Francis in his meeting with the Sultan, reports of various experiences of the recent "trialogue" in Europe, the Middle East and N. America. We hope this will be enough to inspire interest in and efforts to further JCM relations.

At the recent ICCJ Colloquium in Israel "Sharing the Blessing of Abraham in the Promised Land", the President, Prof. Dr. Martin Stohr said:
"We are not here to celebrate sentimental syncretism. On the one hand we are only too aware that God's world is not as God desires it to be. We are on the way, but have not yet reached the end of the route God wants to lead us in honesty and justice. We do know that devotion to that One God binds us all and that Abraham is the father of us all. But we also know that conflicts, experiences of injustice and violence often separate us. Abraham as example and prophet does have a problem with us all. He asks us whether our religious traditions intensify conflicts or can help us to build bridges. The Holy Book of Islam calls Abraham 'forbearing (of faults) and compassionate' (Sura 11.75). Should we be any other?"