For Immediate Release

July 10, 2008

MADRID CONFERENCE SIGNALS TECTONIC SHIFT

IN CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS, SAYS ATLANTA PROFESSOR

            Dr. James E. Jennings, an Atlanta area professor invited to next week’s Madrid inter-religious conference sponsored by Saudi King Abdullah, said today  “The conference promises to create a tectonic shift in the clash of civilizations between Islam and the West, with a major impact on Washington’s so-called ‘War on Terror’.”   Dr. Jennings is a leading advocate for Muslim-Christian dialogue.

He is President of Conscience International and Executive Director of US Academics for Peace, organizations that conduct humanitarian work and peacemaking conferences in many Muslim countries, including Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Sudan.  US Academics has sponsored major dialogue conferences at universities in Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Sudan, with major events scheduled next year in Jordan, Sudan, and possibly Iran.

 Dr. Jennings is one of only a few Christian specialists on Islamic civilization to be invited from the United States to discuss Muslim-Christian issues.  A number of Jewish rabbis have also been invited.  The conference made news recently when it was revealed that the World Muslim League of Mecca had invited an Israeli Rabbi to attend.

            The conference will be held in Madrid, Spain July 16-18.  It follows a major Muslim summit in Mecca, which was held June 4-6.  Dr. Jennings believes that the Mecca talks between Sunni and Shi’a leaders sponsored by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, even though largely neglected by US media, may be of seminal importance for ending the current military stalemate in Iraq and Afghanistan.

 Jennings said, “Talking is better than fighting, because only by talking can people reach any sort of agreement that is meaningful and lasting.  Our slogan at US Academics for Peace is that ‘Dialogue is essential or conflict is inevitable.’  Obviously, Christians and Muslims need a better understanding of the others’ point of view.”

 But this should not be surprising, Dr. Jennings said.  His invitation from the Saudi Ambassador in Washington, Adel bin Ahmed al-Jubeir, stated that the objective of the Madrid conference is “…to bring together representatives from the three monotheistic faiths…to focus on the universal values handed down to mankind by our Creator….” Similarly, the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League in Mecca wrote Dr. Jennings to say that; “The idea of the gathering is to set out a practical program for an objective global dialogue aimed at building a shared future…and to highlight agreement on values common to all humanity.” 

Spain was chosen as the location for the conference because the country has a Muslim, as well as a Christian, history and has experienced at various times both frightful conflict and long periods of peaceful and exemplary co-existence.

            Dr. Jennings, a Christian, was invited to teach the first course on Islamic Civilization at the first Islamic college in North America, the American Islamic College in Chicago.  He also taught courses on Islam and Islamic Civilization at the University of Akron, Ohio, the University of Tennessee, and at Wheaton College,  Illinois.

            His Ph.D fields included Islamic history and civilization as well as other fields of study, including archeology and Middle East history.  Dr. Jennings was nominated for the King Hussein Humanitarian Prize, and has received awards from a number of countries where he has led humanitarian medical teams.