Praise for Templeton Prize Winner King Abdullah

Wednesday June 27 2018

^{King Abdullah II of Jordan. Picture: World Economic Forum, CC BY-SA 2.0}

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has welcomed the decision to award the Templeton Prize to King Abdullah II of Jordan.

The prize, initiated by the late Sir John Templeton, honours a living person who has made an exceptional contribution to affirming life’s spiritual dimension, whether through insight, discovery, or action.

The Rt Rev Susan Brown said the decision highlights the importance of the King’s work to support mutually respectful relationships between Muslims and people of other faiths.

“I’m so pleased that King Abdullah has been awarded the 2018 Templeton Prize,” she said.

“This is a wonderful recognition of the time, energy and enthusiasm he has dedicated to interfaith relations, which is increasingly important to all of us in our multi-faith world.

“Through his scholarship, his example and his writings, King Abdullah has highlighted what people of different faiths have in common—a shared love for God and their neighbour.”

The official announcement from the Templeton Prize judges states that King Abdullah ‘has done more to seek religious harmony within Islam and between Islam and other religions than any other living political leader’ and ‘has led a reclamation of Islam’s moderate theological narrative from the distortions of radicalism’.

It adds: “But these efforts have come with great personal cost including condemnation and death threats from radical terrorist groups. As a result of Jordan’s key geographical location, his efforts have required extraordinary courage to advance cooperation within Islam and between Islam and other religions.”

Since 1972, the Templeton Prize has sought to identify 'entrepreneurs of the spirit' - outstanding individuals who have devoted their talents to expanding our vision of human purpose and ultimate reality.

Previous recipients include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, the 14th Dalai Lama, Billy Graham, Mother Teresa and a former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Very Rev Dr Thomas Torrance.

Mrs Brown’s predecessor, the Very Rev Dr Derek Browning, met King Abdullah during his tour of the Middle East in January. Dr Browning lauded the King's endeavours to bring peace and stability to the region and to consolidate the language of dialogue and tolerance and his efforts to safeguard Jerusalem's holy sites, and added Jordan is a model of moderation and peaceful co-existence.

Comments

There are currently no comments on this post

Add a reply

All fields are required. Email address will not be published.