UNESCO CHAIR For Inter-Religious Dialogue Studies in The Islamic World
Dr. Alaa Shatnan, Director of the UNESCO Chair, partook in the symposium titled “The Genesis and Evolution of Positive Laws in Christianity: An Analytical Study,” convened by the Center for Kufa Studies on Sunday, May 4, 2025. The lecture was delivered by Dr. Fadel Khalaf and moderated by Assistant Lecturer Yahya Matar Mahdi, in the hall of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him).
In his erudite lecture, the speaker delved into the historical emergence and metamorphosis of Christianity—how it initially flourished as a spiritual creed rooted in moral teachings and sermonizing ideals, only to evolve, after the passage of long centuries, into a religion governed by codified ordinances and institutional regulations, sculpted by ecclesiastical authorities across successive eras. The lecture further explored the trajectory of Christianity through the medieval period, highlighting the rise of sects, the doctrinal divergences, the ensuing conflicts, and the intricate entanglement of religion with political power and sovereignty.
In an insightful intervention, Dr. Alaa Shatnan underscored that the Abrahamic faiths bear striking resemblances in their historical unfolding, their phases of doctrinal crystallization, and their perennial tensions with power, extremism, and dogmatism. He observed that no faith tradition has been immune to misinterpretation, zealotry, or internecine strife among its divergent currents. What transpired within the Christian historical narrative, he noted, finds echoes within Islamic history. Yet, despite the manifold schisms and adversities, the essence of the divine religions remains unified in its core message: monotheism, a call to peace, coexistence, love, and a categorical rejection of hatred and fanaticism.
Translated by Razan Al-Sultany
