Foundation for Interreligious and Intercultural Research and Dialogue (FIIRD)
Encyclopedia
The Foundation for Interreligious and Intercultural Research and Dialogue (FIIRD) was founded in 1999, sponsored by the Levant Foundation with the University of Geneva
in Switzerland to pursue its scholarly and humanistic goals with the main objective of fostering understanding of the three monotheistic religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism. The main program of the FIIRD is to enhance knowledge and the critical examination of the wellsprings of each religious tradition and then to acquire the linguistic and strategic tools needed to study the normative scriptures of these religions without syncretism or proselytism.
Another goal of the FIIRD, strongly supported by the Levant Foundation, was to create a post-doctoral program at the University of Geneva
in the field of interreligious and intercultural dialogue whereby several Fellows, each possessing a PhD in theology, philosophy, history or other humanities and dedicated to further their knowledge and understanding of the monotheistic religions, participate in approved research and publish their results all done with the goal of searching for peace between the major Religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
University of Geneva
The University of Geneva is a public research university located in Geneva, Switzerland.It was founded in 1559 by John Calvin, as a theological seminary and law school. It remained focused on theology until the 17th century, when it became a center for Enlightenment scholarship. In 1873, it...
in Switzerland to pursue its scholarly and humanistic goals with the main objective of fostering understanding of the three monotheistic religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism. The main program of the FIIRD is to enhance knowledge and the critical examination of the wellsprings of each religious tradition and then to acquire the linguistic and strategic tools needed to study the normative scriptures of these religions without syncretism or proselytism.
Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees currently includes- His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal, of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
- His Excellency Archbishop Michael L. Fitzgerald, Apostolic Nuncio in Egypt (who replaced Foundation co-founder and Trustee, His Eminence Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, now His Holiness Pope Benedict XVIPope Benedict XVIBenedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
) - Chief RabbiChief RabbiChief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
Rene-Samuel Sirat, former Chief Rabbi of France - Mr. Sayyed Jawad Al-Khoei, Imam Al-Khoei Benevolent FoundationImam Al-Khoei Benevolent FoundationThe Imam Al-Khoei Benevolent Foundation is an organization created by Abul-Qassim Khoei, a Grand Ayatollah that was considered as his times premiere leader of Shias across the world. It is an international, religious, charitable institution...
- His Eminence Emmanuel Adamakis, Metropolitan of France, Liaison Office of the Orthodox Church to the European Union
- Maitre Michel Halperin, Lawyer, Member of the Grand Conseil de la Republique et Canton de Geneve and its President in 2006
- His Eminence Professor Damaskinos PapandreouDamaskinos PapandreouDamaskinos Papandreou is Greek name and surname that may refer to three different Orthodox Hierarches:* Archbishop Damaskinos of Athens , was the Head of the Church of Greece as Archbishop of Athens and All Greece and the Prime Minister of Greece * Damaskinos Papandreou , was the Hierarch of the...
, former Metropolitan of Switzerland and Director of the Orthodox Center of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (Chambes/Geneva) - Mr. Jamal Daniel, also FIIRD co-founder, current Vice President, and Trustee.
Projects and Goals
In 2006 the FIIRD published a boxed set of the three Holy Books, the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament and the Holy Qur'an.Another goal of the FIIRD, strongly supported by the Levant Foundation, was to create a post-doctoral program at the University of Geneva
University of Geneva
The University of Geneva is a public research university located in Geneva, Switzerland.It was founded in 1559 by John Calvin, as a theological seminary and law school. It remained focused on theology until the 17th century, when it became a center for Enlightenment scholarship. In 1873, it...
in the field of interreligious and intercultural dialogue whereby several Fellows, each possessing a PhD in theology, philosophy, history or other humanities and dedicated to further their knowledge and understanding of the monotheistic religions, participate in approved research and publish their results all done with the goal of searching for peace between the major Religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
External links
- "Prince Hassan launches new foundation for inter-religious, inter-cultural research", Jordan Times, Tuesday, May 4, 1999
- Prince El Hassan's webpage for the Foundation for Intercultural and Interfaith Research and Dialogue
- The Levant Foundations page for the FIIRD
- Pope Benedict XVI's address to the Foundation for Interreligious and Intercultural Research and Dialogue, 1 February 2007
- FIIRD Academic Fellows announced for 2011/2012