Ruth Gledhill says that Pope Benedict's Regensburg speech was "ill starred." How predictable. On the contrary, it is BECAUSE of Regensburg and the Pope's condemnation of violence in the name of God and his assertion that faith and reason go hand in hand that has compelled these Muslim scholars to seek dialogue. Regensburg is bearing fruit.

True dialogue though cannot be limited to acknowledging what it is we have in common but must also embrace and respect what it is that separates us.

Clavis, London,

This is another crafty form of Christian Terrorism:

"When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said, 'Let us pray.' We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land." -- Desmond Tutu

stanzler, ny, usa

I admire the attempt to reconcile, but how can Muslims call for dialog with Christians before they have called for dialog with their own ultra-extremist sects. Only once they start condeming Muslim radicalism can they start to talk about having dialog with Christians.

Joe Ewing, Colchester, VT/USA

Mohammed:

1. Because such actions occur in more or less declared wars they at least provide the minimal advantage to survival of being expected, such that potential victims can take steps to safeguard life and limb. This, even if arguably still wrong, remains far more humane than the insidious and despicable action of the 9-11 suicide hijackers and your other psychopathic "martyrs".

2. Your comment assumes that westerners (military or otherwise) relate to the Islamic world through the lens of religion. This is patently false. Western culture, including its relations with the Ummah, shook off its religious categories with the enlightenment over two humdred years ago. The Islamic world, stuck as it is in the seventh century just doesn't get this.

Think: Is Bush advancing Christianity by aiding the establishment of an Iraq governed by a Shariah-based constitution? And who is killing the most muslims there? Other Muslims.

The Ummah is talking about peace? Amazing!

Thomas, Edmonton, Canada

Dana:

Christian contention to be the true faith may strike you as arrogant but you'd be VERY hard-pressed indeed to find a Christian today who would kill you for taking issue with this. But try publicly taking issue with Islam in any Islamic country and see what happens.

As for your theory about the origins of Islamic violence against the West, you overlook the destruction of Latin Christianity in North Africa, the subjugation of Spain (850 years), of Sicily (200 years), the inland raids and occupations of European cities in the 8th and 9th centuries, and the centuries of abductions and enslavements of millions of peasants from coastal European villages, a piracy that persisted until the destruction of the Barbary coast pirates in 1805 by an American naval force.

Western imperialism didn't get underway until the 16th century. A convenient pretext for Jihad warriors to invoke in justifying their violence against the west today, but a hypocritical canard nonetheless.

Thomas, Edmonton, Canada

Sorry, Dana. I forgot to mention the long Jihad against India that led to the establishment of the Mogul Empire in the Middle Ages, to say nothing of Jihad violence in India today (and Thailand, the Phllipines, etc.).

Thomas, Edmonton, Canada

I'm a peacemaker and Jesus said, You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family. Matthew 5:9 (The Message).
As a follower of Jesus, I welcome this letter. I do want to read it in order to understand what they offer.
We must enter into this discussion with our eyes open, but we must also avoid the cynicism that permeates our culture.
This letter is better than no letter. The glass is half full!

Wolfgang Fernandez, Colorado Springs, CO

If anyone extends his hand in peace....let's shake on it....let's not point the finger to this & that.....there's enough hatered spread aound to cause us a lifetime of misery.

Marie Bishara, Bethlehem, citizen of the world

Ruth Gledhill says that Pope Benedict's Regensburg speech was "ill starred." How predictable. On the contrary, it is BECAUSE of Regensburg and the Pope's condemnation of violence in the name of God and his assertion that faith and reason go hand in hand that has compelled these Muslim scholars to seek dialogue. Regensburg is bearing fruit.

Clavis, London,

It's hard to take seriously any of this comment, including Ruth's, without reading the letter. Please provide soonest

Peter, Geneva,

I'm afraid the problem is Religion . Whichever religion it is , they want to tell followers what they should do . In which case thinking people are insulted and non thinking people are irrelevant .
Passionate religion has proven itself to be just another form of prejudice .
When everybody lives by " do unto others .... " the world will be a better place , and anybody who is not prepared to do so should be ashamed of themselves .
Allelujah ( Leonard Cohen - Now there's someone who we should listen to ) .

Neil Roberts, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, UK

Humanity is represented as the unity in relationship between man and woman. This coming together allows us to be creative in a very beautiful sense...It gives us the power to have children, to love, to bear for each other, and to grow. Still, by this definition a man is wholly HUMAN, and, and a woman is wholly HUMAN likewise.

The same with the Christian ideal of God. God is an appellation just as humanity is. In the case of the God of Christianity there is a creative relationship between three persons. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Just as in the case of humanity, the case for God is the same. Jesus is God, The Father is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. They are no less God...but in unity God is the creator, and each of the three persons relates with the other 2 and with creation.

The muslim god is a poor reflection on humanity.
Its oneness is not only simplistic but it is alien and detrimental to relationship and what it means to be truly human.

Steiner, Benevento,

Prior to any discourse with Christians i feel islamic intellectualism needs to silence Al Queda and the brotherhood of islam. I can only assume all the moslem signaturies to this letter will sooner or later have death sentences passed on them for being un-islamic by these facists. I fear Wahabism will destroy true islam before any Christians like me can benefit from any dialogue.

lex, Brisbane,

I must say that as a Neo-Pagan it is hilarious to me to see Christians claiming left and right to have more tolerance than Islam does. See, unlike at least some of you, I've read some of the Qur'an. It really does say that there is to be no compulsion in religion. The Bible also says that conversion can only happen as a result of the influence of the Holy Spirit, but that hasn't stopped Christians from turning their faith into state religion (Hello UK!), from destroying indigenous religions on the grounds that tribal people are "savages," from torturing and murdering people under the pretense of saving their souls, or from removing the children of alternative faiths from their homes. May I remind anyone reading this that Islam is a young faith and that the interference of the West in Muslim countries is at least partly to blame for the present intolerance. In short, get that beam outta your eye.

Dana Seilhan, Columbus, Ohio, United States

Aaand, where do Christians get off criticizing Islam for saying it's the only true faith when CHRISTIANITY SAYS EXACTLY THE SAME THING? Wow, keep ignoring that beam in your eye and you might lose your eyesight--unless it's already happened?

Dana Seilhan, Columbus, Ohio, United States

Had the muslims believed in the true oneness of God, then they would not have death as the punishment for a muslim converting to another religion in pursuit of finding that God. Elementary logic !

mohan, london, uk

"modern day Christians don't do beheadings" -- Jan F

No, they use laser guided missiles with a pinch of cluster bombs.

(bet this wont be printed)

Mohammed, London, UK

Oh dear, dear me ~ Ruth, please don't imply that His Holiness was the wrongdoer for daring to "quote any more 14th century Byzantine emperors". Did his quote reveal any untruths? NO!

To help determine the direction that this 'one way street' of intolerance is about to go ~ let's have a head count. Islamic beheadings of infidels: many hundreds if not thousands. Christian fundamentalist beheadings? None. Unlike the religion of peace, modern day Christians don't do beheadings.

Churches/mosques. The number of mosques in Christian countries: Thousands, more are being built each day. The number of Christian churches in Islamic countries: getting less each day! Lebanese Christians are being persecuted NOW!

Explain to me, slowly this time to make sure I understand.. tell me how intolerant His Holiness will be if he dares suggest that hatred and intolerance emanates from only one side of this religious debate... (Note: hatred and intolerance ain't coming from the Christian camp....)

Jan F, Cumbria, UK

If lamic scholars truly desire religous reconciliaton, they must first eschew the teachings of the koran which require world domination under Islam. This they will never do. Taken in this light, their current ploy must be taken as just that.

daniel berkowitz, lakewood, new jersey

"Well meaning" ? Some Muslims say they want "reconciliation"
apparently on their terms, including pointing out to Christians how they are in error in various ways, and dictating how this can be put right. I think their desire for "reconciliation" would rapidly vanish if a similar proposal were put to them by Christians displaying a similar arrogance.

The Muslim Faith itself makes it quite clear that every other belief is simply wrong, and any discussion can only be for the purpose of conversion. Hard for the modern breed of faithless, cringing Christian ministers to conceive of, never mind understand.

Who indeed doesn't want 'world peace' as long as they get their own way. Did the Soviet Union not want 'world peace', to be universal once everyone was under Communism ?

L Stewart, Spalding, Lincolnshire

You'll be interested to note this open letter written by the Vatican to Muslims on 28 September on the start of Ramadan:
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/interelg/documents/rc_pc_interelg_doc_20070928_ramadan2007_en.html

Hilton Leslie, KIngston-upon-Thames,

Omar, you do realize that most of the people who have died in Iraq and Palestine in the past year or so have been killed by feuding Arab groups, NOT the US or Israel, right?

Al-Qaeda in Iraq has killed more Muslims in four years than Israel has in 60 years.

N, New York, NY

How about a letter compelling Sunni and Shite Muslims to stop killing each other? Get that worked out first, then come to Christians with a proposal. One would assume, although there is at present no empirical evidence to support the assumption, that two splinter Muslim groups would have a better chance to agree to peaceful co-existence than Muslims and Christians. Certainly, they should have greater motivation, since they are killing one another at a rate which far exceeds any Christian/Muslim conflict. Unless and until Islam can sort out its own house, these kinds of heavy handed overtures should be disregarded.

Geoffrey Anger, London,

The world is in danger from Muslim extremists and their avowed aim to rule the world including Muslim states. This ideology is being taught in Mosques. Until the Mulsims themselves rise against these cowardly terrorists and stop the brain washing no amount of letters will make any difference. We are constantly reminded that true Muslims are against acts of terror. Let us see some action.

norman hall, leiston, suffolk

Omar:

In fact, you are incorrect. Muslims are killing each other a far greater rate--not to mention the numbers of Christians and Jews they are killing as well. You also mistake what the USA and Isreal are doing--defending themselves, and Democracy--for what Muslims are doing--unvarnished terrorism.

Michael Hunsberger, Newcastle,

maybe the writer should post her own veiws more and less of what mr nazir ali has to say.

zahra, pakistan,

Have just come over from reading the Guardian's Comment is Free pages - one of the posters recommended the votage, and I am very glad she did. Thanl you Ruth(if I may) for a concise, well-expressed piece ewhich says it all - and thabnkas also to
Dr Nazir-Ali for being that rare beast, a respected Anglican clergyman.

Edwin Moore, Glasgow, UK

Mr. Nashashibi,

More Muslims are being killed in Iraq, not by the US, not by the British or Australians, but by other Muslims. More Muslims are killed by AQIZ thugs blowing up VBIEDs in crowded Markets and are killed by JAM Death Squads targeting Sunnis. So no, you are quite incorrect, most of the lamentable bloodshed in Iraq is on Muslim hands.

James, Fairbanks, Alaska/USA

Mr frederick vaquer

Sadly your comment "that Muslims are killing and attacking one another " is true enough.
Hopefully you are equally aware that much more, many more , incomparably more Moslems were, and are being, killed daily by the USA and Israel in Iraq and Palestine!

Omar I. Nashashibi, Amman, Jordan

It is a fact that Muslims are killing and attacking one another much more often than members of any other religion are killing or attacking them-if they were to stop killing each other it might mean that they were developing a greater respect for and tolerance of divergent views-such a development might greatly contribute to the possibility of world peace

frederick vaquer, pasadena, ca/usa-