Description:

Spirit and Life Series, Volume 12

The tragic events of September 11, 2001, are but one tumultuous signpost of an ongoing and troubled relationship between Islam and the Western World that has been one of the sad hallmarks of the last century. The Franciscan tradition has a uniquely privileged voice to add to this dialogue. The presence of Francis of Assisi and Illuminato at the siege of Damietta on August 20, 1219, and their encounter with the sultan, al-Kamil, the following September, stands as one of the most evocative images available to contemporary men and women who are striving to find common ground for dialog.In the summer of 2007, fifty-five men and women, most - but not all - members of the Franciscan Family, gathered in Colorado Springs, CO, for the Seventh Franciscan Forum to begin a serious exploration of the questions involved in using this paradigmatic image of Francis and Malik al-Kamil engaged in respectful conversation as a hopeful avenue for the way forward. This book includes the presentations made at this Forum and provide a ray of hope for our troubled and turbulent times.