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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Philosophic Conceptualities of the Self in Messianism / Mahdism Dialogue Or Conversion? an Examination of Christian-muslim Eschatological Texts and Their Potential Impact On Interfaith Dialogue As the world continues to divide along the lines of faith and religion, interfaith dialogue has emerged as a legitimate and powerful tool for peacemaking across the boundaries of culture and belief.

This is especially true for followers of the three Abrahamic traditions who have the potential to realize geo-political and cross-cultural reconciliation through this type of engagement. But viewed through the prism of the eschatological texts of Twelver Shi'ism and Christianity, does interfaith dialogue serve a valid and useful purpose?

If, as both traditions claim, the return of the Redeemer signals a period of bloodshed and conversion to "the one true faith" before peace occurs, does interfaith dialogue play a legitimate role in peacemaking? Or, does the moral imperative of converting "the other" as outlined in the sacred texts of both traditions supersede the significance of this peacemaking approach?

The role of religion in international conflict The events of September 11th, the war and sectarian violence in Iraq, Islamaphobia in the West, and the ongoing discord in the Holy Land have underscored the significant role that faith and religion play in the world's most intractable conflicts. Central to our understanding of these and other struggles are the relationships that exist between and among followers of the three Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Each tradition brings its own doctrinal and geo-political issues to this triad and each must be understood within the context of its association to the other to appreciate fully past and present clashes. As followers of each faith have assumed a position of religious and cultural supremacy through the ages, the relationships have been characterized by periods of peaceful co-existence juxtaposed with periods of bloody warfare.

Today, the ongoing discord in Holy Land and the mounting tensions between Islam and the West underscore the need for a reevaluation of these relationships as Jews, Christians, and Muslims encounter each other with increasing frequency and intimacy.