God's Word to the World

A lecture given by Professor Daniel Madigan SJ at the 2006 Adelaide College of Divinity and Flinders University Annual Public Lecture in Theology on 'God's Word to the World: Jesus and the Qur'ân, Incarnation and Recitation' in July last year raised such strong interest in the community, with over two hundred and fifty people attending, that the venue for the event had to be moved. In his lecture, Professor Madigan argued that we should give Christian-Muslim relations a privileged place in attempting to develop a contemporary theology. He told listeners that in developing this relationship we should focus on the parallels between the roles played by Jesus in Christianity and the Qur’ân in Islam. In their faith, Christians are people of the Word of God, and the Word is incarnate in Jesus Christ. In Muslim faith, God’s eternal Speech is found in the Qur’ân. The common belief in the Word is a starting point for theological dialogue and mutual understanding.

Professor Madigan’s contribution to the Christian world’s understanding of Islam is profound. He is Professor of Islamic Studies and Interreligious Dialogue at the famous Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. Daniel Madigan founded the Gregorian University Institute for the Study of Religions and Cultures, which specialises in dialogue between Christians, Muslims and Jews.