A Vision for Peace
in the
Religion’s answer to “The Clash of
Civilizations”
5_19_2002
All
initiatives for the Middle East are failing because there is no real vision -
on neither side.
Therefore I
want to introduce to you the project of a New Temple in Jerusalem - as a symbol
of unity among the three religions of the area.
I hope very
much that you will appreciate this project.
At the
moment the idea may sound completely utopian, but in the process of realization
it will prove itself to be the main motor of developing world peace.
My vision
is like this:
As everyone
knows the New Temple cannot be built on the location the old one was, because
that space is already taken by Muslim sanctuaries.
Therefore,
in my picture, a platform of the size needed by the New Temple will have to be
built high above the area, maybe three hundred meters above the Dome of the
Rock. The Dome of the Rock architecturally will have to be mirrored above, and
exactly the space of the mirror image will have to be used as the new Inner
Sanctum of the New Temple, because that spot is witness to the origin of all
three religions in the surrender of Abraham. That’s why it also was the exact
location of the ascension of the prophet Mohammed to the heavens and therefore
it is sacred to the Muslims. So that architectural part would be a
manifestation and official recognition of Islam as a religion according to the
will of god. For that reason that part of the construction would have to be
designed by an Islamic architect – maybe according to the traditional image
found on most Islamic praying carpets of “the lamp in the niche”.
On the
ground that space is taken by the Dome of The Rock which is a very atypical mosque,
because it is a memorial site and its architecture not accidentally is
following the model of the Holy Sepulcher, which at the same time is the church
of resurrection. And so the Christians will also be present in that inner sanctum. They will be
the axis, just as they picture Christ to be the axis of the world.
The rest of
the conception of the New Temple on this “flying carpet” of course would be a
purely Jewish concern. They might use the measurements of the Temple of Salomon
– with the exception of the position and the outer design of the inner sanctum.
That will be the Jewish tribute towards the unity of all religions and toward
fulfilling their new role as Gods Own People, their tribute to the world and to
the times.
The Christians
will pay their tribute by recognizing Islam and Judaism as equally valid. And
also the Muslims will pay their tribute by recognizing, that the Christian or
the Jewish way are in no respect less valid than the Islamic way.
And all
three of them will pay one further tribute by recognizing the fact, that the
dialogue of god with his creation never has been perfected by any revelation of
the past; it still is present and will continue through all times; and that
dialogue always will be the essence of all religion.
To my
person:
Born in
Austria 1944, I am a Catholic theologian and psychotherapist, have lived in the
US more than four years, and in Egypt nearly one year; I know all the major
religions quite well through personal experience of their practices; from
working in psychiatry I also know very well the possibilities of getting caught
in any kind of mental trap – as I see all of the Middle East parties being
trapped in a confrontation with no vision nor any access to a higher
perspective. The spirit of our times provides the vision – I just presented it.