Iranian top cleric met with representative of Baptist Church from Georgia condemning the heinous moves by extremist Christian or Muslim groups.

Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Hashem Husseini Bushehri, manager of Iranian Seminaries held a meeting with Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili from the Baptist Church in Georgia saying if the multi-billion population of the world followed their religious guidelines, then certainly the present world would be a world without war, looting and bloodshed, reported Taqrib News Agency (TNA).

He noted that Shia view is that the closer ties between religious leaders, the more peace is guaranteed for the world.

Manager of seminaries in Iran referred to Qur’an verses on cooperation among different religions and stressed,” Although there are difference between different religions, they share many commonalities, the first and most important of them is spirituality.”

He expressed regret over extremist moves made against Islam by some ignorant western people and demanded Christian leaders to condemn the heinous deed.

Member of the Assembly of Experts in Iran’s Parliament highlighted the efforts to boost unity among different Islamic denominations and said; “However we are looking forward for a promising horizon and that is trying to strengthen solidarity among different divine religions.”

Iranian scholar highlighted positive results of stressing commonalities and closeness between religions and counted prevention of violence and bloodshed as one of them.

He also reiterated the importance of learning in Islam referring to a number of 120’000 Iranian and 10’000 international students studying theology and Islamic courses in seminaries.

Georgian bishop in this meeting underlined learning and transcending knowledge as the way which rescues man.

He said our visit to this center is to prove our enthusiasm for change and closeness between Islam and Christianity.

Iran’s Ayatollah Bushehri reiterated enthusiasm for prevalence of monotheism in the world, promotion of moral virtues, prevalence of global peace and security, establishment of justice and also confrontation with oppression and superstition as the common grounds for further cooperation between Islam and Christianity.

HK