How a Greek university is supporting Muslims
Can the city of Thessaloniki can find harmony between Abrahamic faiths?
Hi ReligionUnplugged readers,
The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki’s School of Theology is the first Greek university to implement a program on Islamic studies.
Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, has a storied religious history that largely features its role as an early center of Christianity. Greek Orthodox Christianity is the prominent religion throughout the city — and country as a whole — but Muslims have made up a significant part of the population in the past and still exist today.
The faculty of the school believe Islam is just as important to study as the other religions they have programs for, and they also want to offer a space for Muslims to gather in community together.
In today’s top story, contributor Puneet Bsanti explains the city’s religious history, the longstanding tensions between religious groups and how the university hopes to bring harmony.
Bridging the Gap: How a Greek University is Supporting Thessaloniki’s Muslims
Some Muslims, Jews and other religious minorities in Thessaloniki also believe the city has found harmony between Abrahamic faiths in the past and can do so again. And one such olive branch toward religious understanding is taking root at the School of Theology in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, which is the first Greek university to implement an academic program on Islamic studies. by Puneet Bsanti
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