The theme of this year's Christian-Islamic Conference on Pentecost from May 17 - 20, 2024 was "Overcoming powerlessness, acting powerfully".
In line with Martin Buber's saying, "All real life is encounter," almost 40 people came together for three full days, listened to lectures, worked creatively together, discussed, and met personally, artistically, humanly, intellectually, spiritually, and religiously.
Their diversity was extraordinary: the people had roots in Germany - West and East -, Afghanistan, Iran, North Africa, Russia and others. They were Christian, Muslim, Jewish, humanist and atheist. Together with long-standing participants, great young professionals and students joined in, as well as other committed and interested people who were there for the first time.
In addition to social science, media science and religious contributions, there were also plenty of practical examples. Among other things, the participants heard about the "Afghan Gandhi" Abdul Ghaffar Khan, an advocate of non-violence and friend of Mahatma Gandhi; a clinic project for the needy; the work of the Integration Council; biography work and much more.
For the second time, Haus Ohrbeck provided a beautiful, warm and professional home for the event. - This conference has been held in Georgsmarienhütte since 2023.
Since this three-day meeting was founded in 1988 in the Hedwig Dransfeld House in Bendorf/Rhine, it has been held annually, interrupted only once by the Covid pandemic, for many years in Bendorf and after the closure of the Hedwig Dransfeld House in various houses.
A 29-year-old participant said: "I particularly enjoyed the morning and evening prayers, the dances and meditations in the afternoon and the stirring musical performances. These moments were real highlights for me. - The insightful dialogs and presentations left a lasting impression on me. It was a privilege to have meaningful conversations with such warm and kind-hearted people during the conference."
One speaker wrote after the conference: "Thank you and all of you for the invitation and the wonderful time. I have not attended such a nice seminar for many years. Both the speakers and the participants were very friendly, interesting, interested, committed and credible. Just people of good will."
The Christian-Islamic Conference on Pentecost was financially supported by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland on the basis of a decision by the German Bundestag as part of the German Islam Conference and “Do you know who I am?” - The project of the three major religions for peaceful coexistence in Germany.
For further information on the event, please see the flyer below.
