Christian leaders have welcomed Thursday's letter from 138 Islamic scholars calling for peace and understanding between Islam and Christianity.

|PIC1|As reported yesterday in Christian Today, the letter to various world Christian leaders, saw Muslim scholars from around the world say that finding common ground between the world's largest religions was not simply a matter for polite dialogue between religious leaders.

In a statement released by the Evangelical Alliance, which represents more than a million evangelical Christians in the UK, it stated, "The letter rightly draws attention to the fact that love of God and love of neighbour are central to the Quran and the Bible. Any approach that is seeking to draw different religions into dialogue for the purpose of peace must be encouraged."

The statement continued: "There is a real challenge to both faiths to counter extremism and those who would pursue the path of violence. If this letter can help in that fight, then we are grateful for it."

In the letter by Muslim scholars, which was sent to Roman Catholic head Pope Benedict as well as Anglican head Dr Rowan Williams among others, it said: "If Muslims and Christians are not at peace, the world cannot be at peace. With the terrible weaponry of the modern world; with Muslims and Christians intertwined everywhere as never before, no side can unilaterally win a conflict between more than half of the world's inhabitants.

"Our common future is at stake. The very survival of the world itself is perhaps at stake."

The letter was also addressed to World Council of Churches head Dr Samuel Kobia, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeos I and other Orthodox church leaders, as well as leaders of world groupings of Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist and Reformed Christians.

In a response to the letter, the Archbishop of Canterbury said, "The call to respect, peace and goodwill should now be taken up by Christians and Muslims at all levels and in all countries."

|PIC2| Using quotations from the Bible and the Koran to support their message, the scholars told people who relished conflict and destruction that "our very eternal souls are ... at stake if we fail to sincerely make every effort to make peace and come together in harmony".

"So let our differences not cause hatred and strife between us. Let us vie with each other only in righteousness and good works.

"Let us respect each other, be fair, just and kind to (one) another and live in sincere peace, harmony and mutual goodwill," the scholars wrote.

The letter was signed by Muslim scholars from around the world, including Algerian Religious Affairs Minister Bouabdellah Ghlamallah and the Grand Mufti of Egypt Ali Gomaa.

Responding to the letter, the Evangelical Alliance praised the call for peace and understanding, but also acknowledged the differences between the two faith groups. The EA statement said: "As the letter also acknowledges, genuine and important differences between the two faiths remain.

"Neither Christianity, nor Islam, is built on an abstract notion of love or faith. Rather, Christianity is built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ, the God who became flesh and lived among us."

Joel Edwards, General Director of the EA said, "I welcome any movement from the Islamic world that is directed at peaceful engagement between faiths.

"All major faiths need to look back in their history and recognise that we all have a moral and spiritual responsibility to ensure that our philosophical convictions are not used to support acts of extremism.

"It's a daunting and urgent task which cannot be done unilaterally by any faith, and it must also be done with a mutual respect and tolerance."

He concluded, "This liberates Christians to express and to share our faith about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus who stands at the centre of our faith and calls us to serve the world indiscriminately through acts of love and kindness."