Northern Ireland and Islam

I've just come back from 24 hours in Northern Ireland, speaking about Islam and relating to other faiths. Having been through George Best airport, I needed no excuse to use this iconic photo for the post (iconic because of the Wedding Present album cover rather than any Man Utd allegiance!). I was last in Northern Ireland visiting as a student 20 years ago and the peace process has visibly brought transformation to the city. It really was a privilege to be there with wonderful hospitality and open and inquiring minds endeavouring to explore what it might mean to follow Christ in the burgeoning plurality of the province. It was interesting to hear more than one person reflect that, for evangelical Christians, the encounter with other faiths might be the catalyst for a genuine embrace of the brother and the sister that holds to a catholic Christian faith. I suspect we may in turn have much to learn from the ongoing process of reconciliation in Northern Ireland for the church generally in the west as it seeks to be an agent of peace and transformation, with integrity, with Muslims.