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Christian Arab studies (history,
philosophy, theology,
exegesis), Islamology and
Christian-Islamic relations.
He is founder, director or
co-director of a number of
collections, including The
Coptic Encyclopedia.
Father Khalil’s exposition
was impressive by reason
of his clarity and his bold
insistence on certain facts
concerning the present situation,
particularly in
Lebanon. He declared his
intention of dealing with
Christians’ fears, their
hopes and their mission.
He considered that their
vision was often pessimistic;
there were admittedly
reasons for this pessimism
but he considered
them to be often over-estimated.
One reason was
that in recent years the fundamentalists
had been
using the word Islamiyyoun
rather than Muslimoun. He
pointed out that by no
means all Muslim states
were Islamic states and that
Muslim governments
feared political Islam as
much as Christians did. He
also spoke about the
Christian development of
the concept of watan with
equality for all citizens, a
concept generally accepted
now by most Lebanese of
all religions.
After dealing frankly with
the political situation and
remarking that Lebanon
had taken shape as a
Christian-Muslim state,
Father Khalil pointed out
with certain examples that
it was generally the
Christian presence and role
that made Sunnite-Shiite
cooperation a possibility.
The present demographic
trend did not in itself mean
that the situation for
Christians was worsening.
Being a statistical minority
did not necessarily mean
weakness. Minorities were
often the most dynamic
elements of a population,
as was clear from the examples
of the Armenians and
the Jews throughout the
world. As for Lebanese
minorities abroad, Father
Khalil gave the example of
the Lebanese presidents
and ministers in Latin
America, Ralph Nader the
consumers’ champion in
the United States, Hayek of
Swatch (Swiss Watch), and
the many Lebanese with
high positions in the economy
of the countries of the
Gulf. In particular, he
observed that, although the
Lebanese presence in
Montreal, Canada, was
only fifteen years old,
Lebanese foods were competing
everywhere in the
supermarkets and not
merely in Lebanese ethnic
grocery stores.
However, Father Khalil
wondered at the lessened
dynamism of Christians in
Lebanon at present. He
recalled the statement of
the Catholic Patriarchs in
1992, quoting Our Lord’s
words in St. Luke’s Gospel,
“Do not be afraid, little
flock”; they had pointed
out that the Church was
not to be measured in
numbers but in sense of
mission. Insisting on the
need for quality and setting
the example in respect for
the law, he said that this
had made the Christians
indispensable at the time of
the Abassids and enabled
them to influence the
whole of society in the
more recent Nahda period.
If they worked for
Christians only, they
would be the object of
envy, whereas, when they
worked hand in hand with
others for the good of the
country, frank and friendly
mutual criticism was still
possible. If competition
between Christians were
eliminated and replaced by
a sense of complementarity,
then an obstacle would
be removed, and it would
be easier to apply this sense
of complementarity in relations
with Muslims.
Christians should endeavour
to be the best in every
field in order to serve all
others better. Competition
should be in the fight
against corruption and
immorality, with more concern
for Lebanon as a country
for all.
Father Khalil concluded;
“Hope depends on us, not
on the Arabs, America,
France or the Vatican, but
on ourselves and the spirit
of Christ.”
After the applause that followed
the termination of
the talk, the floor was
thrown open to questions
and remarks from the audience.
Notably, Archbishop
Khodr wished to lay
emphasis on Christians living
in Christ more than on
their merely intellectual or
professional quality. While
not disagreeing, Father
Khalil did however feel
that the Gospel strengthened
him not only in his
spiritual life.
After the formal closure of
the conference, there was
still lengthy discussion
between members of the
audience around the
refreshment table, as they
had clearly found the occasion
a most stimulating
one. N
10 NNU SPIRIT