The Christian-Muslim Studies Center (CMSC) is an institute of higher learning, accepting graduate students from various fields of study, with a preference given to the Arts and Social Sciences. Two years of study at the Center are required to obtain an M.A. in Christian-Muslim Studies, at the end of which each student writes a thesis.
The center was founded in 1995 upon the recommendation of around thirty scholars in the field of Christian-Muslim studies who came from the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. They held two major conferences at Balamand, studied the university and its broader environment, and recommended the founding of the Center to link the Arab world with similar institutions in the West. Since then, 47 students have enrolled in its academic program. The Center has held numerous conferences and seminars, and has published seventeen works.
Vision: Inspired by the tradition of the Antiochian Christian Orthodox Church in promoting the welfare of humanity and its highest values, the University is committed to principles of tolerance, compassion, openness, and Christian-Muslim understanding. The University also seeks to limit the influence of dogmatism and fundamentalism in intellectual, social, political, religious, and cultural fields. The University believes in responsible freedom, in the role of reason in uncovering the truths, and in the celebration of human existence under God.
The University of Balamand feels it is uniquely positioned to promote Christian-Muslim mutual understanding through its Center for Christian-Muslim Studies. It builds on the tradition of learning and dialogue between the Antiochian Orthodox Church and Islam dating back to the 7th century, emphasizes the common history and shared heritage of Muslims and Christians alike, especially in light of the rising fundamentalism and acts of violence committed in the name of religion, especially after September 11, 2001.
Mission: The Center is a tangible embodiment of the mission statement of the University; it has a strategic role to play in the fight against fundamentalism and extremism, and to respond to the growing prominence assigned to interfaith studies and interreligious dialogue as powerful tools to promote peaceful coexistence. Both the Shaykh Nahyan Center for Arabic Studies and Intercultural Dialogue at the University of Balamand are aligned with these values as well.
Objectives:
