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ABC News
26-06-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
If we can think together, maybe we can live together: What the history of philosophy can teach us about inter-religious harmony - ABC Religion & Ethics
Over the last two weeks, long simmering hostilities between Israel and Iran flared, with the United States deciding to join the fray. In Syria, a recent suicide bombing targeting Christians at prayer in the Greek Orthodox Church of Mar Elias in Damascus killed 25 people and wounded 63 others. Ever since 7 October 2023, antisemitism and Islamophobia have both been on the rise in Australia. The painful paradox behind these global and local upheavals is that the communities in question — Jews, Muslims and Christians — all see themselves as inheritors of a common biblical tradition, centred on the figure of Abraham. As conflict escalates abroad and social cohesion fractures at home, the challenge of inter-religious harmony is as urgent as ever. Is there any hope of harmony between the three Abrahamic faiths? We hope so, and we think there is a surprising and neglected resource to draw on — the history of philosophy. There is an extraordinary record of shared philosophical inquiry among the three Abrahamic traditions. It begins with philosophers like Philo of Alexandria (a Jew), Gregory of Nyssa (a Christian) and al-Kindi (a Muslim), and it cascades through the Middle Ages with some of the finest minds in human history — such as Maimonides (known to Jews as Rambam and to Muslims as Musa Ibn Maymun), Avicenna (Ibn Sina, from present day Iran) and Thomas Aquinas. Brilliant women like Hildegard of Bingen and Christine de Pizan are part of the story too. The Abrahamic philosophical traditions explore the deepest questions that the three faiths ask — which are also some of the deepest questions any of us ask: What is the meaning of my life? What makes for a good society? How do we find truth? What is the nature of the divine? The three traditions were in continual conversation with each other around these questions. Over centuries, Jews, Muslims and Christians found themselves debating, writing and living alongside each other — with their scriptures in one hand, and Plato or Aristotle in the other. Ninth-century Baghdad and twelfth-century Toledo are especially vivid instances. In these cities, networks of Jewish, Christian and Islamic scholars, fluent in multiple languages, wrote, translated, commented on and dispersed philosophical texts in Greek, Syriac, Arabic, Hebrew and Latin, transporting new ideas across the Islamic and Christian worlds. An iconic moment is the collaboration in Toledo between the Jew, Abraham Ibn Daud, and the Christian, Dominicus Gundissalinus, who together translated major works of Islamic philosophy for Latin Christian readers, working out their own distinctive philosophical views along the way. The point of all these cross-tradition conversations wasn't to agree about everything — which would be both impossible and boring. Rather, like fans of opposing football teams who watch the game together and enjoy it more for that reason, the point was a shared project . These Abrahamic thinkers worked together on the project of philosophy, which is itself the project of seeking wisdom ( sophia , ḥokhmah , sapientia , ḥikmah ). They worked on shared questions, and thinking together helped each tradition sharpen its own answers to those questions — finding common ground here, differences there — and in the process they made neighbours of each other, intellectually and literally. Disagreements were many, of course. Indeed, there was as much disagreement within each faith as there was between them — as when Maimonides sides with Avicenna against the Rabbis of the Talmud regarding natural science, or when Aquinas favours Aristotelian Muslim accounts of the soul and body over some Christian alternatives. And we cannot ignore the periods of political and social conflict in this history, particularly the oppression of religious and cultural minorities in both the Christian and Islamic worlds. But the stand-out fact of Abrahamic philosophical history is the degree of intellectual collaboration between the three traditions. We are the directors of the Notre Dame Centre for the History of Philosophy. We are both philosophers — one Jewish, the other Christian. Next week, we are launching a new annual lecture series, The John and Anna Belfer Oration in the History of Jewish Philosophy, in partnership with The Great Synagogue Sydney. It's an initiative we hope to replicate in Sydney's Christian and Muslim communities. The extraordinary history of Abrahamic philosophy inspires our work in the Centre. Our hope is that — maybe, in some modest way — shared philosophical inquiry can once again serve as a bridge between Abrahamic communities. If we can re-learn how to think together, perhaps we can re-learn how to live together. David Bronstein is Co-Director of the Centre for the History of Philosophy, Director of the Institute for Ethics and Society and Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame Australia. He is author of Aristotle on Knowledge and Learning: The Posterior Analytics. Nathan Lyons is Co-Director of the Centre for the History of Philosophy and Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame Australia. He is author of God and Being and Signs in the Dust: A Theory of Natural Culture and Cultural Nature.
Epoch Times
19-05-2025
- Health
- Epoch Times
The 3,000-Year-Old Secret Weapon for Anxiety, Inflammation, and Modern Mayhem
If you've never heard of Boswellia, don't worry, you've definitely sniffed it. Or wafted it. Or had a minor spiritual epiphany while someone burned it at a yoga class that you regretted taking halfway through. Boswellia is the tree behind frankincense, which is surprisingly relevant to your inflamed joints, anxious brain, or slightly dodgy bowel. This squat little tree is found in dry, dramatic places like Oman, Ethiopia, and Somalia. The tree oozes a resin when cut, like sap. People have been scraping, sniffing, and slathering this stuff on everything from bruises to bad moods for thousands of years. And I do mean everything. The ancient Egyptians called it the 'tears of Horus' (emotional much?) and used it in embalming and in incense burned during religious rituals. The Greeks burned it in temples. The Romans traded it like it was sandalwood-scented Bitcoin. By the time the Wise Men were loading it onto a camel for a celestial baby shower, Boswellia resin was worth more than gold. Related Stories 4/29/2023 12/25/2022 But here's where it gets juicy. It wasn't just for incense and embalming and vaguely spiritual vibes. Boswellia was medicine. The Original Multitasker According to every historical source who ever wielded a quill or wore a toga, it treated bleeding, bruising, infections, lunacy (their word, not mine), and, if you mixed it with leek juice, internal haemorrhaging, which sounds like a medieval smoothie from a dungeon cookbook. Avicenna, an 11th-century Persian genius, swore Boswellia helped with urinary infections, amnesia, and madness, the three pillars of most hen's weekends. Meanwhile, in India's Ayurvedic tradition, Boswellia was used for arthritis, asthma, ulcers, and presumably general family drama. Chinese medicine slathered it on wounds and used it in potions that make modern pharmaceuticals look lazy. In Ethiopia, it was a tranquilliser. In Kenya, it stopped internal bleeding. Modern Science Being Late as Usual After centuries of writing off anything with a plant in it as 'alternative' or 'a bit hippy,' the lab coats finally caught up. And what they found is that Boswellia is basically a botanical overachiever. Its most famous ingredient is boswellic acid, which sounds terrifying but actually behaves like a tiny anti-inflammatory ninja. It blocks a molecule called 5-lipoxygenase (try saying that while drinking wine), which causes inflammation in things like asthma, arthritis, Crohn's, and that general state of being emotionally crispy. But boswellic acid is the tip of the resin iceberg. There's also incensole acetate, which means it has calming, anti-anxiety, and anti-depressant effects. In mice, at least. (Humans aren't usually asked to run through mazes for cheese, but I'd wager it works on us too, especially the anxious cheese-loving ones.) And yes, it's been tested. Inflammation markers? Down. Joint mobility? Up. Anxiety? Lower. Tumour cells? Confused and retreating. Brain trauma? Better outcomes. In one mouse study, incensole acetate reduced inflammation, soothed brain injury, and generally behaved like a very competent nurse with a divine scent. Which begs the question, why aren't we all bathing in this stuff? Boswellia Has Been Branded as Frankincense Probably because it's been branded as frankincense, which sounds like something your mum bought in the '90s from a shop with wind chimes. But Boswellia, now that has gravitas. And Boswellia's not just in dusty scrolls or vague-smelling candles anymore. It's in capsules, creams, and experimental brain trauma treatments. It's being studied for cancer, asthma, arthritis, anxiety, and irritable bowel, which, when you think about it, covers most of the Western population over 35. Better yet, whole-resin extracts often work better than purified boswellic acid. Translation: the messy, gooey, unfiltered version is more effective than the tidied-up one. And let's not ignore the side hustle: Boswellia is still burned in churches, waved about at High Mass, and sold in boutique apothecaries for sums that make your wallet clench. The Magi Brought Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh So here's the summary, in case you dozed off: Boswellia, AKA frankincense, isn't just for Christmas cards, incense cones, or historical re-enactments. It's a plant-based power player, with thousands of years of street cred, a CV that includes anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant, and possibly anti-everything properties, and a scent that smells like you've finally got your life together. It's spiritual. It's medicinal. It's got a whiff of ancient wisdom and middle-class smugness. So yes, the Magi brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But if they'd been on Instagram, frankincense would have its own grid, three affiliate codes, and a paid partnership with a Jerusalem wellness brand.
The National
04-05-2025
- Health
- The National
Avicenna's legacy is global – so why has the Arab world forgotten him?
His work shaped our understanding of medicine and philosophy, while his books were studied from Spain to India. So why do so many Arab students today have little understanding of who Avicenna was? The question was at the heart of Saturday's panel at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, where the 11th-century polymath, known in Arabic as Ibn Sina, is designated as the Focus Personality of the event. Born in 980 CE and raised in what is now Uzbekistan, Avicenna is heralded as a totemic figure in Islamic philosophy and medicine. He authored the seminal Canon of Medicine – used as a foundational medical text until the 18th century – alongside influential works on astronomy, music and theology. His philosophical treatises – particularly The Book of Healing (Kitab al-Shifa') and The Book of Salvation (Kitab al-Najat), with their focus on logic, metaphysics and the natural sciences – went on to shape the thinking of major medieval western thinkers such as Thomas Aquinas, Maimonides and Descartes. Yet despite these achievements – commemorated through tributes such as the Avicenna Hospital in Paris and Unesco's official recognition – his legacy in the region remains distorted or, at best, a faint echo. 'Avicenna didn't write for Muslims alone. He wrote for all of humanity,' said Muheeb Al Mubaidin, historian and former Jordanian government official. 'And perhaps that's one reason why he continues to be viewed with unease in some parts of the Arab world. He's often seen not as a figure of knowledge and healing, but as someone who strayed from the faith. 'So when I reference The Canon of Medicine or cite his views on music and mental well-being, the reaction isn't always about the content. Often, it's about the fact that I dared to invoke his name at all.' Al Mubaidin pointed to the public backlash that followed a previous government effort to reintroduce philosophy and the arts into Jordanian school curricula – a controversy sparked, in part, by a proposal featuring a passage from Avicenna on the healing power of music. 'I included a quote by Ibn Sina on the therapeutic effects of music in the school curriculum,' he said. 'The response was immediate – someone said, 'So now you're bringing us the one who strayed from the faith?'' For Al Mubaidin, the episode was revealing. 'It made it clear to me that the reaction wasn't really about the music – it was about the man, and the fact that I dared to treat him as a source of insight. It was disappointing, but it showed me the disconnect between his historical stature and how he's viewed today.' It wasn't always this way, according to professor Mustafa Al-Nashar – a distinguished Egyptian philosopher – who noted how Avicenna's work as both physician and philosopher was once widely studied in hospitals and universities from Baghdad to Cordoba. His medical innovations, including his theories of contagion and the importance of quarantine – helped shape both practice and ethics, training generations of doctors and scholars. The rupture, Al-Nashar said, occurred gradually in the centuries that followed, driven by what he described as theological and ideological misunderstandings of Avicenna's work. 'The problem began when some people started saying that philosophy contradicts religion. This is not true. Avicenna believed that reason and revelation complete each other. But when certain ideologies took over education, they removed philosophy – they said it was foreign, even sinful," he said. "In Europe, they taught Avicenna. They studied him for centuries – in Paris, in Italy and in Spain. He shaped how they understood medicine, how they thought about the soul. They built on his work while we forgot his name.' It is partly for this reason that French-Egyptian author Gilbert Sinoue has dedicated parts of his career to bringing Ibn Sina's impact back into view. His most recent book, The Golden Age of Arab Civilisation, highlights Avicenna's contributions alongside other towering figures. It follows 1989's Avicenna: The Road to Isfahan – a fictionalised biography that traces the philosopher's life and legacy. "I've always tried to be a sort of bridge between Avicenna's thought – the Muslim world in general – and the West,' Sinoue said. 'Especially now, when anything that represents 'Muslim' carries a rather dark image in the West. For me, it was both a need and a duty to transmit the humanist and cultural dimension of Avicenna.' Al-Nashar described reclaiming Avicenna's legacy, through the study of philosophy and the arts, as central to the region's cultural and educational advancement. He called it a 'disgrace' that some educational institutions in the Arab world had removed these disciplines entirely. At the same time, he commended the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair for spotlighting Avicenna and praised Fujairah's House of Philosophy for sparking renewed interest. 'It is a disgrace that philosophy was removed from our schools,' Al-Nashar said. 'We are in dire need of it. How can philosophy disappear from our Arab world, especially when we are in such desperate need of clear thinking and vision?" The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is running at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre until Monday
The National
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
What not to miss on the final weekend of Abu Dhabi International Book Fair
The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair ends on Monday. But there are lots of things to attend and get involved in as it draws to a close this weekend. The event, which began on April 26, has been filled with enlightening and thought-provoking sessions. Lots of big names and interesting personalities have been in attendance. There are a few sessions worth attending this weekend, including Ancient Crafts, Modern Vision – The Azza Fahmy Story, in which the pioneering Egyptian designer reflects on her 40-year career. From honing her craft in Cairo's vibrant Khan El Khalili market to building a brand embraced by celebrities and royalty, Fahmy shares the skills and career insights that shaped her journey as one of Egypt's foremost cultural ambassadors. It takes place on Sunday at 6pm. Emirati chef Mohamed Al Banna is taking part in a session titled The Art of Salmon: A Global Journey with an Emirati Touch. It will focus on teaching participants how to prepare salmon with an Emirati influence and takes place on Saturday at 4:30pm. Another one not to miss is The Novel in the Eyes of Cinema and Drama with the chairman of Cedars Art Production, Sadek Sabbah. Moderated by media personality Amer Bin Jassas, the session will explore the film industry's evolution, the challenges faced in production, and the essential partnership between writers and producers. It will also highlight influential works that have shaped Arab drama. It takes place on Sunday at 5pm. A throwback to Cairo's famed book market can be experienced. The Souq Azbakeya is named after a historical western district in the Egyptian capital. Here you can find a range of sellers selling relatively affordable Arabic novels and copies of old Egyptian pop culture magazines. The market was a hit at last year's fair when Egypt was the fair's guest of honour. Authentic posters featuring some of Egypt's most beloved singers are available, priced between Dh20 and Dh50. The book fair's 'Focus Personality' this year is renowned 11th century physician and philosopher Avicenna. In a pavilion dedicated to him and his work, visitors are invited to explore his remarkable life, innovative ideas and the enduring impact of his work on modern science. Discussions are also held to celebrate his work, with the final one taking place on Saturday at 5pm. Titled Avicenna's Legacy: Classical Wisdom in Contemporary Philosophy, the session will be hosted by The National's Saeed Saeed. The fair has a number of stalls selling some of the most important works of literature from the Arab world and beyond. It's also fun to take a chance on books by new writers which may soon become favourites. Peter Harrington Rare Books' original copy of the first screenplay of James Bond film Thunderball, annotated by creator Ian Fleming, is on sale at the event. Refreshment options include a popular stall which serves coffee from Saudi Arabia. Food options are also plentiful, with many visitors gravitating to home-grown businesses and their food lorries for everything from juicy burgers to delectable Mexican tacos.
Al Etihad
27-04-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
From ‘The Golden Koran' to region's first-ever books: Rare, ancient publications on display at ADIBF 2025
27 Apr 2025 23:54 Mays Ibrahim (ABU DHABI)A treasure trove of rare manuscripts and historical prints is captivating visitors at the 34th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF), which runs until May 5 at the ADNEC by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), this year's fair is being held under the theme 'Knowledge Illuminates Our Community'. It celebrates the Culture of the Caribbean Basin as Guest of Honour, with renowned philosopher Ibn Sina (Avicenna) as the Focus Personality, and 'One Thousand and One Nights' as the Book of the the highlights is a collection from Peter Harrington, a leading rare book dealer based in London. Owner Pom Harrington personally curated a selection of invaluable works centred on the Arab world, including a 14th-century original manuscript of Ibn Sina's 'Canon of Medicine' (Canon 5), focusing on pharmacy. 'It's wonderful to have such a piece here, especially with Ibn Sina being honored at the fair,' Harrington told rare items include early Arabic prints produced using the first printing press brought to Egypt by Napoleon in the 1790s, along with one of the earliest French-Arabic dictionaries printed in Cairo in 1798 for Napoleon's troops. Harrington is also displaying a range of original travel and geographic works, including photographs of the Arabian Peninsula and firsthand accounts of women travelers in Palestine during the include a 1499 edition of Colonna's Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, featuring the first Arabic word ever printed in a European book – a testament to early East-West cultural exchanges. Harrington said: 'We're here at the Abu Dhabi Book Fair because Abu Dhabi is the best location to exhibit in the Middle East. [Here,] you get to meet the best museums, the best libraries, and the best collectors in the region in one place.' ADEVA, a leading Austrian publisher specializing in facsimile editions, is offering a glimpse into the art of manuscript preservation. Managing Director Paul Struzl explained that ADEVA meticulously reproduces ancient manuscripts, a process that can take up to a year for a single book. Their showcase includes a facsimile of 'The Golden Koran', written on golden paper, and a rare collection on falconry – a nod to the region's deep-rooted cultural in 1949, ADEVA's mission is to ensure that scholars and future generations can study ancient texts that are otherwise locked away in museum vaults. 'In an increasingly digital world, preserving physical books is more important than ever,' Struzl, whose family has been running the business for three generations, told Aletihad. Struzl lauded the Abu Dhabi fair's organisation, saying: 'I really love coming to Abu Dhabi. It's well-organised, it's a beautiful fair, and the facilities are excellent. It's more or less a tradition for us to be here since 2009.'
