Christian Understanding was founded within the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. in 1993. Its mission is “to build a stronger bridge of understanding between the Muslim world and the West as well as between Islam and Christianity.” In December 2005 the Center received a $20 million donation from HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal of Saudi Arabia. In announcing his gift, HRH Prince Alwaleed stated, “I am pleased to support the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding. It is vital for the monotheistic religions to reach a common ground of understanding and to gain knowledge about what unites our civilizations. We are determined to build a bridge between Islam and Christianity for tolerance that transcends cultural and geographical boundaries.” The Center was renamed the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding (ACMCU). John L. Esposito has served as the Center's Director since 1993. According to Esposito, the ACMCU strives to address “stereotypes of Islam and Muslims and issues and questions such as the clash of civilizations, and the compatibility of Islam and modern life - from democratization and pluralism to the status of women, minorities and human rights - and American foreign policy in the Muslim world.” The ACMCU is recognized for its distinguished faculty and pioneering scholarship. The faculty has written more than 80 books and more than 400 hundred articles. Additionally, John L. Esposito serves as Editor in Chief of “Oxford Islamic Studies Online,” one of the most innovative and comprehensive resources on Islam available today. The ACMCU defines itself as “a dynamic community of resident faculty, scholars, staff and students, engaged in a thoughtful reflection of the religious discourse between Christianity and Islam, articulating the shared identity and rich history of the two faiths.” It welcomes international visitors, resident fellows, scholars and researchers. The eminent religious historian, Karen Armstrong, is a current Visiting Scholar-in-Residence at ACMCU. Other recent visitors to the ACMCU were Catholic theologian Reverend Hans Kung, and University of Michigan Professor Juan Cole, author of “Engaging of the Muslim World” (2009). The ACMCU offers an Undergraduate Certificate program in Muslim-Christian Relations, and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (Islam and Muslim-Christian relations). Founded in 1789, Georgetown University is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit University in the United States. It's long list of distinguished alumni include US President Bill Clinton, King Abdullah II of Jordan, President Gloria M. Arroyo of the Philippines, HRH Prince Turki Bin Faisal Al-Saud (former Saudi Ambassador to the United States, and the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland) and HRH Prince Mohammed Bin Nawwaf Bin Abdul Aziz (Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland). The ACMCU is an important leader in bridging the gulf between Muslims and Christians. This is an urgent international concern and a vital priority for humanity. As the authors of “A Common Word Between Us and You” (2007), declared: “Muslims and Christians together make up well over half of the world's population. Without peace and justice between these two religious communities, there can be no meaningful peace in the world. The future of the world depends on peace between Muslims and Christians. The basis for this peace and understanding already exists. It is part of the very foundational principles of both faiths: love of the One God, and love of the neighbour. These principles are found over and over again in the sacred texts of Islam and Christianity.”
