"We all believe in one God, who sent messengers for the good of
humanity in this world and the hereafter," said King Abdullah.
"God's will, praise be to Him, was that people should differ in
their faiths. If the Almighty had so desired, all mankind would
have shared the same religion. We are meeting today to affirm
that the religions that God Almighty desired for the happiness
of man, should be a means to ensure that happiness." The World
Conference on Dialogue, which is taking place in Madrid, Spain,
brings together representatives of Islam, Judaism, Christianity,
Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism and Confucianism to reinforce the
common values shared by their respective faiths. This conference
follows a dialogue among Islamic scholars that took place in
Makkah, Saudi Arabia in June. Last year, King Abdullah met with
Pope Benedict XVI, in the first meeting between a Saudi King and
the leader of the Catholic Church. Saudi Ambassador to the
United States, Adel Al-Jubeir, said: "The idea stemmed from King
Abdullah'