Religious Toleration

With Tony Blair on hand, Jordan opens the Baptism Centre for Christian pilgrims:

Tony Blair, founder of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, was present alongside the Baptist World Alliance, HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan, and others, in the dedication of the new Baptism Centre in Jordan, where he highlighted the need for openness to religious diversity.

The Centre is located on the bank of the River Jordan on land close to the region known as Bethany beyond Jordan, where it is traditionally believed that John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ. The Centre will be available particularly for use by all Christian traditions that practice the believers' baptism by immersion.

Tony Blair said, "It took courage and leadership for Jordan to facilitate this site of baptism, here by this ancient river. But it took more. It took the same spirit that animated John and Jesus, and the Prophet Mohammed and all the Prophets of old. Each took the world as it was - alienated from God - and tried to make it how it should be - reconciled to God Justice, mercy, compassion, the 'us'' not the 'me', pure unselfish love. This is what they stood for."