When I read the Koran I am intrigued that if one were to look for a parallel between Christian Just War Theory and the teachings of the Great Prophet regarding a similar position, one would see that the Koran has probably a much better sense of what is defined as just and unjust warfare.

2) Have the extremists and jihadists taken over Islam and where are the moderates?

The Koran, like the Christian Bible is often translated and read to justify any broad point of view or tightly held position that supports the political, theological myopia or totalitarian aim of the activist, reader. Religion is NOT the cause of the violence that is currently attributed to Islamic extremists. But rather it is used as a shallow justification for acts of violence against humanity that incorrectly translates the concept of Jihad or “struggle” to a group of individuals who have become alienated from mainstream cultures. Alienation is caused primarily by poverty, illiteracy, humiliation and by not having a place at the table as Globalism consumes traditional societies and values. Globalism and Western culture are viewed with deep suspicion and are seen as joined at the hip. What is overtaking Islam right now is the rapid advance of Globalism that currently has not been able to find a moral center.

3) How can we live together in harmony and peace in the future?

We can only live in harmony and piece in the future if we remain in relational dialogue and become deeply aware of the core content of each other's Holy Books. Truth be said, Christians in general are living through a second generation of Biblical illiteracy. I believe the same is applicable to both Islam and Judaism. How can we know the way forward if we have not understood what our Holy Books have said about our collective pasts and what they have to say about the promise of the future? For Christians and Muslims, who are both evangelical and conversional, can both tolerate the fact that each seek to convert those who have not yet known the living God? Can Muslims respect the Christian core canon that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God incarnate? Or, will we be divided bitterly over the status of Jesus as a great prophet and not God’s son? Will wars eventually be fought over this basic understanding that defines a difference between Islam and Christianity? Can Islam respect Judaism as an equal monotheistic partner, or will Islam treat Judaism as an unequal partner in the Abrahamic tradition?

Until Islam, Judaism and Christianity see themselves as equals in their respective ways of translating the experience and word of God to faithful people, and until each has an equal place at the Abrahamic table where each one’s Holy Texts can be seen as the word of God and respected for that, then I believe that we will see some rough times ahead when politics and violence will use religion to justify its hold on the loyalty of its people.

We must stay in dialogue, we must have equal respect for each others interpretation of God’s word and God’s active presence in the world as revealed in each one’s Holy texts. And all three religions must get beyond confessing the sins of the other.

The Right Reverend John Bryson Chane is the eighth Episcopal Bishop of Washington. He's also a regular "On Faith" panelist.