Oasis

The Oasis International Studies and Research Centre (C.I.S.R.O.) is a network of contacts that gives Christians and Muslims a chance to meet and promote mutual knowledge and understanding. Founded in September 2004 by the Patriarch of Venice, Angelo Cardinal Scola, as part of the Studium Generale Marcianum, the Centre sees itself as a venue for the exchange of experiences and points of view between people from different ecclesial realities (some churches in Europe and some Christian communities in predominantly-Muslim countries) and Muslims from various backgrounds.
The Centre's main field of interest is to examine how Christian and Muslim believers actually relate to and interact with one another for the purpose of building the "good life" in personal and social terms in a world like today's world that is characterised by cross-cultural and intra-civilisational métissage.

Its resources

The Oasis Centre has different resources at its disposal:

1. A review also called Oasis that is published twice a year in four bilingual editions: Italian-Arabic, English-Arabic, French-Arabic and English-Urdu.
2. A newsletter sent once a month by e-mail in Italian, English or French.
3. The present web site that is always updated with the latest essays, personal stories and articles on the most pertinent debates coming to Oasis from around the world thanks to its international network of contacts.
4. A book series that includes three already published books: La promessa (The Promise) by Card Jean-Marie Lustiger; Cristiani e musulmani, fratelli davanti a Dio? (Christian and Muslims, Brothers in the Eyes of God?), by Father Christian Van Nispen, a Jesuit who has lived in Cairo for more than 40 years; and Dove guarda l'Indonesia? Cristiani e musulmani nel paese del sorriso (Whither Indonesia? Christians and Muslims in the Land of Smiles), an in-depth report on Islam in the world's most populated Muslim country, by Maria Laura Conte.

Address: Centro Internazionale di Studi e Ricerche Oasis, Dorsoduro 1, 30123 Venezia, Italy.
Tel: +39 041 2412934
Fax: +39 041 2419658

Director : Prof. Mgr. Gabriel Richi Alberti.
Scientific secretary: Dr Martino Diez.

Oasis Al Waha Nakhlistan

What is Oasis?

Oasis is the biannual review of the Oasis International Studies and Research Centre (C.I.S.R.O). It is published under the auspices of Cardinals Scola (Venice), Barbarin (Lyon), Bozani (Zagreb), Erd (Budapest) and Schönborn (Vienna) as well as many bishops and other important figures in the Church and the academic world. It is issued in four separate bilingual editions: (Italian-Arabic, English-Arabic, French-Arabic, English-Urdu).
Realised thanks to the contribution of Cassamarca Foundation, it is edited by Roberto Fontolan with Martino Diez as its executive editor.

Format

The review is divided into seven sections: current news, documents, in-depth reports, interviews, essays, book reviews and memos. For instance, topics like majority-minority relations, integration, Islamist terrorism, Christians and 9/11, human rights, métissage and much more can be found in the current affairs section.

Who reads it?

Oasis has two main target audiences. The first one is made up European cultural, social and Church groups and institutions who are increasingly interested in the continent's emerging Muslim immigrant communities. The second involves Christian communities living in predominantly Muslim countries which the review wants to culturally support.

Where to find it?

Oasis is on sale in bookstores across Italy. It can also be obtained by subscription elsewhere in Europe and in the United States. It is also sent free of charge to Bishops in the following countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Cyprus, the Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, East Timor, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel and the Occupied Territories, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Jordan, Liberia, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.

How to get it

Oasis is available for purchase in Catholic bookstores or by subscription by visiting our website www.oasiscenter.eu or calling the following phone number: +39 041 2412934.


Our newsletter

If Oasis is a network of contacts around the world, then its newsletter is a fast way for the latter to keep in touch every month. It has a flexible format based on short pieces (some linked to the full version in the Oasis website) that give its thousands of subscribers a chance for a quick read.

Format

Each mailing focuses on a currently relevant topic developed in depth in one or more articles, presenting the perspectives and experiences of a variety of editorial writers, analysts and researchers. Topics can range from the 'Separation of State and Religion, Laicity, ' and 'Religions and the United Nations' to 'Moderate Islam' and 'Islam between Tradition and Modernity' as well as much more.
A section follows with real personal stories sent in by people from Asia, Africa, the Americas and Europe, each presenting sometimes tragic, sometimes inspiring life experiences, but stories that are always from the edge where cultures and religions meet.
The last part presents a section on upcoming events and another with book reviews that include recently released works as well as classics. It is edited by Maria Laura Conte.

How to get it

Sign up to our free newsletter by going to our website, click on Newsletter and then follow the instructions.