ancient city of Alexandria

Alexandria, the Cosmo polis:

Global Community, Then and Now

The Greek philosophers had spoken of the Cosmo polis, the “world-city” in which all individuals are related to one another, regardless of country, race, or religion. But with the coming of the Hellenistic age, the idea of global civilization became a tangible reality, and Alexandria its most significant expression — a meeting point between East and West, philosophies and religions, and disparate cultures. Once again, we find ourselves in a global community. But what makes for a genuine world community, and how is the ancient idea relevant for our own times? And in a time of conflict, is there a higher unity that can foster harmony between different religions?