The MDI is formed of members from the Muslim community with experience in public speaking, apologetics, polemics, research and community work.
The speakers or researchers come from various academic backgrounds, and so bring a wealth and variety of research and experience in theological, philosophical, scientific, historiographical, jurisprudential and political fields of study.
MDI takes as it sole adopted beliefs, the Islamic creed (Aqeedah), that it holds there to be no God except the one God, and Muhammed (pbuh) as His final Prophet and Messenger. MDI also believes in all the preceding prophets named in the Quran. Furthermore, the MDI holds that the Quran is a revealed communication from God and thus held to be true and accurate. The examples and sayings of the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) are a universal example for us to hold onto for all times and places. Lastly, we hold that since humans have not changed in essence and nature since their beginning, the laws of Islam (shariah) are unchanging and relevant to all times and places. Thus MDI believes that Islam is intellectually sound, and a perfect and complete way of life for mankind.
The MDI is comprised of members from varying backgrounds, Islamic opinions and schools of thought. The MDI seeks to represent the Muslim community’s wide and diverse opinions, and thereby, to become representative of them. However, the opinions expressed by any one member may not (and at many times do not) necessarily reflect the views of another member. More importantly, no individual member’s opinions reflect the views of MDI on any one matter or issue outside the stated belief of MDI (see above), regardless of the position they hold, or the function they are responsible for. The MDI is neutral on any issue of legitimate difference of opinion within the Islamic Universe of Discourse (IUD).
MDI is here to support, encourage and promote debate that contrasts Islam against other intellectual universes of discourse (e.g. atheism and its different strands, secularists and their different political models, Christians and their divergent denominations etc) for the purpose of the pursuit of truth, human unity and acceptance and the strengthening of everyone's understanding of other worldviews.
http://www.thedebateinitiative.com/