“Say: We believe In God, and in what Has been revealed to us And what was revealed To Abraham, Ishmael; Isaac, Jacob, and the tribes, And in the Books Given to Moses, Jesus, And the Prophets, From their Lord: We make no distinction Between one and another among them, and to God de we submit.”
The above comes not from any Christian writing but rather from the Holy Book of Islam (Surah 3:84). It is a book Christians should read. The events in Egypt are another in a growing series of reminders that people we don’t know, will never meet and don’t understand have a huge impact on our lives. Many times those are people we come to “know” only through the agenda-laden words of radio, television and internet pundits. We claim we don’t trust the media and yet many people have few, if any, original thoughts beyond what they have heard from them.
Islam is a case in point. Since 9/11 life in America has been shaped in large measure by the goals, designs and even the plots of some who have come to see the world and their relationship with the Divine through a faith about which we have little knowledge. At Highlands Presbyterian Church, we have challenged ourselves to study not only our own Holy Book but theirs as well. The world has become far too dangerous for Christians to ignore or stereotype those who come to understand God, or Allah, in a different way.
In Cheyenne there is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the Quran and the Muslim faith. The Unitarian Universalist Church has partnered with the Southeast Wyoming Islamic Center to provide a series of study sessions entitled “Major Themes of the Quran.” These sessions are held at 3005 Thomes Avenue, the Unitarian Universalist Church, each Saturday from now through March 19th from 10:30 A.M. until noon.
Americans and Christians have a sacred responsibility to come to know others through a medium other than TV and radio talk show hosts. You might be able to change the world by exchanging your stereotypes for honest opinions. Turn off the radio and TV and join us Saturday mornings.
Thank you for spreading the word on this wonderful interfaith project. I am giving a talk on the Status of Women in Islam to an interfaith group here in Colorado Springs next week.
ReplyDeleteSafa