Reflecting on Islam and American identity at University of Cambridge
By Frankie Martin
On May 7th the Cambridge University Social Anthropology Society hosted a screening of Journey into America in the Department of Anthropology. I introduced the film and discussed its relevance in light of polls showing an increasing gap in perception between Muslims and non-Muslims in the US and elsewhere and cases of ‘homegrown terrorism” such as the bombing of the Boston Marathon.
It was a great experience to screen the film in my department, attended by many of my fellow masters students as well as members of the university press office. This was the first time I had seen the full version in some time, and I enjoyed reliving some of its moments and remembering many experiences and inside jokes shared by our team.
In the roundtable discussion afterward involving myself and Dr. Nikolai Ssorin-Chaikov of the Department of Anthropology, whose work deals with anthropology and film, we discussed some of the issues raised, including the question of identity and how the Muslim minority can be fully accepted by the mainstream. I believed that the film showed, I commented, that American identity itself is not the same for everyone, and how pluralistic one’s view is will help inform how accommodating they will be to those not like them.
It is for this reason, I explained, that Professor Ahmed and our team believed it was so important to see Muslims holistically as a part of American society and not in a vacuum. Only by looking both at the extremely diverse Muslim community and its relationship with American identity and the question of what it means to be American can the experience of Muslims in America be adequately explored.
There was a very positive response from both undergraduate and graduate students, commenting that it was a very important film, “entertaining,” and “honest.” People spoke of their surprise at some of the content of the film, such as the fact that Keith Ellison, America’s first Muslim member of Congress, was sworn in on Thomas Jefferson’s Quran. An English female undergraduate student expressed marvel at how tolerant the US Founding Fathers were in their vision for America and the place of Muslims in it.
In order to move forward in relations between Muslims and non-Muslims in the United States and between the US and the Muslim world, it is this extraordinary vision of American identity that must be promoted. This is the message of the film, and I was privileged to have the opportunity to discuss it at such a distinguished university and department.”
University of Cambridge screening of “Journey into America”
‘This [documentary] is very refreshing … to take away the fear of encountering those people (Muslims) in those places (mosques)… So to get in and to hear what’s in those people’s minds, it takes away the strangeness of it’. - Ingrid Mattson, former president of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)
*Screening followed by roundtable discussion by co-producer Frankie Martin*
Click HERE for the details of the event
“Journey into America” screening at University of Cambridge
“Journey into America” screening at University of Cambridge
Interfaith dialogue matters more than ever, here’s 3 reasons why
Picture: lassiwithlavina.com
By Eboo Patel for the Huffington Post Religion
In the wake of the Boston attack and manhunt, I’ve been getting a lot of messages about how interfaith efforts matter more than ever, and I’ve sent out a volley of tweets expressing the same sentiment myself. So, does this view hold up to analysis, or is it just a surface salve for a really deep wound?
At the risk of promoting a cause in which I’m deeply involved, I think that there are several good reasons to strengthen and expand interfaith efforts. These are true even during normal times; what the events in Boston have done is highlight their importance. Before launching in, let me state the obvious: Interfaith programs are not a miracle solution. Their primary purpose is neither to root out potential terrorists nor solve every social problem. But they do matter. Here are three reasons why:
Jordan’s King Abdullah points to Muslim American organizations for bridge building
Photo Albany Tribune
Source: The Jordan Times
His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday emphasised the important role US Arab and Islamic organisations can play in communicating the issues of the Arab nations to decision makers in the US.
He said that these organisations can help entrench understanding and stretch bridges of cooperation and dialogue between the Arab and Islamic worlds from one end, and Western countries from the other.
He made the remarks during a meeting with representatives of Arab and Islamic organisations in Washington.
Time for candid, meaningful interfaith talks
irdialogue.org
By Shai Franklin for Huffington Post Religion
“Dialogue” between religions, and among the denominations of individual religions, is too often limited to niceties and “search for common ground.” And who can object to those goals? But to be truly useful and honest, such dialogue needs to court friction and address the doctrinal disagreements and pent-up grievances on both sides of what divides us, religiously or otherwise.
At the United Nations, which generally avoids and discourages discussion of religion, the Alliance of Civilizations aspires to harness religions for peace and progress. But with a discussion devoid of religious testimony, conducted with retired religious personalities with little current influence, it has very little traction with the two-thirds of earthlings who are deeply religious.
No less than with inter-faith consultations, encounters within denominations also demand candor and accountability.
Students of multiple faiths restore Bronx synagogue housed inside mosque
file / credit: clipart.com
Source: CBSNewYork
Christian, Jewish and Muslim volunteers came together Sunday to refurbish the “Shul in the Mosque,” a synagogue that happens to be situated inside of a mosque in the Bronx.
The Shul in the Mosque is located inside the Islamic Cultural Center of North America, which also houses the Masjid Al-Iman, at 2006-8 Westchester Ave. in the Parkchester section of the Bronx. Members of the Bais Menachem of Parckchester worship in the space.
The partnership began when the Young Israel Congregation was holding a drive for needy families years back, and received a donation from Masjid Al-Iman founder Sheikh Moussa Drammeh, according to a Tablet Magazine report.
Christian faith is source of Comboni priest’s passion for Islam
Father Scattolin’s most recent published work is a historical look at Sufism (CNS)
By James Martone for Catholic News Service
“You must study the other,” said Father Scattolin, whose career in Islamic studies began in Lebanon and Sudan, before leading him in 1980 to settle in Egypt, where he has lived, taught, researched and written since.
He argues in books, interfaith forums and his daily life that understanding among religious groups comes through deepening one’s knowledge of the other’s texts and beliefs, and through accepting the other’s “freedom of choice” to believe in a religion different from one’s own.
“For me, it is difficult for people to put (Christians) as the center when they have their own beliefs,” Father Scattolin said.
“To have faith, you need freedom of choice. We are in a pluralistic world and this is good, as it makes freedom of religion, and there is no faith if you don’t have freedom of religion,” he said.
Two Muslims guard the holiest site in Christianity
Courtesy of The Times (UK)
By Gabriele Barbati for International Business Times
Every Christian knows the holiest places in Christendom are in Jerusalem. The holiest of all, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, was erected in 325, over the site where it is believed Jesus was crucified, buried and rose from the dead.
Yet, few know that it is a Muslim who opens and closes the only door to this holiest of Christian sites.
In fact, it’s two Muslims: one man from the Joudeh family and another man from the Nuseibeh family, two Jerusalem Palestinian clans who have been the custodians of the entrance to the Holy Sepulchre since the 12th century.
Pope Francis calls for urgent dialogue between Christians and Muslims
Photograph: Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
It is not possible to build bridges between people while forgetting God. But the converse is also true: it is not possible to establish true links with God while ignoring other people. Hence, it is important to intensify dialogue among the various religions and I am thinking particularly of dialogue with Islam. – Pope Francis
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Pope reaches out to Jews, Muslims, urges respect
Associated Press/Angelo Carconi – Pope Francis is driven through the crowd in his popemobile in St. Peter’s Square for his inauguration Mass at the Vatican, Tuesday, March 19, 2013.
Pope Francis has promised to continue the Catholic Church’s “fraternal” dialogue with Jews and work with Muslims for the common good.
Francis met Wednesday with religious representatives from a dozen faiths and traditions who attended his installation Mass a day earlier.
The bulk of his comments were directed at Christian groups, particularly the Orthodox who were represented among others by Bartholomew I, the first ecumenical patriarch to attend the installation since the Catholic and Orthodox church split nearly 1,000 years ago.
Directing himself to the half-dozen rabbis attending, Francis promised to continue the “useful brotherly dialogue” that has been under way since the Second Vatican Council. He singled out Muslims in his comments, saying he wanted to “grow in esteemed respect” and work for the common good.
Inspiring message by Pope John Paul II to Muslim youth in Casablanca
King Hassan II of Morocco (L) embraces the pope John Paul II as he welcomes him upon his arrival at Mohamed V airport in Casablanca 19 August 1985 of an official visit to Morocco. AFP PHOTO DOMINIQUE FAGET (Photo credit should read JEAN-CLAUDE DELMAS/AFP/GettyImages)
Morocco
Monday, 19 August 1985
Dialogue between Christians and Muslims is today more necessary than ever. It flows from our fidelity to God and supposes that we know how to recognize God by faith, and to witness to him by word and deed in a world ever more secularized and at times even atheistic.
The young can build a better future if they first put their faith in God and if they pledge themselves to build this new world in accordance with God’s plan, with wisdom and trust…
Therefore we must also respect, love and help every human being, because he is a creature of God and, in a certain sense, his image and his representative, because he is the road leading to God, and because he does not fully fulfil himself unless he knows God, unless he accepts him with all his heart, and unless he obeys him to the extent of the ways of perfection…
I believe that we, Christians and Muslims, must recognize with joy the religious values that we have in common, and give thanks to God for them. Both of us believe in one God the only God, who is all Justice and all Mercy; we believe in the importance of prayer, of fasting, of almsgiving, of repentance and of pardon; we believe that God will be a merciful judge to us at the end of time, and we hope that after the resurrection he will be satisfied with us and we know that we will be satisfied with him.
Loyalty demands also that we should recognize and respect our differences. Obviously the most fundamental is the view that we hold on the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth. You know that, for the Christians, this Jesus causes them to enter into an intimate knowledge of the mystery of God and into a filial communion by his gifts, so that they recognize him and proclaim him Lord and Saviour.
Those are important differences, which we can accept with humility and respect, in mutual tolerance; there is a mystery there on which, I am certain, God will one day enlighten us.
Source: vatican.va
Message of Pope John Paul II to Muslims on occasion of Eid Al-Fitr
Pope John Paul II in Lebanon
*Written by Pope John Paul II in October 1991
To my beloved Muslim Brothers and Sisters
Every year it is the custom of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue to send a message of greetings, on behalf of Catholics around the world, to Muslims on the occasion of your Feast of the Breaking of the Fast at the end of the month of Ramadan. This year, because of the tragic effects of the past months of conflict and war in the Middle East, and the continued suffering of so many, I have decided to send you these greetings myself.
First of all, I wish to express my sympathy and solidarity with all those who have lost loved ones. As you Muslims believe, so do we Christians affirm with hope that they have returned to the merciful judgment of God. May this time of mourning be tempered by the awareness that God’s mercy and love are without limit. He alone knows “that which he has prepared for his chosen ones, what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, things beyond the mind of humans” (I Corinthians 2:9).
To all Muslims throughout the world, I wish to express the readiness of the Catholic Church to work together with you and all people of good will to aid the victims of the war and to build structures of a lasting peace, not only in the Middle East, but everywhere. This cooperation in solidarity towards the most afflicted can form the concrete basis for a sincere, profound and constant dialogue between believing Catholics and believing Muslims, from which there can arise a strengthened mutual knowledge and trust, and the assurance that each one everywhere will be able to profess, freely and authentically, his or her own faith.
You who have completed the arduous month of fasting according to the dictates of your religion give to modern societies a needed example of obedience to God’s will, to the importance of prayer and self-discipline, and to an ascetical simplicity in the use of this world’s goods. We Christians have also recently completed our annual Lenten season of prayer and fasting, for us a time of repentance and purification. These are values which we Christians and Muslims share, according to our respective religious beliefs and traditions, and which we offer humankind as a religious alternative to the attractions of power, wealth and material pleasures.
The path of those who believe in God and desire to serve him is not that of domination. It is the way of peace: a union of peace with our Creator expressed in doing his will; peace within the whole created universe, by using its benefits wisely and for the good of all; peace within the human family, by working together to build strong bonds of justice, fraternity and harmony within our societies; peace in the hearts of all individuals, who know from whom they have come, why they are on this earth, and to whom they will one day return. On this feast, my Muslim brothers and sisters, our prayer is that God will grant his peace to you and to all who turn to him in supplication.
While the horrors of war are still fresh in our minds, as are a continuing cause of suffering for humanity in so many parts of the world, a reflection on the realities which underlie war is perhaps not out of place, even at this time of your joyful feast. We must all study attentively the causes of war so that we can learn more effective ways to avoid it. Injustice, oppression, aggression, greed, unwillingness to enter into dialogue and negotiate, failure to forgive, and desire for revenge: these are merely some of the factors which lead people to depart from the way in which God desires us to live on this planet. We must all learn to recognize these elements in our own lives and societies, and find ways to overcome them. Only when individuals and groups undertake this Education for Peace can we build a fraternal and united world, freed from war and violence.
I close my greeting to you with the words of one of my predecessors, Pope Gregory VII, who in 1076 wrote to Al-Nasir, the Muslim Ruler of Bijaya, present-day Algeria: “Almighty God, who wishes that all should be saved and none lost, approves of nothing in us so much as that after loving him one should love his fellow, and that what one does not want done to oneself one should not do to others. You and we owe this charity to ourselves especially because we believe in and confess one God, admittedly in a different way and daily praise and venerate him, the Creator of the world and Ruler of this world.”
Source: monasticdialogue.com
Saint Francis of Assisi dispels the “clash of civilizations” theory
Saint Francis before the Sultan by Giotto
By Thomas Cahill on New York Times
Amid all the useless bloodshed of the Crusades, there is one story that suggests an extended clash of civilizations between Islam and the West was not preordained. It concerns the early 13th-century friar Francis of Assisi, who joined the Fifth Crusade not as a warrior but as a peacemaker.
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Aspen Institute reflects on interfaith issues after Boston bombings
The Aspen Institute fosters open-minded dialogue
By Meryl Justin Chertoff for The Aspen Institute
America’s religious diversity, historically its pride and potentially a source for engagement around the common good, has for the last months occupied us at the Justice and Society program as we worked with co-chairs Madeleine Albright and David Gergen on the Inclusive America Project. With the benefits of the knowledge and experience of a distinguished panel drawn from the fields of education, youth service, government, media, and religiously affiliated organizations, the Inclusive America Project is working to preserve our nation’s collective strength by promoting the core value of religious pluralism based on freedom of worship, respect for the rights of others, and recognition of common values shared by all.
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