HuffPost Religion's 10 Most Influential People Of 2010 (PHOTOS)

Religion is by definition a communal endeavor. Yet there are always individuals who by conviction, action or fate are placed in a position to influence our beliefs and our collective lives. At HuffPost Religion we have been following the people in this list for the last year and recognize their extraordinary influence in America and around the world.

First on our list was Daisy Khan and Feisal Rauf, whose proposed Islamic Center Park51 reminded us of the still open wounds of 9/11; and became a lightning rod for a debate on Islam, religious liberty and the value of pluralism.

To those with great influence, comes great responsibility. We hope that all who hold influence within religion will exercise it with inspiration, moderation and concern for the common good.

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Feisal Rauf and Daisy Khan

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Feisal Rauf and Daisy Khan had long been known for their interfaith work through the Cordoba Initiative, their work on behalf of the State Department improving U.S.-Muslim relations abroad and the welcoming Tribeca mosque where Rauf served as an Imam. But in the summer preceding the mid-term election, Khan and Rauf became the center of a bitter political controversy regarding their proposed Islamic Center near Ground Zero. They both were poised and convincing spokespersons for the idea that religious pluralism, understanding and freedom are the appropriate and lasting anecdote to religious extremism and repression.

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Feisal Rauf and Daisy Khan had long been known for their interfaith work through the Cordoba Initiative, their work on behalf of the State Department improving U.S.-Muslim relations abroad and the welcoming Tribeca mosque where Rauf served as an Imam. But in the summer preceding the mid-term election, Khan and Rauf became the center of a bitter political controversy regarding their proposed Islamic Center near Ground Zero. They both were poised and convincing spokespersons for the idea that religious pluralism, understanding and freedom are the appropriate and lasting anecdote to religious extremism and repression.

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Mark Webber said on 29 Wednesday 2010 pm31 1:25 pm: This is probably the biggest lie in modern history If Sufism is so peaceful, why does the greatest Sufi, Al-Ghazali, say this: Al Ghazali, perhaps the greatest Muslim scholar and a Sufi wrote: "One must go on jihad (i.e., warlike razzias or raids) at least once a year...one may use a catapult against them [non-Muslims] when they are in a fortress, even if among them are women and children. One may set fire to them and/or drown them...If a person of the Ahl al-Kitab [People of The Book - primarily Jews and Christians] is enslaved, his marriage is [automatically] revoked.One may cut down their trees...One must destroy their useless books. Jih. .adists may take as booty whatever they decide...they may steal as much food as they need...

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Comments

[Pod-gers]

12:26 AM on 02/08/2011

Wel, there are several truely influential religious leaders that seem to have been over looked, for whatever reason.

1. The Leader in Iran.

2. The Panchen Lama in China.

3. The two Karmapas.

4. Tai Situ Rinpoche

5. That American now Living in Yemen that the US is so concerned about.

Just 5 that immediately come to mind.

[ZubinTomato]

05:06 PM on 12/31/2010

The best thing these people could do for the world is remove their vestments, place their doctrines in a museum and embrace science and reason. Religion continues to be one of the main driving forces of human divisiveness, discord and misery.

[freddsky]

03:36 AM on 12/30/2010

They are not thugs. They are nothing like what she is saying. They’re just after her.

None of them are perfect, but none of them can be happy with what they’ve seen all too often. Professional candidates who think that a campaign fund is their own little ATM. She doesn’t have to go to Washington, Washington is going to come to her and do all the things she only said that she would do.

She is Christine O’Donnell and she is finally going to get the message. They’re after her.

[syllable]

12:20 AM on 12/30/2010

Some years ago I read Karen Armstrong's "A History of God." I think this would be a perfect time to revisit this important book in order to dislodge some of the wholesale dogma which is rooted in the inhumane evils of indiscriminate divisions.

[NYC123]

07:33 PM on 12/29/2010

Religion is the big divide - sound bites that everyone buys into but under the surface lies a sewer - war, war, and more war! In God’s new earthly Kingdom religions will be done away with! Why? They suffocate God word more than enlighten and amplify. They are not the stewards of God's word that they, and we, think they are!

Everyone let’s put our religious labels aside -- they just continue to confuse us! Let's start living now like if God's Kingdom has arrived: First, we are not Jews, Muslins, Christians or any of the other faiths -- and their customs all things of the past. Also the heroes of the past put them aside for now! If they are real heroes we'll meet up with them later!:))

What are we? We are all God's children - that is the faith! And Jesus is the Messiah, God's only begotten Son, mankind’s King and Savior! We as children of God have a simple calling: 1) Love God Almighty with all our hearts; and 2) Love thy neighbor like we love ourselves! With this new found unifying faith, we are preparing to enter into God’s earthly Kingdom – where his reign will be for eternity, death will be no more, the perfection switch turned back on, and love ones returned! Let’s all smile with joy, and be thankful of our Savior Jesus, and our merciful Father and God Jehovah in Heaven that will be with us for eternity!

[GirlsRule]

07:11 PM on 12/29/2010

I love Karen Armstrong. I'm listening (I'm an Audible Nut) to her latest book 12 Steps To A Compassionate Life and I think she speaks so honestly about the present day of Globalization and Humanity. It's given me another bright light and different angle to viewing this crazy thing called Life! :-)

[joanna jo234]

03:21 PM on 12/29/2010

This list is thought provoking in many respects.
All I can say is....until there is peace in this world nothing will be achieved.

Peace to all PLEASE for 2011.

[Tommy Garrett]

02:30 PM on 12/29/2010

Hitchens has done more for religious thinking than everyone on the list combined.

[John Clinton Bradley]

02:11 PM on 12/29/2010

I'm glad Bishop Christopher is on the list!

I see an error--the thumbnail photo that links to Karen Armstrong's entry shows Katharine Jefferts Schori rather the Karen Armstrong.

[Hirnlego]

03:23 PM on 12/30/2010

To call Hitch bishop is an error ;)

[Mark Webber]

01:53 PM on 12/29/2010

Ground Zero Mosque Initiator Presents Imaginary Islam
http://www.faithfreedom.org/features/news/ground-zero-mosque-initiator-presents-imaginary-islam/

Shamefully, Khan drew parallels between Quran and the Declaration of Independence. She claimed, like the declaration of Independence, Islam also embrace six basic rights of people: life, the free exercise of religion, property, family, the development of intellect and dignity.

[Manny Peddy]

02:16 PM on 12/29/2010

This is the basic thesis that Rauf has been peddling for decades. I am sure that is where she got that.

But if that is true (and there is of course some seed of truth in it), why are the fruits of the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence so different than the Koran, Hadiths, Sira, fiqhs of Sharia Law, tafsir (exegesis), etc?


I know they do this to just make Muslims feel good about themselves. But really, stop with the nonsense.

[Puncastle]

06:54 AM on 12/30/2010

I'm quite certain that you threw out some Arabic words that you don't really understand, such as Sira and Fiqh.

[hoppedy]

01:06 PM on 12/29/2010

Hospice conversions to Jesus is 80% of hard core - in your face atheists--80 0f every 100 rock solid non-believers beg Jesus for forgiveness---Come to any Hospice and talk to the STAFF---facts are tough things to get around----imo

[ibwilliamsi]

01:51 PM on 12/29/2010

I wouldn't argue with your numbers. Death is scary and the promise of everlasting life sounds good on the deathbed. To most people, Jesus is the only path to everlasting life they have any real knowledge of so that is what they choose. I suspect that hospice conversions to Buddha are similarly high in other parts of the world.

[hoppedy]

02:02 PM on 12/29/2010

i agree that conversions to Buddha by atheists would be high. The point you made is atheists are not true to their belief. Well Christians and Buddhists in hospice are not going the otherway(denouncing Jesus or Buddha). Seems ok to question the seriousness of an atheist . Been to an Hospice recently. Very standard to reach for a higher power but non believes are few.

[Jordanfan88]

04:51 PM on 12/31/2010

Maybe you could set the record straight for me, but I was always under the impression that Buddhism was a lifestyle, not really a religion. I know there are different sects of Buddhism, but I thought they were generally atheists with spirituality. Maybe I'm wrong. Pardon my ignorance.

[Seaniebhoy]

12:55 PM on 12/29/2010

Eh...most influential or most famous or most controversial? As a Catholic, I would have preferred some Parish Priest in the middle of nowhere who actually did somebody some good rather than The Pope. I am sure there are some mormons here who would rather someone other than Glen Beck represents them. HP should maybe take some time to look for the different types of clergy who do actually improve people's lives instead of just chasing the celebrety.

[me again]

12:54 PM on 12/29/2010

Feisal Rauf the Jersey slum lord makes your list? His controversial dream has yet to be realized and based upon current negotiations will most likely be moved to another neighborhood.

[messy]

03:05 PM on 12/29/2010

Yeah, isn't Cordoba in SPAIN?

[Mark Webber]

11:38 AM on 12/29/2010

Islamic Cleric Praised by Ground Zero Mosque Imam Reiterates Support For Palestinian Suicide Bombers…
http://weaselzippers.us/2010/12/22/islamic-cleric-praised-by-ground-zero-mosque-imam-reiterates-support-for-palestinian-suicide-bombers/

GZM Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf has held up Yusuf al-Qardawi as an example that Islam does not condone terrorism, yet here he is again doing just that. But don’t worry, Imam Rauf is still a “moderate”…

Bloomberg Worked Behind the Scenes to Get Ground Zero Mosque Approved
http://biggovernment.com/pgeller/2010/12/24/bloomberg-worked-behind-the-scenes-to-get-ground-zero-mosque-approved/
The release of these documents, emails and various exchanges between Mayor Bloomberg’s office and the radical Imam Rauf and his motley crew of Islamic supremacists shows evidence of collusion, inappropriate political support for the Ground Zero mega mosque, and favoritism given to the project.

[Manny Peddy]

12:48 PM on 12/29/2010

I know people keep trying to tell me what a moderate he is, but somehow, I wonder.

Also his father was an Imam, and his father's mosque was taken over by Wahhabi extremists.

[Manny Peddy]

12:50 PM on 12/29/2010

Another thing I find funny are the claims constantly about how peaceful Sufis are. The Taliban are Deobandis, which is a type of Sufi. The Muslim Brotherhood, which is associated with Hamas and other terrorist organizations, is Sufi. And the main insurgents in Chechnya are Sufi.

[Mark Webber]

01:25 PM on 12/29/2010

This is probably the biggest lie in modern history

If Sufism is so peaceful, why does the greatest Sufi, Al-Ghazali, say
this:

Al Ghazali, perhaps the greatest Muslim scholar and a Sufi wrote:

"One must go on jihad (i.e., warlike razzias or raids) at least once a
year...one may use a catapult against them [non-Muslims] when they are
in a fortress, even if among them are women and children. One may set
fire to them and/or drown them...If a person of the Ahl al-Kitab
[People of The Book - primarily Jews and Christians] is enslaved, his marriage
is [automatically] revoked.One may cut down their trees...One must
destroy their useless books. Jih. .adists may take as booty whatever they
decide...they may steal as much food as they need...

[richdibo]

03:56 AM on 12/29/2010

Isn't he sabbatical now? On a serfing safari?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFtbEIVAZ7A&NR=1