Churches Asked To Share Pulpits With Muslims

By Adelle M. Banks
Religion News Service

(RNS) Religious and human rights activists are asking U.S. churches to invite Jewish and Muslim clergy to their sanctuaries to read from sacred texts next month in an initiative designed to counter anti-Muslim bigotry.

The June 26 initiative, called "Faith Shared: Uniting in Prayer and Understanding," is co-sponsored by the Interfaith Alliance and Human Rights First. Leaders of the two Washington-based groups said the event hopes to demonstrate respect for Islam in the wake of Quran burnings in recent months.

"As a Christian minister who is a pastor in a local congregation, it is important to me for our nation and our world to know that not all Christians promote hate, attack religions different from their own and seek to desecrate the scripture of others," said the Rev. Welton Gaddy, president of the Interfaith Alliance, on Tuesday (May 17).

More than 50 churches in 26 states already have committed to the initiative, including the Washington National Cathedral and New York's Riverside Church.

Tad Stahnke, director of policy and programs for Human Rights First, said he hopes the initiative will draw attention to religious freedom, and counter negative stereotypes of Christian leaders making anti-Muslim
statements.

"We want to send a message to the world that Americans do respect religious differences and reject religious bigotry and the demonization of Islam or any other religion," he said.

Comments

[Jimmy P]

11:16 PM on 06/23/2011

You know I find this extremely hilarious because churches have never denied access to curious guests. They shouldn't have. However, if I so much as think of entering a mosque... This one-way scene does not shock me in the slightest bit.

[Exzavier Jones Jr]

05:53 PM on 06/15/2011

It's all fun and games until someone looses a head

[John Dickinson]

10:31 AM on 06/05/2011

Give them a inch they take a mile. Maybe they should all go to Mecca and stay there!

[lordsknight1]

12:41 AM on 06/08/2011

Does anyone believ for one minute that Muslims would allow a Christian to read from the Bible inside of a Mosque? They won't even allow a Bible on the property...The Huffington and others try to make Christians look intolerable, but the muslims are one of the most intolerable religions...it is man made and filled with atrocities against Christians and Jesus our Savior, the true Son of God!

[gemini68]

09:27 AM on 06/23/2011

That's a flat out lie.

[sallysees]

04:52 AM on 06/05/2011

I know this won't get passed the moderators...but here goes:

Seeing that, what is unholy in the Bible... is holy in the Koran, and what is most holy in the Bible... is absolute blasphemy in the Koran, what is the point in inviting Muslims to come into the Sanctuary of God and read from their "holy" book that pronounces it the greatest crime even above that of rape and pediphilia and murder-the blasphemous crime called shirk: to believe that God could have a son.

What religion on this planet could possibly be more Anti-Christ than Islam?

Its high time the churches in America start doing some actually reading of the Koran and catch up with the rest of us who have put a lot of years in, coming understanding this so-called "Religion"

[gemini68]

09:30 AM on 06/23/2011

You should educate yourself a bit more about what Islam is about. The Qur'an (the proper spelling) speaks at length about Christians and Christianity:

2:62 (Asad) VERILY, those who have attained to faith [in this divine writ], as well as those who follow the Jewish faith, and the Christians, and the Sabians [49] -all who believe in God and the Last Day and do righteous deeds-shall have their reward with their Sustainer; and no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve. [50]

[crparke]

01:22 PM on 05/27/2011

"I am the LORD, that is My name;
I will not give My glory to another,
Nor My praise to graven images." - Isaiah 42: 8

"For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act;
For how can My name be profaned?
And My glory I will not give to another." - Isaiah 48:11

"For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." - 2 Corinthians 11: 2-3

[Lou77777]

08:30 PM on 05/30/2011

Thank you for saying what I was thinking. We do not bring into God house other gods. The problem is Muslims killing and scourging the Christians causing many to flee from Arab nations to avoid persecution. The religion of peace seems to foment violent reactions and mass hysteria towards Christians and Jews.

[gemini68]

09:30 AM on 06/23/2011

2:62 (Asad) VERILY, those who have attained to faith [in this divine writ], as well as those who follow the Jewish faith, and the Christians, and the Sabians [49] -all who believe in God and the Last Day and do righteous deeds-shall have their reward with their Sustainer; and no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve. [50]

[Doug Sandlin]

06:54 PM on 05/24/2011

Here's a link many readers may find interesting:

The Center For Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University
http://cmcu.georgetown.edu/

[mmccathron]

12:31 AM on 05/24/2011

Am I the only one who doesn't see the point in this? A deeper problem is that we live in a culture of sound-bites and gotcha moments. Inviting a Muslim to speak at your local church or synagogue is not likely to stir any feelings of tolerance. The forum is not amenable to the sort of discussion and work that is really going to cure these issues. You know when Muslims, Christians, and Jews will get along? When they stop antagonizing each other. A Christian who hears daily of how a group of Muslims want to take away their way life and replace it with Islam are justifiably disgusted and defensive. Similarly, when NATO planes drop bombs on your neighbors and relatives, the Muslim is likewise justifiably anxious to avoid western culture and it's trappings. (That includes Christianity and Judaism.) Part of these problems have been forged in the ubiquitous 24 hour news coverage that has been generously rewarded with a greater market share for fear-mongering. (Example: the meteoric rise of Fox News.) By far, though, the greatest problem is reality. As long as political Islam and the West remain in a state of cold war (and lets be honest here, that's what it is) you won't see any tide-stemming togetherness soon. A few words from the podium by a Muslim religious leader is not going to curb any problem, and might make some problems even worse.

[micraysim]

09:17 AM on 05/26/2011

Like your post. I read somewhere the rise of western influence (hollywood) in the Arab world was one reason for dislike of America.

[sallysees]

05:46 AM on 06/05/2011

Listen mmccathron, you are a private individual..with an opinion....so why not post your opinion without the talking-heads newspeak "Balance", that kind of see-no-evil-speak-no-evil neutrality which denies the very obvious fact that there is an existential Protaganist, an aggressive instigator in all this, and it sure ain't Christianity.
To what do we owe this almost universal strange, mass, mezmerising hypnotism of Peoples in the Secular West to it's own history of desparate sieges mounted again and again against the savage hoards of Muslim attacks pitted against the Christian West and scarcely averted every single person in the whole of Europe being either beheaded, or made slaves or converting to Islam, when it was finally stopped by Charles Martel,at the Battle of Tours in 732, in which he defeated an invading Muslim army and halted northward Islamic expansion in western Europe.

[Sanity Inspector]

01:57 PM on 05/23/2011

The Interfaith Alliance is a load of deracinated relativists, who wouldn't acknowledge their nominal co-religionists abroad, murdered by Muslim fanatics, if they bled to death on their front porches.

[micraysim]

10:32 AM on 05/23/2011

This sounds great for a secular world. I dont see the point of a Christian
worshiping as a Moslem or Jew. Or vise versa. I have to wonder how many
mosques or synagoges are going to allow Christians to worship Jesus in
there. Think about it. In countries governed by a theocracy just talking to
a Jew or Moslem is a crime. I think it would greive Jesus if we gave up our
belief in him to appease our secular desire for peace. As the word is I do
not bring peace. But a sword. Our gifts and love are for the kingdom not
our desires for peace in this world.

[Doug Sandlin]

06:56 PM on 05/24/2011

It's not about worship ... it's about non-Muslims getting to know Muslims, and seeing that they're just fellow Americans who worship as Muslims.

Here's an example of how that sort of thing can work out nicely:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/08/heartsong-church-memphis-islamic-center_n_710053.html

[lordsknight1]

12:54 AM on 06/08/2011

If they would be willing to allow Christian ministers into their Mosques to read from the Bible and reciprocate, many more would be willing to listen. The pulpits are not where they should gather to discuss but in open forums that do not represent a place of worship. to actually debate. The problem though is we are debating about two separate books, two separate Gods, the God of scripture and the false god allah, and only one Savior Jesus the Son of God. Their own koran slanders the One who died for our sins... There is no compromise on these sunjects from either side. We can live beside them and be willing to leave them to their bliss, but they refuse to aknowledge the Christians or Jews for that matter, right to exist and believe our faith.

[lissy0625]

07:18 PM on 05/24/2011

The article does not say Christians should "worship as Muslim or Jews." READ the article a little more carefully before you freak out. "Religious and human rights activists are asking U.S. churches to invite Jewish and Muslim clergy to their sanctuaries to read from sacred texts next month in an initiative designed to counter anti-Muslim bigotry."

I love it when fellow Christians decide to take "I do not bring peace by the sword" out of context. If that's how you see Christ, I feel very sad for you. Remember that He ALSO said, "Blessed are the peacemakers..."

[micraysim]

09:05 AM on 05/26/2011

I am not freaked out by this. Sorry your assumtion is incorrect. Was only pointing
out that our desires of peace and love are not always correct in Gods eyes. By the way I am a pacifist by faith. Just don't believe santuaries of any faith should be used
to appease the pc world. And it seems it would be lying to ourselves if we extend
a hand of friendship in church or mosque when the ultimate goal of all is conversion in most religions. Being deceitfull to obtain peace dos'nt seem a way for lasting peace. I hope and pray there is an answer someway for us to coexist. Maybe this is part or it. peace out

[brokerallen]

11:53 PM on 05/28/2011

Not all Christians are the same. Sadly, some are so legalistic they never get close to the spirit of Christ which is forgiveness, compassion, peace and love.

[truthinlove]

08:31 AM on 05/23/2011

Those of you that say all faiths are the same don't know what you are talking about,they are fundamentally different.please stop saying this it is simply not true,either you are truly ignorant to what different religions teach of you are compromising them or worse you lie about it. take Christianity Islam and Judaism: to be a christian you must believe that Jesus is the Son of God the promised messiah from the Old testament.but to say that Jesus is God's son to a Muslim is blasphemous at part of their main teaching is to deny that God has a son,Judaism denies that Jesus is the messiah predicted in the old testament to say he is is to be christian so therefore these are not outer teachings that are unimportant but fundamental differences so all of you stop saying that these religions are the same they are not on the most important parts of their faith.most people just keep parroting this statement but don't look at the facts.if you think they are the same the you have not understood them.The bible is full of examples of Christians teaching that the Jews rejected the messiah,and that is a major if not the major difference between Jews and Christians,and the Koran is full of statements that deny that Jesus is the son of God,so how can they be the same if the most fundamental things are disagreed on.

[Doug Sandlin]

07:00 PM on 05/24/2011

When I make such statements, I'm referring to the internal, esoteric systems within each religion.

They use different symbol-sets, but the methods and the results (knowing God / fulfilled, liberated consciousness) are similar in purpose and identical in result.

I agree that the external systems and teachings of every religion can be very different, and the more dogmatic a given set of teachings are, the more true this is.

Dogma moves away from the essence of religion.

Spiritual practices move toward it.

How can we know this is true? Very simple: spiritual practices yield the results promised by all religions (peace, love, fulfillment, liberation, conscious awareness of the divine/wholeness, unity consciousness, harmonious living, and so on).

And dogmatic views yield the opposite: conflict, hatred, fulfillment, bondage, sense of separation from the divine/wholeness, fragmented consciousness, conflict-ridden living, and so on).

[truthinlove]

11:53 PM on 05/24/2011

obviously you are not a christian,let me ask you? what do you think about Jesus,most people respect him,many claim that he is a advocate for their beliefs,for example people who are into the new age say that he is a master of their system,the Muslims say he was a prophet of Islam,but the thing is that Jesus made dogmatic statements,he said that he was the only way to God,for example he was a Jew a monotheist and agreed with the old testament law that Idolatry was sin so if a Hindu was to say we have the same beliefs s Jesus,they would be wrong,hey you might say that these are just symbols of the essence of religion but Jesus disagrees with that he denies that these people know God,he said this to his own people as well ,you say that dogmatic statements divide and I agree with you they separate the true from the false many people today don't want to say to someone else that they are wrong but that is what Jesus did that is why they killed him. to have real faith you must say that you believe something is true and hold to that belief even if people don't agree that is faith not just compromise because you are scared of what others say,that is not faith it is compromise because one lacks any true conviction,all religions do not teach the same thing even at their core they are different like your belief and mine .

[lordsknight1]

01:21 AM on 06/08/2011

Doug, how would you describe a person who held dogmas (strict teachings) and would be willing to compromise them or abandon them even if they were absolutely true for the sake of not offending someone's feelings? There have to be absolutes in anything worth living and dying for. There are certainly many areas we can agree to disagree, but there are certain things that are absolutlely un-compromising. Understand that these areas are not what we have written or chosen, they are the thoughts and will of God directly given to us in a divine manner. Thou shalt not steal, or kill is not man's idea. It is God's idea for man...

[ely2501]

07:55 AM on 05/23/2011

@philoTruth

Well, looking at all the bigotry around us, that approach (the initial approach) is not being paid attention too.

______

On the article:

And the problem with Jews and Muslims coming to Church is...?

Jesus was a Jew. So Jews might as well come to preach, as long as it isn't anything against Christianity.

Christianity and Islam stem form early Jewish abrahamic traditions, so there's no contradicition with Muslims also coming to Church, as long as it doesn't go against Christianity (like noted above).

In Latin America, for example, in small towns with one or two Muslim families is custom for them to come to Church to pray when there's not a mass. This is seen as good by the community because it means they're involved with the community (as in such small towns Churches tend to be the centres of family life). Research it. Start by Las Tablas, Panamá.

[lissy0625]

07:20 PM on 05/24/2011

Most people have no idea that Islam is an Abrahamic religion. Bonus points for you! :)

[lordsknight1]

01:29 PM on 06/08/2011

Actually it is not. The peoples may have originated from Abraham but they went after their own gods. islam came from muhamed who simply exalted his family's idol named allah to be supreme above all the other idols being worshipped in his village. when his village gave him the boot he travelled around trying to convince others that his idol was bigger than their idol. After collecting many unlearned people and brainwashing them he began to terrorize villages into worshipping his idol through threat of death. therefore islam is a false religion not based on the Abrahamic Covenant.

[philoTruth]

10:22 PM on 05/22/2011

Is this an example of looking for common ground? How about looking for truths and values that everyone can share? like honesty?

[FUNKE BEKONNY]

09:49 PM on 05/22/2011

Sorry, I just don't see the silver lining in all this. I mean, it sounds good, but, seriously, does bringing together people of different faiths who support the idea of anti- Muslim bigotry actually do anything to curtail it? If you ask me, all these good people of faith (at least they think they are) should be out telling their fellow believers to put away the senseless hatred they continue to spew out, instead of sitting in a church wishing it away.

[Doug Sandlin]

07:04 PM on 05/24/2011

Well, one of the few ways *to* curtail anti-Muslim bigotry is for non-Muslims with fear of, and/or bigotry toward Muslims, to get to know some actual Muslims.

Having Muslim clerics conduct a brief reading from the Quran will help Christians who don't know Muslims to see that they're just fellow Americans who worship as Muslims -- and that neither Muslims, nor the Quran, are anything like anti-Muslims say they are.

Most anti-Muslim bigots don't know any Muslims personally.

Hence all the trouble.

[lissy0625]

07:21 PM on 05/24/2011

Some of us DO try to bring the hatred towards Muslims to the attention of others.

[lordsknight1]

01:31 AM on 06/08/2011

Why use the word "bigot" as though someone who has a fundamental difference of conviction with another is the agressor? I don't know of too many Christians who have burned down mosques, flown airplanes into mosques of dubai business centers. When a snake bites you, you may forgive it but you are cautious around it. ABC and other outlets have proven how often American Christians went out of their way to help muslims in distress. Even when it was a staged hidden video of someone trashing a muslim, several standers-by came to the muslims aid... How can you promote peace by name calling... Our points are proven where the true bigotry lies...

[Clevelandinwi]

02:04 PM on 05/21/2011

The treatment of women by all religions is absolutely sickening.

[Puncastle]

03:50 PM on 05/21/2011

Yes, because the pre-Islamic practice of using women as concubines was very liberating for women.

[dbmartin]

04:11 PM on 05/21/2011

Is that idea tantamount to the adoption of slavery as a way of saving the lives of those conquered foes instead of killing them?

[dbmartin]

04:08 PM on 05/21/2011

....agreed.

[Clevelandinwi]

02:02 PM on 05/21/2011

I get a laugh from the people who claim Islam is a 'violent' religion and the Koran is a 'violent' book. I guess they haven't read the Bible - talk about 'violent'.