There is one thing the opponents of the Cordoba Initiative (that plans to build an Islamic cultural center near Ground Zero) have in common with the Cordoba Initiative's leadership: their clear condemnation and denunciation of terrorism. They are united in this belief because every time a terrorist tries to claim the mantle of Islam and commits an act of violence, everyone loses. (For Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf's statement about the mission of the Cordoba Initiative and condemnation of terrorism, you can go to the front page of their website.)
If everyone seems to be united on this crucial issue, where is the controversy? If the planners and opponents of this initiative all agree that terrorism must be defeated and that Muslim leaders have a special responsibility to ensure that their communities of worship in no way support terrorism and actively work as a force against it, where is the problem? I believe there are a few key questions that get to the heart of the issue. The way we answer them says a lot about ourselves, our own faith, and the collective character of our country.
The first question is this: Does our initial judgment of our neighbors come from their religious labels or the content of their character? I do not advocate a religious pluralism that blurs the distinctions and significant differences between religions, but I do believe that my religious tradition calls me to be a peacemaker and to love my neighbors, especially when I do not agree with them. It is a good thing when you get along with a neighbor with whom you have much in common, but it speaks highly of your character when you build peace between yourself and a neighbor with whom you have differences. When Muslim leaders step up to lead an initiative to reduce tensions and promote respect and understanding, do we first judge those leaders by the actions of terrorists (whom they have condemned), or do we judge them by their integrity and character? This does not mean I then have to agree with them on everything or pretend differences do not exist, but I will love and respect them and work with them to be peacemakers. Feisal Rauf and his wife Daisy Khan are friends of mine, and I can testify that they are indeed peacemakers.
The second question asks: Do we believe in freedom for my religion or freedom of religion? The "Establishment" and "Free Exercise" clauses of the First Amendment were nothing less than revolutionary statements. They ignited across the globe a new level of religious freedom and protection. As with many parts of our Constitution, they represent ideals to which we aspire but have not always lived up to. Anti-Catholic sentiment barred Catholics from holding many public offices for years. Anti-Semitism and other forms of religious bigotry have reared their ugly head over and over in our history. But ultimately, many minority groups have flourished in this country, and those who are persecuted in other areas of the world seek asylum here because of our strong history of religious liberty, protection, and freedom. In 2008, our country distinguished itself globally by electing someone of a racial minority as president. We have resisted restrictions on religious expressions targeted at Islam that are appearing in other countries across the world. This speaks greatly to our ability to live up to the ideals in our founding documents.
Finally, we must ask a third question: In the face of global terrorism, who wins when the U.S. restricts religious freedom? The opponents of the Cordoba Initiative seem to be saying that Americans win if we restrict the free expression of religion of some Americans. Religious sensitivities, especially around Ground Zero, are understandable. 9/11 was a crime against humanity, and tragically, it was the first significant encounter many Americans had with radical Islam or Islam of any sort. But this is why the mission of the Cordoba Initiative as a cultural and community center is so important. The goal of the center is to run programs that reduce tensions and build understanding between Muslims and the West. In order for our country to continue healing, more Americans need to meet and build trust and respect with other Americans who are different than they are -- especially with the many Muslims who love this country and the freedoms it affords.
If terrorists are able to not only attack us physically but get us to judge our neighbors by labels rather than the content of their character, turn our back on the Constitution and disregard its ideals, and then restrict the religious freedom of other Americans, we all lose. This is a very important moment. Whether we allow religious freedom for Americans of Islamic faith -- near Ground Zero or anywhere else -- will determine our own character, the integrity of our faith, and our real commitment to the ideals that have distinguished our nation. Let's not let fear and bigotry force us to make the wrong decision here.
Jim Wallis is the author of Rediscovering Values: On Wall Street, Main Street, and Your Street -- A Moral Compass for the New Economy, and CEO of Sojourners. He blogs at www.godspolitics.com.
(This entry first appeared at the On Faith religion and politics blog as a guest entry for Ebool Patel, founder and executive director of Interfaith Youth Core)
Follow Jim Wallis on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jimwallis
Joseph Ward III: Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf Speaks Out (AUDIO, TRANSCRIPT)
Any place with more churches, synagogues, or mosques than liquor stores, bordellos, and casinos is not a fit place for human habitation.
Somehow or another I think that particular malevolently mischievous misanthropic ancestor was on the right track.
at another location to build better relations and understanding throughout the world .Trust
and love is a two way street . I can not imagine the need to create hate and suspicion .
QUOTE: 'I can not imagine the need to create hate and suspicion"
Is that NOT exactly what YOU are doing???
Thank you for a thoughtful, well-written article. Yet, my concern of 9/11 isn't whether the Cordoba House should be allowed or disallowed. It's the focus on the site - seems many have forgotten all the events of 9/11. The heroes of Flight 93, the lives lost at the Pentagon, the reaction of the citizens of the United States. We stood in mourning for all the lives lost - not just the Christian citizens. No a single responder asked one another; "Are you Christian?"
“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
Mahatma Gandhi
I applaud your stance, Mr. Wallis. You are a voice for Christ. Realize I do not give many of my Christian friends that compliment.
Stand tall, speak softly, but speak often. There is hope for us all.
It depends on the freedom. Human sacrifice, genital mutilation, sexual submission to the cult leader - pretty much everyone benefits from these restrictions. In 1975, Swann v. Pack , (527 S.W.2d 99), instructed the lower court judge to: "enter an injunction perpetually enjoining and restraining all parties respondent from handling, displaying or exhibiting dangerous and poisonous snakes or from consuming strychnine or any other poisonous substances, within the confines of the State of Tennessee." - some religious practices are seen as a public nuisance. And in the 1878 polygamy case it was decided that the professed doctrines of religious belief are not superior to the law of the land. There are times when we win by curtailing religious freedoms.
Add to that list sharia law--clearly illegal in many aspects, and deeply incompatible with our legal culture in toto.
I realize that bashing religion is the way to be taken seriously these days, especially on line, but is it worth insulting the Constitution? The First Amendment stands, despite points of view such as yours.
As a matter of course all the first 10 amendments (except 3 and maybe 9) as well as the 13th are compromised.
1- child pornography 2- you can't have a nuclear missle 4- e-mail and cell phones 5- Martha Stewart went to jail for lying to a fed 13 - the draft. Get my point.
The question is, should they build it? Our opinions on the answer to that question cannot be restricted.
There's also a delicious double standard on display (and I say this as a lefty!)--namely, Palin is bashed as some religious bigot by the press for objecting to the building of this center, but when, if ever, has someone like Sam Harris been called out in similar fashion for urging that religion be destroyed? That is, why do folks like Keith Olbermann get worked up about religious freedom only when it's an opportunity to grandstand against the right? (But I love Keith, anyway.)
Abraham . Yes Jim, America wins as does the rest of the world . Individual salvation and the
lion and lamb will be friends .
The building was begun in approximately AD 600 as the Christian Visigothic church of St. Vincent. After the Islamic conquest of the Visigothic kingdom the Emir Abd ar-Rahman I bought the church. In the beginning, the place was shared between a mosque for muslims and a church for the christians in the city. After all the citizens were mandatorily converted to Islam, the whole place became a big mosque.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%B3rdoba,_Spain
The Vatican help many high ranking Nazi officals escape from Europe, and not face war crimes, and even some Bishops have denied the holocaust even existed (Vatican made Bishop appologize).
The Catholic church does not just hold service and perform acts of charity. They preach from the pulpit about the political issues happening on the local, state, and federal level, and tell their congregation how to vote. This is not a religion, where church and state are seperate, but rather a foreign country (Vatican City) using US priests as lobbist for a grass roots effort to influence political landscapes in this country. The result is often at the expense of people who do not hold the same religious values of Catholics. Your faith should not be my laws.
In the past 40 years every shyster on the United States has figured out a '501c3 non-profit religion' status is the golden goose of chicanery.
Racking in the $$ in 'the name of JEBUS' ~ 24/7 ~ "and we're goin' INTERNATIONAL, ya know ~ to gather those HEATHENS ~ so GIVE & GIVE OFTEN and a LOT"
Religion, HEAL THYSELF. That 'big umbrella' is getting awfully stinky and sticky......
The real point is, if shysters aren't using "religion" as a tool for exploitation, they're using politics. Or sports. Or culture. of some kind. Any conviction people feel passionately about. "Religion" in itself doesn' have to heal itself so much as its application by some of its adherents.
Across the street from the Sojourner Church, the Glenn Beck Glee Club Society is going to erect a $100 million cultural center, dedicated to inviting the world, including the Sojourners, to learn and develop a deep and complete understanding of Glenn Beck's peaceful culture.
Or maybe you're saying that all Muslims are extremist hatemongers? Is that what you're trying to say?
And I made no judgements about the Muslims or Glenn Back. You did.