Tag Archives: Christians

Reconciliation: The choice of peacemakers.

Posted on March 16 2013 by MEE Administrator

Trac5board - Safi By Safi Kaskas January 20, 2010

Since 9/11Western and Muslim scholarship has characterized the political relationship between the Muslim world and the West as one full of tension and conflict. For evidence of this tension we need look no further than Barrack Obama’s recent speech at the heartland of Islamic scholarship, al-Azhar University in Cairo, in which he said ―…a time of great tension between the United States and Muslims around the world – tension rooted in historical forces that go beyond any current policy debate. ―Indeed Obama’s prime purpose was to open a pathway to bridging political alienation, wrote Richard Shumack in his article ―Islam and the West: facing conflict for mutual gain?

Is the tension getting any better? Unfortunately, the answer is a firm no. Continue reading →

The Answer for Injustice According to the Palestinian Jew, Jesus of Nazareth

Posted on December 21 2012 by Carl Medearis

By Carl Medearis

The following address was giving at the Arab League Conference, 2012

The Palestinians have suffered terribly for decades in so many ways. They have been denied basic human rights, they can’t travel freely, they often have no water, gas and electricity, many have substandard educational opportunities, and even basic medical options are not available to those in certain parts of the Occupied Territories.

More than this, their children live in fear with little hope of a clear and bright future. Checkpoints, increasing land grabs and Jewish Settlements make life nearly unbearable. And every day Palestinians pay the ultimate sacrifice for their land and their lives. Where do the answers lie—real, viable, permanent answers? Continue reading →

This is Islam

Posted on November 29 2012 by Eboo Patel

By Usra Ghazi, Jenan Mohajir, and Eboo Patel

Interfaith Youth Core

We are three Muslims who work for an interfaith organization precisely because we are Muslim. Our fundamental beliefs stem from a strict adherence to monotheism and a recognition that the Prophet Muhammad was the final prophet and messenger of God. He preached a message of mercy to humankind and that message is what binds us.

Islam was birthed into a society not unlike the United States in terms of religious diversity. Pre-Islamic Arabia was a hub for trade routes spanning Asia and the Middle East and its religious make-up was remarkable. Pagans, Jews, Christians and other monotheists formed scattered tribal communities. In Mecca, the holiest city of Islam, God revealed the Qur’an, which in part affirmed the prophetic legacy of Christianity and Judaism and emphasized love and respect for all creation.

“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)” (Chapter 49-The Dwellings, Verse 13).

As Muslims deeply committed to interfaith work, we are inspired by iconic moments in the life of the Prophet Muhammad that speak to interfaith cooperation. Continue reading →

Christians and Jews Gather to Support Churches’ Call to Investigate Unconditional Military Support of Israel

Posted on November 29 2012 by MEE Administrator

From Friends of Sabeel North America

Religious organizations and their secular partners will gather at the United Methodist Building, 100 Maryland Avenue NE, Washington, DC, in Conference Room 3 on Thursday, November 29 at 10:00am to affirm the call of 15 Christian leaders to investigate the legality of U.S. unconditional military support of Israel. Thousands of signatures have been gathered in support of this letter, addressed to Congress, seeking to make U.S. military aid to Israel contingent upon its compliance with applicable U.S. laws and policies.
Speakers will be:

  • Mark Harrison, United Methodist General Board of Church and Society
  • Rev. Phillip G. Anderson, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
  • Rabbi Liz Bolton, Jewish Voice for Peace Rabbinical Council
  • Josh Ruebner, U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation
  • Tom Getman, Kairos USA
  • Philip Farah, Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace

Groups represented at the press conference, including Jewish Voice for Peace, Kairos USA, US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, United Methodist Kairos Response, Friends of Sabeel North America, Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace, The Palestine Israel Network of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship, and others, will present over 30,000 signatures gathered in support of the 15 Christian leaders, clearly showing widespread support among US Christians for measures that would provide a degree of justice for Palestinians under occupation.

As the United Nations considers the Palestine Liberation Organization’s request for “non-member state” status on Thursday, the organizations holding this press conference will urge U.S. Christian groups to support the 15 leaders who have issued this courageous call for a U.S. policy that will truly advance a solution that will bring self- determination for Palestinians and a secure peace for both Israelis and Palestinians. This affirmation, especially timely because of Israel’s recent bombardment of Gaza, comes as the 15 Christian leaders have been aggressively criticized by some Jewish advocacy organizations, some of which have shut down long-standing interfaith dialogues as a response.

 

The event will be live streamed at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/us-campaign-events

For more information about this press event, please contact Steven D. Martin at smartin@kairosusa or 865-300-6848.

For more information, visit:  http://www.kairosusa.org/?q=node/70 Continue reading →

The Story Behind my New Song–Abraham

Posted on October 26 2012 by Reuben Bidez

Sorry it has taken so long to post. But I am finally getting around to writing about the story of Abraham. Abraham is one of my favorite songs I’ve written, and since today is Eid al-Adha, what better way to celebrate than revisiting the story!

This summer, I visited Hebron, the burial place of Abraham and his wife Sarah. To commemorate the tomb, a Mosque and Synagogue are built right next to each other. This shows you how important Abraham is to Muslims and Jews. It was a very powerful moment as I stood near Abraham’s tomb. This is the father of many nations. The father of Ishmael and Isaac!

There are several stories about Abraham, but today I’d like to focus on the story of the “Momentous Sacrifice”.

Let’s start off with the Qur’anic account. Continue reading →

(Possible) Parallels in Muslim and Christian societies.

Posted on October 24 2012 by MEE Administrator

Marc Lynch at Foreign Policy blog  points our attention to two important details regarding the latest  global public opinion survey of Muslims carried out by Pew Research forum.

1. There is a direct correlation between whether a Sunni thinks that a Shia is a “real” Muslim based on how many Shia live in his or her country.

2. Younger Muslims are less devout than their parents

Lynch points out: Continue reading →

The truth about so-called “Muslim Rage”

Posted on October 1 2012 by Sam Shropshire

 

What’s really behind the outrage?

Newsweek’s recent cover-story featured the bold words “Muslim Rage” and depicted most of the world’s Muslims as angry with the US and the West. Here’s a different perspective of what is happening around the world — much of the information was given to me by the French activist think-tank AVAAZ.

According to AVAAZ, there are a number of very important items we have missed in the midst of all the sensational, tabloid-like reporting.

Seven things you may have missed in the so-called “Muslim rage”

Like everyone else, many Muslims find the cheap, unprofessional Islamophobic video “Innocence of Muslims” trashy and offensive. Protests have spread quickly, tapping into understandable and lasting grievances about neo-colonialist US and western foreign policy in the Middle East, as well as religious sensitivities about depictions of the Prophet Muhammad. But the news coverage often obscures some important points: Continue reading →

Reporting from the Holy City of Medina!

Posted on September 14 2012 by Sam Shropshire

Sam Shropshire at Nabawi Mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia, with an Afghan and Chadian friends. He was invited to visit Medina, one of the two most holy city for Muslims.

My visit to Medina 

Today I’m at the Medina Mosque, one of the places most sacred to Muslims. The Prophet Mohammad is buried here. I’m with Muslims from Chad and Afghanistan.

When people find out I’m an American they crowd around to shake my hand and to hug and kiss me on the cheeks. They all express solidarity with America. And there are the typical questions like, “Hey, Sam. Do you know my cousin Abdullah in Chicago?”

Nine months since I arrived in Saudi Arabia

I’ve been here in Saudi Arabia 9 months now, and I haven’t had even one negative experience. Continue reading →

Muslim Anger. American Response.

Posted on September 13 2012 by Carl Medearis

I’m guessing that the crazies who stormed the U.S. Consulate in BenGhazi won’t be reading this….but if they were, I’d say “Don’t you know that you’re killing yourselves!?”

Let’s think carefully and clearly for just a moment. I know that’s difficult in times like these. It was hard after 9/11 eleven years ago, and it’s hard after 9/11 this week and what’s followed. But as intelligent modern people we can actually do that – think clearly.

I do not know the motivations of those who made this crazy YouTube film and I don’t know all the stated or underlying reasons for those who attacked the Consulate in Libya or the Embassies in Cairo or Sana.  But I have lived in and worked in the Arab Middle East for over 30 years, so I do understand the region.

Let’s recount some recent history. Continue reading →