Spring Break
Religious leaders seek common ground
Jeff Sullivan
Issue date: 2/6/08 Section: News
Sayedahmed discussed misconceptions about Islam, which he said are currently being exploited by Republican groups in the form of "Islamofascism."
"Praise be to Allah, who taught his prophet Mohamed tolerance with Muslims and non-Muslims as well," he said. "The Holy Quran states that disagreement is one of the divine norms of creation. If the Lord had so willed, he could have created all mankind as one nation. Differences and disagreements exist among people in one country, one community and even among members of one family; the success is to overcome that and spread peace."
Olson and Phillips both presented the idea that finding one's religion is "to wrestle with God" in order to form and develop one's own conscience through analyzing scripture and human interactions with God through everyday life.
"The thing that I find most personally rewarding and frustrating about Judaism is that Judaism does not provide you with any easy answers," Olson said. "The very word Israel ... means struggling with God."
Sayedahmed related a story of a Christian wife who wanted advice about her Muslim husband. She wanted to know if she should convert to Islam to help her marriage and please her spouse.
"I told her that she can still please him while you are a non-Muslim," he said. "I also told her she has the right to have a cross in her room, drink wine and eat pork."
"Praise be to Allah, who taught his prophet Mohamed tolerance with Muslims and non-Muslims as well," he said. "The Holy Quran states that disagreement is one of the divine norms of creation. If the Lord had so willed, he could have created all mankind as one nation. Differences and disagreements exist among people in one country, one community and even among members of one family; the success is to overcome that and spread peace."
Olson and Phillips both presented the idea that finding one's religion is "to wrestle with God" in order to form and develop one's own conscience through analyzing scripture and human interactions with God through everyday life.
"The thing that I find most personally rewarding and frustrating about Judaism is that Judaism does not provide you with any easy answers," Olson said. "The very word Israel ... means struggling with God."
Sayedahmed related a story of a Christian wife who wanted advice about her Muslim husband. She wanted to know if she should convert to Islam to help her marriage and please her spouse.
"I told her that she can still please him while you are a non-Muslim," he said. "I also told her she has the right to have a cross in her room, drink wine and eat pork."
