Texas Faith: Why isn’t the West getting any better at handling religious conflict? Or are we?

In the United States, we reluctantly upgraded the Mormon faith from a cult to a Christian religious denomination. Thanks to Mitt Romney for being the catalyst. The Shia and Sunni Muslims have come together jointly for understanding. I am blessed to have moderated a dialogue at Rice University’s Boniuk Center and am planning to moderate another one at Harvard University. There is a lot of effort going on and there is hope. Mike Ghouse

Why isn’t the West getting any better at handling religious conflict? Or are we?

By Bill McKenzie / Editorial Columnist
wmckenzie@dallasnews.com
3:56 pm on September 3, 2013 | Permalink

Sunni tribesmen talk with Iraqi military authorities

We are headed once again into a drama in the Mideast in which religious conflict is playing a serious role. The tension between Shia and Sunni Muslims is part of the dynamic in play in Syria and the broader Mideast. TheNew York Times’ David Brooks does agood job explaining some of this tension in this column titled, “One Great Big War.”

Of course, twelve years ago this month, religious extremism played itself out in horrific ways in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. And we have seen outbursts of it here in the United States in other ways, whether in the form of Major Hasan in Fort Hood or the Tsarnaev brothers in Boston.

So, here’s my question:

Why aren’t we in the West and other parts of the world getting any better at handling religious conflict? Is it because we have not had to deal with this like we have had to face nationalistic or ethnic strife? Or are we getting better and it’s just hard to see?

MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism and speaker on interfaith matters, Dallas

We are indeed getting better at handling religious conflict, as long as we know it is not the best, and we have room to improve. I am glad the religious folks are speaking up.

Twelve years ago on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, I was called by AM Radio 1150 at 10 A.M. to address the crisis. The 9/11 attacks had left every one speechless and frozen from doing anything. I was shaking but was committed to make sense out of the chaos and bring coherence to the day, and pave the way for relevant action. I was on the air for seven straight hours.

Indeed, we have made big strides in Dallas from that day forward. Interfaith prayers were initiated. Blood donations causes labs to overflow. And many religious leaders jumped in to find a peaceful solutions.

Texas Faith panelists have written some of the most beautiful pieces whenever there were conflicts within the United States, particularly in reference to the Ground Zero Mosque and Mormonism. The interfaith groups routinely get together and issue joint statements of solidarity. The progress is there, but not up to speed. There is a lot more to do.

And now, we have another situation where Pastor Jones will burn 2998 Copies of the Quran. It is not the burning I am concerned with, but the reaction to it that worries me. The Polk County, Florida folks have jumped in at the opportunity to find comfort in unity and solidarity and have come together to commemorate Unity Day USA in Mulberry Florida. This is a Dallas event that has moved to Florida to find solutions.

The Shia-Sunni conflict has been around, but rarely did it flare up until we messed with the delicate fabric of cohesion in Iraq. It was a crime on our part to mess with Iraq and get messed up ourselves in economic terms, with the loss of jobs and foreclosure of homes of millions of Americans. There were no major conflicts between the two sects in the last several centuries except with our meddling. Maybe an apology to the Iraqis — and repentance — will restore our spiritual balance so we can find solutions.

Instead of getting the Shia Iran and Sunni Saudi to sit down together and make peace, our hatred for Iranians has caused us to place wedges between the two. We may feel good in isolating Iran, but we will harm the fabric of the globe with our short-sightedness. At the end we will pay a price but may feel good in pushing others around.

In the United States, we reluctantly upgraded the Mormon faith from a cult to a Christian religious denomination. Thanks to Mitt Romney for being the catalyst. The Shia and Sunni Muslims have come together jointly for understanding. I am blessed to have moderated a dialogue at Rice University’s Boniuk Center and am planning to moderate another one at Harvard University. There is a lot of effort going on and there is hope.

To see all the takes of the Panelists, visit Dallas Morning News at: http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/2013/09/texas-faith-why-isnt-the-west-getting-any-better-at-handling-religious-conflict-or-are-we.html/