Can Muslims and Christians co-exist – Report 1 of 2

Can Muslims and Christians co-exist – Symposium report 1 of 2

San Antonio, TX, Saturday, February 27, 2916 -- Pastor Charles Flowers of Faith outreach center called on Christians and Muslims to share their perspectives on the subject matter in a symposium organized on Friday and Saturday.

 

No matter how difficult these conversations are, they are necessary to understand and learn about each other. God almighty in Quran says, the best ones among you are those who take the time to learn about each other, when we learn about each other conflicts fade and solutions emerge.     God has created everything in order and in balance, and human greed and insecurities knock this balance off, and God advises us to restore it for our own good.  The act of restoration is indeed a religious inspiration. 

Every religion is beautiful and each one is designed to bring peace, tranquility and salvation to oneself, one learns to live in peace with himself or herself and with others.  There is a shortage of Pastors, Rabbis, Imams, Pundits and religious men and women who have the integrity to say that others religions must be equally beautiful.  My daughter said when she was around 10, “Dad, if the pastor tells the truth that all religions are beautiful, why would any one flock to his church?"  The minute one feels or claims that his faith is the truth (and others are not),  and is superior, it is religion no more, politics and greed have taken over the soul. To sell religion and have larger congregations, one has to lie about other faiths, what a shame!

Thanks to Pastor Flowers and Mrs. Janice Flowers for organizing this event, we were able to clarify a few misunderstandings, but a whole lot more needs to be done. God willing we will continue to strive to create heaven on the earth, where no one has to live in fear of the other. Pastor Flowers is a genuine guy, as he moderated the event with utmost sincerity and honesty, I applaud him for that.

Misinformation about Allah, Islam, Quran and the Prophet was painful to sit through and listen, particularly coming from my brothers who were former Muslims. May God bless them, and give them the knowledge to see that God is God of all humanity despite how we perceive him, her or it is one and the same.  

On the other hand, we (Muslims) have failed to question the authenticity of the Hadiths, Ibn Hisham's Seerah, the Sharia and the exegesis by Tamiya, Katheer, Maududi, Banna and others.  Some of us have put these books on par with Quran, which we should have never done. In the next few yeas, we will be ready to sign a joint declaration that Quran is the only book for Islam - and the only quotes from Quran about Islam will be considered authentic.

We have to fix some of the Hadiths and Sharia books to be authentic and reflect Prophet Muhammad's character who was a mercy to mankind. I don't blame some of our friends from other faiths for being scared of what they read, and most of the time, they quote from these doubtful books, sincerely believing that it is Islam.  As a Muslim, Quran is the only book for me, the material in other book will be authentic,  only if it contributes to building peaceful cohesive societies. (Two Islams) 

The format of the symposium did not allow me to present another point of view except shaking my head in disagreement when I heard things were way off.  I was tempted to walk out a few times, instead I started scribbling Jesus' mantra to turn the other cheek, meaning don't do or say anything to aggravate the situation and started praying like them, asking the lord to forgive them, for they know not.   

We cannot blame others for misunderstanding us without clarifying such misunderstandings, and making an effort to know others' perspective. We have a lot of work to do. As Muslims, we have the responsibility to create a better world for all humanity.

The speakers included three former Muslims; Daniel Akbari, Kamal Saleem and Taufiq, and two practicing Muslims Raheel Reza and Mike Ghouse. Lt. Col. Roy White, and Joe Carey,   both Christian Activists laid out the programs to counter Jihadis. 

The social issues were addressed by four different speakers. Bishop Harry Jackson offered three lenses to look at the presidential candidates and I applaud him for his inclusivity, he responded positively if the candidate were a Muslim or a Hindu, if he or she would be qualified to serve.  What a joy it was to hear him out.

Mrs. Alice Patterson presented how the primaries and precincts work. Her story of overcoming bias is worth listening to, and I have fought with myself not to have any bias towards another human and related with her story. Indeed she played a major role in organizing prayers when a Blackman Alfred Wright was dragged to death in Jasper, Texas in 2013.

 Dr. Fernando Cabrera’s talk on education resonated with me, indeed, his parents told him exactly what my parents did – get education!

Gilbert Hernandez’s presentation was a big hit for me, and I hope to dedicate time for his project.  So many young men and women are lost to the vultures form Gangs and Drug cartels. Muslim Youth are also facing similar problems, as a community we are deeply concerned and want to do everything to safeguard our kids from being recruited by the extremists.   Gilbert’s passion to save our youth is admirable and I hope to connect him with Muslim organizations, they have a good system down to address this sorry state of affairs.

Blessed are the peacemakers, said Jesus on Mount Beatitude, which Prophet Muhammad practiced, and became a mercy to the universe. Following in their footsteps, unwaveringly, I hung on to their wisdom and remained a conflict mitigater and a goodwill nurturer.

Raheel Raza and I gave our presentations on Friday night, which were received very well. I have full written up on my presentation, and will be available under the title of “My speech at San Antonio interfaith symposium about Muslims and Christians” at www.TheGhousediary.com

My commentary on the presentations of Kamal Saleem, Daniel Akbari, Lt. Col. Roy White, and Joe Carey will be finalized after the video or audio presentation becomes available to make sure I can quote them verbatim.

Pastor Charles Flowers concluded each segment with a summary and a graceful prayer. Fortunately, he chose to advance my calling that finding the truth is one's own responsibility. 

My last offering towards the very end of the program was that I will review each item and share my comments and suggestions about the program and publish it.  Those who want to see another perspective are welcome to it. 

My responsibility is to address the phobias and allay the fears; no American has to live in apprehensions or fear of fellow Americans.  My role is to build bridges and free my friends from ill-will and malice.

Yes, Muslims and Christians have coexisted and will continue to do so, despite the shortcomings on both sides that mess up the relationships. I'll summarize the historical, theological and social perspectives at a newspaper and then at the websites American Muslim Institution and ATF. 

This is one of the rarest conferences I have attended where the host has set the highest standards of hospitality.  How many people can I thank? Rosalie Astran, Zulmarie Santiago,  Abraham Martinez and of course,

Twenty years from now our pastors, imams, rabbis, pundits, shamans and all the religious clergy will be telling the truth – that faith is in the heart of the believer just as beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

My faith is Islam and it is not superior to any religion, nor is any religion superior to Islam, claiming superiority is arrogance, and God in Islam does not favor arrogance, as it is the root cause of all evil and conflicts. Most Muslims get that right and a few don’t, just as with all other religions.

May God bring humility to us.

Thank you,

Mike Ghouse, 

(214) 325-1916

Washington, DC 

Dr. Mike Ghouse is a community consultant, social scientist, thinker, writer, newsmaker and a professional speaker on Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam,  politics, human rights, and foreign policy.  Mike is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. More about him in 63 links at www.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at TheGhousediary.com 

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Religious Costumes and the temptation to be different

Do you feel bias towards any of the religious guys, just because what they wear? I hope not, as almost all religious men (and women) make a statement through their clothes, that they are different; they are not among us, but above us.

A sampling of religious costumes, a comprehensive piece is in the making.

The clothing gives them the instant recognition that they are wise men and women, is that needed? Shouldn’t genuine respect be earned by one’s wisdom and knowledge, rather than external manifestation?   

I am gathering costumes/clothing worn by religious people in every possible tradition and always wondered, what is the need to wear clothes that differentiate you?   Isn’t religion about humility, where we are all on par with each other? 

I am not talking about simplicity in clothes; these are fashion statements, look at the hats and color theme, the beards….  They are not like us, they are different, and wear different clothes.

Honestly, if your  Rabbi, Imam, Pundit, Pastor, Clergy, Shaman, or Gyani, wore clothes like the audience, and gets on the pulpit, how many of you would give him or her same respect as the one in the costume, regalia?

I have been giving talks (sermons) on pluralism and religion, and have always wondered should I fashion myself differently than my congregants?  No, sir/ma'm, I will not yield to that temptation.

Your “well composed” comments with your express permission will become a quote in the article I am writing for the Foundation for Pluralism.

Mike Ghouse is committed to finding pluralistic solutions for any given situation; sometimes he fails and sometimes finds the solutions. Unless efforts are made, nothing will change. Pluralism is an attitude of respecting the otherness of others.  You can find links to most of mike’s work at www.MikeGhouse.net and www.Theghousediary.com for almost all of his writing.  

URL: http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/07/religious-costumes-and-temptation-to-be.html

TEXAS FAITH: When the pew and the pulpit don't see eye-to-eye?

There is a difference between the pew and the pulpit on this matter. Of course, that is not the first time a divide has been seen between the leaders of a religious tradition and those who adhere to that faith. What I would like to hear from you all this week is how such a divide gets resolved in your tradition. I recognize that sometimes they aren't resolved, but I would like you to elaborate upon this question:

MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas

Indeed, there is a great difference between the pew and the pulpit and most certainly a few issues get resolved and a few go to the holding pen to be unleashed whenever the opportunity arises to get even.

About a decade ago, a guest speaker Imam (pastor) addressed the Annual Ramadan celebrations at Fair Park, attended by nearly 20,000 Muslims in the Centennial Hall at Fair Park. Obviously it was a festive occasion for families and a few kids were unruly and crying out loud. The guest speaker let out his misogynistic remark by specifically calling on the sisters to cut the gossip out and take care of the children. Boy, did he get jumped on. The pew decided never to invite him and the pulpit agreed without blinking an eye. It was all instantaneous, indeed it was a pent up anger built over a period of time, and released to get even and to send a clear message that it was not acceptable.

Among Muslims, the power usually rests in the hands of the management team. Frequently, the ones who write big checks get their say. The conflict is usually between the management and the pew rather than the pulpit. However, if the Imam is a towering figure like John Hagee, he gets away with a lot of things that goes against the will of the congregants.

While most of the Imams lead their congregations in pluralistic traditions of Islam, the orthodox Imams do their conservative bit just as in other traditions.

There is a massive gap between the pew and the pulpit on the international levels. Issues like apostasy, blasphemy, stoning to death and a few others have remained unresolved for centuries.

The punishment for apostasy is death as practiced in four of the 56 Muslim majority nations. Fifty two others don't practice it. Prophet Muhammad said there is no compulsion in the matters of faith, one can choose to leave the fold of Islam and come back at will. Quraan 2:256 " ... Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error ..." Dr. Mohammad Farooq writes at the site Apostasy and Islam, "This is Islam's unambiguous affirmation of freedom of faith, which also applies to changing of faith."

The punishment for apostasy was not a prophetic tradition, but an employ of the dictators and monarchs over a period of time that has crept into Islam. Obviously a majority of Muslims and Muslim nations do not believe in it, but the clergy have a hold on it and are not willing to sign a declaration to put an end to this.

They don't even want to touch it with a ten-foot pole, as it was erroneously canonized into the Sharia (way of life) document. Their justification is the numbers. In the last decade there have been a handful but shameful cases of apostasy cases - Abdul Rahman in Afghanistan was released, Iranian Pastor Nadarkhani is still at the mercy of the Iranian Government and Lena Joy was forgiven in Malaysia. The first two were Muslims converted to Christianity and the third one to Buddhism. 

Asia Bibi, a Christian lady in Pakistan is charged with blasphemy laws for defaming Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). This law goes against the very nature of Islam and teachings of the Prophet, who was once pelted with rocks by the miscreants, just as Jesus had endured. He was bloodied and his associates wanted to beat the bad guys up. Even the archangel Gabriel said he will crush them boys, but the prophet said no to any revenge. He turned the other cheek instead, and asked Gabriel and his associates to join him to pray for the well being of the miscreants and asked God to give them guidance. 

Thank God for the relentless efforts of many men and women in the last decade to purge these laws from the books. Given the momentum, I believe things will change in a few generations.

One of the Imams said this beautifully, "I am glad you are not a part of management in any of the traditional institutions, it has given you the freedom to do the right thing that most people wanted to do, but afraid to."

The opinions of other panelist at Dallas Morning News -http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2012/02/texas-faith-what-happens-when.html

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Mike Ghouse is a writer, thinker and a speaker on pluralism, politics, Islam, peace and building a cohesive America, links to details at www.MikeGhouse.net.
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TEXAS FAITH: When the pew and the pulpit don't see eye-to-eye?
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/02/texas-faith-when-pew-and-pulpit-dont.html 

Women, Saints, Rabbis, Imams and clergymen

Women, Saints, Rabbis, Imams and clergymen
Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 9:25pm

The article below, "Wary saints won't meet women alone" is an interesting observation, the orthodox Rabbis and Imams decline to meet women alone as well, not only that, some of them don't even shake hands with women. It appears that there is some wisdom in it, no matter which tradition it is.

A few thoughts;

Either men have to learn to over come their own temptations, especially the clergymen from making advances towards the vulnerable women; it amounts to taking advantage of their position as holy men.

Or they can hold back from meeeting women, for guard their own fears of falling to the temptations.

In the long run, you can trust a culture of civility far better than fear of falling to the temptations. Buddha had set an example, that one can be incharge of his own emotions despite the temptations that surround one.

A time is on the horizon, when men will respect the freedom and friendliness of a woman without mistaking it. A time will come in the society where women feel secure and comfortable with men, and men would not be a threat to their being.

It is an oppression of women, that these misunderstandings drive women to be reticent, reclusive and retrieve, due to men jumping to conclusions about their friendliness. Shame on us men, that our fellow beings have to fear us when we are alone with them.

I hope the full emancipation to women will come, when they can be free to be friends with any one, without worrying the common mistakes men make when a woman is friendly.

LINK: http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2010/03/women-saints-rabbis-imams-and-clergymen.html

Mike Ghouse
If we can learn to respect and accept the God given uniqueness of each one of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge
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Wary saints won't meet women alone

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_wary-saints-won-t-meet-women-alone_1358166

Deepak Gidwani / DNAFriday, March 12, 2010 0:31 IST Email

Lucknow: Women devotees planning a darshan of a sant or mahant in Ayodhya better ensure they have male company. Otherwise, they’ll be met with a no-show.

Their reputation at stake following a string of unseemly controversies involving self-styled godmen, sadhus in the holy town have decided not to meet women alone.

The decision was taken at a recent meeting of priests of temples in Ayodhya. At the conclave, sants and mahants voiced serious concern at the sagging reputation of Hindu holy men due to the dubious activities of a handful of self-proclaimed babas.

‘Icchadhari Baba’ Bheemanand of Delhi, Swami Nithyananda of Bangalore and Baba Anoop of Ghaziabad had recently hit the headlines for alleged involvement in sexual misdemeanours in the garb of religion and spiritualism.

Nritya Gopal Das, Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas president and mahant of the famous Maniram Chhaoni, said, “Women should refrain from going to temples unaccompanied by men or meeting sadhu-sants and mahants alone in temples and ashrams.” He said the acts of some “fake” mahants had brought a bad name to all swamis and sants, who otherwise command great respect.

Ram Vilas Vedanti, former BJP MP and a much-respected peethadheeshwar, said, “At a time when some crooks are exploiting people, especially women, in the name of religion and in the garb of sadhu-sants, it has become imperative to take some urgent steps to save our reputation… in such a situation, we had to think of drastic steps.”

“We have made a beginning in that direction,” he said.

The “perverse” and “retrograde” decision, however, has not gone down well with social activists.

Roop Rekha Verma, former vice-chancellor of Lucknow University, said, “What these mahants are saying is unconstitutional… women and men have been accorded equal status in our constitution… to say that women should go to temples accompanied by men reflects their perverse mentality.

“By saying that women need male security in temples, the mahants are revealing that they are in fact sex-starved beasts who would pounce on a lone woman.”

Prof Sadhna Singh of Kanpur University said, “Today, when women are flying jets and Boeings without male supervision, these men want to take us back to the medieval ages.”

Mahant Chidanand Muni of the renowned Parmarth Ashram in Rishikesh said Nritya Gopal Das’s utterances were entirely uncalled for. “Temple priests are supposed to be epitomes of divinity, whether a woman is alone or accompanied should not matter to a sadhu… it’s unfortunate that such advice is coming from a learned saint.”

Imam, Rabbi, Pastor, Pundit

A majority of the scholars, clergy men and women are honest about other faiths, they are respectful.

They do not denigrate or draw negative conclusions about other faiths to make their own faith look good, It is a question of personal integrity to them. Being truthful is more important than taking advantage of trends that put down other faiths. They will not rest until they uncover the truth, which is love and respect for every one of God's creation and God's religion, which is every religion.

My concern is always those few, who compromise their integrity. If a big financial supporter of their place of worship tells false things about other religions - those few will go along even though deep in their hearts they know it is wrong. It is time we stand for truth.

I admire those few men and women for presenting their faith in the most beautiful way, but I'm saddened that a few of them either present the other faiths negatively or hide the truth about other faiths. It is not religion any more, it becomes business of selling religion. Religion does not require selling.

If your Pastor, Imam, Rabbi, Pundit or the clergy speaks ill about other religions, would you let it go, or do you feel obligated to speak up... because these little untruths are the cause of bigger problems we have?