NORMAN, Okla. (ABP) — In his book When Religion Becomes Lethal Middle East scholar Charles Kimball says significant numbers of Jews, Christians and Muslims view each other from a vast reservoir of ignorance.
Most Americans, he said, know little about the world’s great religions, including their own. For instance, although more than 80 percent of Americans describe themselves as Christian, most adults cannot name the first book of the Bible.
“The first and critically important step on the road to a better future involves concerted effort — individual and collective — to educate ourselves about religion,” he wrote.
Charles Kimball
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He offered several steps and resources toward that end.
— Human resources. With 1,600 mosques in the United States it should be fairly easy to locate an American Muslim who could speak and answer questions in a local church or for a civic group.
— News archives. Kimball lists Religion and Ethics News Weekly on PBS and Speaking of Faith on NPR as “particularly helpful.”
— Intentional interreligious dialog. This has many forms, from structured meetings to explore theological differences to simple engagement with others in everyday life. Guidelines for structured dialog are readily available on the websites of various organizations.
— Share meals. Sharing iftar (the meal after breaking Ramadan fast), or Passover Seder deepens appreciation for the rich diversity in communities. Organizations like “Open Table” and “Amazing Faiths” organize interfaith dinner gatherings.
— Build together. In many cities churches, mosques and synagogues join together to build Habitat for Humanity homes.
— Be intentional. Learn about and share information with neighbors and neighborhood organizations, such as the Y and Interfaith Youth Care.
— Interfaith programs. The American Jewish Committee and the Union of American Hebrew Congregations have long histories of cooperative interfaith programs. Americans for Peace Now and J Street are Jewish-based organizations working to facilitate a just, durable and secure peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
— Engage. The more we engage the “other” personally, the more we find how much we have in common.
— Take a stand. Stand up for the religious rights of minority communities.
— Raise the level of discourse. Help others discover the human face of Muslims, Jews and Christians and anyone who doesn’t look like or talk like you.
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Norman Jameson is reporting and coordinating special projects for ABP on an interim basis. He is former editor of the North Carolina Biblical Recorder
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