This is a great story of friendship between people of different faiths. I especially appreciate this paragraph:
The three say they became close not by avoiding or glossing over their conflicts, but by running straight at them. They put everything on the table: the verses they found offensive in one another’s holy books, anti-Semitism, violence in the name of religion, claims by each faith to have the exclusive hold on truth, and, of course, Israel.
This week (Thanksgiving and Eid Al-Adha) presents a unique opportunity for Muslims and Christians (and Jews) to celebrate their holidays together – to learn from one another while enjoying each other.
HT: E-Baad-E news
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Great mix. Will have to share this with all:
what they most valued as the core teachings of their tradition:
the minister “unconditional love.”
the sheik “compassion.”
the rabbi said “oneness.”
Wwhat he regarded as the “untruths” in his own faith:
the minister: “Christianity is the only way to God.”
the rabbi: the notion of Jews as “the chosen people.”
the sheik: the “sword verses” in the Koran, like “kill the unbeliever.”
thanks for this light in the darkness.
michael j
This would be so much more interesting if these were “orthodox” and not “liberal” believers in their respective faiths.
I admire their willingness to look at difference and not just similarities, however, what does friendship between “traditional” believers of each faith, those who would not be willing to concede respective “untruths.” look like? For example, between a Christian who says, “Jesus is the only way” and a Muslim who believes that no non-Muslim will enter paradise.”
Nancy,
I agree. It would be more interesting if they were all orthodox. It makes not avoiding the hard truths more compelling.
Dustin,
thanks for the eye-opener. I see that this article came from the New York Times “overseas” edition. Let’s hope that other than liberal eyes had a chance to see it.
michael j
Well, let’s look at it as a start. I don’t know the answer, but someday we can hope for the right solution.
I blame it all on this Dustin fellow. He started it with his blog. Never would have known about those crazy liberals from the world’s largest faiths.
Just kidding. Thanks to him, we have been provided a little more light on the subject.
Great story, except that each of these ministers are at the utmost liberal extreme of their faiths. As a Christian myself, I am pretty skeptical about whether a unitarian minister represents Christianity faithfully.