Interfaith Dialogue Dinner at Georgetown University
April 22, 2008
Ambassador J. Douglas Holladay, The Buxton Initiative co-founder, spoke to a group of religious leaders, professors, and students at Georgetown University about the importance of interfaith dialogue. The event, sponsored by the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs and the Interfaith Council of Georgetown University, celebrated the efforts of Georgetown students to advance religious understanding on campus, and it included a poetry performance from Hawah, a Washington DC- based poet, artist, and interfaith advocate.
The evening also honored Bruno Cruchant for his winning essay in the Advancing Inter-religious Understanding Essay Contest. You can read Bruno’s and other winning essays here. You can find more information about the Berkley Center and about the good work they’re doing at http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/.
Buxton Initiative Moderates Christian-Muslim Dialogue on Capitol Hill
April 18, 2008
The Christian Congressional Staffers Association and the Muslim Congressional Staffers Association recently held a dialogue in the basement of the capitol building and asked the Buxton Initiative to moderate the discussion. The two groups usually meet Friday afternoons during lunch across the hall from each other. After passing each other in the hallway week after week on the way to their respective meetings, they decided to meet together to enjoy lunch and good discussion.
Four panelists- two from each religion- offered their thoughts on the topic of 'worship' before an engaged crowd of about 50 Congressional staffers. Panelists included Imam Johari Abdul-Malik, director of community outreach for the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center and President of the Muslim Society of Washington, Inc., Hossein Goal, a comparative religion scholar and director of Interfaith-Outreach curriculum and programs, Mike Gilbart-Smith, associate pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church and Matthew Anderson, associate pastor at Church of the Resurrection.
The first-time event was a clear success, as evidenced by the new friendships and honest conversations that began as the event ended.
Ambassador Akbar Ahmed’s New Play: “The Trial of Dara Shikoh”
March 5, 2008
Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, co-founder of the Buxton Initiative and professor of Islamic Studies at American University, recently completed his second play, “The Trial of Dara Shikoh.” The Buxton Initiative was the first to publish the script, and Senator Bill Brock and Jean Case co-wrote an introduction that discussed the play’s significance for us today in an increasingly diverse and changing culture.
Ambassador Ahmed discussed the importance and significance of the play at a luncheon hosted by The Buxton Initiative at the Case Foundation offices in February. The play is the story of two brothers, who represent two different interpretations of Islam and are vying for their father’s throne during the 16th Century Mughal Empire. In exploring the struggle between the two brothers, Muslims and non-Muslims alike grasp the parallels today, as Islam is currently being defined and interpreted on a world stage.
The play was performed at American University in March before sold out crowds. “The Trial of Dara Shikoh” is available to read on our website in our Resources section. You can also listen to segments of the play being performed and Ambassador Ahmed’s thoughts on the play here on NPR’s Interfaith Voices.
The Buxton Initiative and UPF sponsor Prince Among Slaves on Capitol Hill
February 19, 2008
The Prince Among Slaves film screening on Capitol Hill was a successful gathering of over 150 people in celebration of Black Heritage Month. The Prince Among Slaves, is the inspiring true story of an African prince who survived 40 years of enslavement in America before finally regaining his freedom. The event was hosted by the Buxton Initiative and Unity Productions Foundation, in cooperation with the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Muslim Staffers and the Congressional Black Associates.
Distinguished members from the Pakistani embassy, over ten congressional offices and two senate offices as well as members from the corporate and business community attended.
Remarks were made by Ambassador J. Douglas Holladay of the Buxton Initiative, a partner of the event, Alexander Kronemer, the Executive Producer of the film as well as Imam Johari Abdul-Malik. The event closed with an interactive panel discussion that engaged the audience in dialogue about some of the major themes of the film.
New Buxton Reading: “The Case for Civility”
December 12, 2007
The Buxton Initiative is excited to announce that we have published a new reading, “The Case for Civility.” Written by Os Guinness, the monograph explains the need for civility given the increasing divisions, violence, and evil spurned by different religions and secular worldviews. He also proposes that America is in a unique position to model civility given its diversity, governing and economic structure, and cultural resources. Ambassador Akbar Ahmed graciously contributed the introduction.
Prior to the reading’s publication, The Buxton Initiative hosted Os Guinness and Ambassador Ahmed to share their thoughts on the growing tensions between religions. Many guests attended the luncheon held at the Case Foundation, and offered suggestions, questions, and insights on how to alleviate the growing tensions and model civility to a watching world.
The Buxton Reading is available on our website in our Resources section, and it is a excerpt from Os Guinness’s new book, The Case for Civility: Making a World Save for Diversity. It is available here on Amazon.
The Buxton Initiative and Embassy of Egypt Honor Civil Rights Leader Ambassador Andrew Young
December 10, 2007
The Buxton Initiative and H.E. Ambassador Nabil Fahmy of Egypt co-hosted a dinner honoring former Ambassador, Mayor, and Civil Rights leader Andrew Young. The distinguished guest list consisted of fifteen Christian and fifteen Muslim leaders. Ambassador Young spoke on how lessons of civility learned from the civil rights movement can impact social and religious change today.
Islam and the Western World: An Interfaith Dialogue on the Hill
November 1, 2007
The Islamic Institute, Congressional Muslim Staff Association, and Islamic Magazine, hosted an event titled: “Islam & the Western World: An Interfaith Dialogue.” The discussion featured Sheikh Hamza Yusuf of the Zaytuna Institute and Ambassador J. Douglas Holladay of the Buxton Initiative. Congressman Keith Ellison (MN), the first Muslim American congressperson, served as the moderator of the interfaith discussion which focused on issues related to the Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and other faith communities living in the United States and Europe. The broad range of issues included extremism, anti-Muslim bigotry, terrorism, and cross-cultural understanding. Please click here to view the event in its entirety.
An Open Letter and Call from Muslim Religious Leaders to Christian Religious Leaders in Action Award Dinner
October 13, 2007
138 Muslim leaders from various countries and branches of Islam drafted an open letter to leaders within the Christian faith and called for peace between the two faiths. The letter begins, "Muslims and Christians together make up well over half of the world’s population. Without peace and justice between these two religious communities, there can be no meaningful peace in the world. The future of the world depends on peace between Muslims and Christians. The basis for this peace and understanding already exists. It is part of the very foundational principles of both faiths: love of the One God, and love of the neighbour. These principles are found over and over again in the sacred texts of Islam and Christianity. The Unity of God, the necessity of love for Him, and the necessity of love of the neighbour is thus the common ground between Islam and Christianity." (Click here to read the entire letter)
Faith in Action Award Dinner
June 7, 2007
The International Center for Religion and Diplomacy (www.icrd.org), hosted an awards dinner to honor Dr. Jamal Barzinji, a founder of the International Institute of Islamic Thought. The celebration in honor of Dr. Barzinji took place at Georgetown’s Evermay Gardens and brought together a number of political leaders including Representative Keith Ellison of Minnesota, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, and the former governor of Virginia and current Presidential candidate Jim Gilmore. The Buxton Initiative has partnered with the IRCD in it's efforts to prevent conflict and promote reconciliation by linking religious reconciliaton with diplomacy.
(click here for more on the ICRD)
Journalists Address Religion in the Media
Sept. 28, 2006
The Buxton Initiative hosted New York Times columnists David Brooks and Jeffery Goldberg of the New Yorker as featured speakers for a luncheon on September 28, 2006. Both noteworthy observers of American culture and well-respected journalists, Brooks and Goldberg discussed how they approach religion as reporters. With wit and honesty, Brooks described that at one point it was difficult for him to respect religious belief and that “religious fundamentalism” initially appeared to be the simple product of economic and political factors. Goldberg discussed a relationship that he had with a Palestinian prisoner when he served in the Israeli army and also his experiences as a prisoner of Hezbollah. Aside from the spectacular speakers, guests enjoyed questions and discussion that ranged from media representations of Islam to the controversy surrounding the publication of inflammatory cartoons in Denmark.
Young Buxton Dialogues Based on Film
Jan. 29, 2006
In the Winter and Spring of 2006-7, the Buxton Young Leaders group is hosting a series of events called 20-20-20 Vision: Broadening Perspectives Through Film and Dialogue. The series kicked off on January 29, 2006 with a showing of Unity Production Foundation's “Muhammad, Legacy of a Prophet” at the Motion Picture Association of America’s headquarters in Washington, DC. Thereafter, sixty of the attendees, twenty from each of the three Abrahamic faith communities, broke up into discussion groups. Reverend Mark Hoelter of the Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington led the groups through a series of questions, encouraging the participants to share out of their own lives and experiences. Several news organizations conducted interviews among the participants and the discussion groups ended on a positive note, some agreeing to meet again in the following weeks.
Luncheon Held On Sunni-Shia Differences
March 28, 2007
Dr. Najam Haider and Professor Al Husein Madhany led a panel discussion about Sunni and Shia Islam at the Case Foundation. The two Georgetown University lecturers offered contrasting views of the history of Islam from the Sunni and Shia viewpoints. The discussion moved from the theological and political differences between Sunni and Shia in the 8th century AD to present-day divisions in different countries. After a series of thoughtful questions from those in attendance, the luncheon ended on the hopeful note that thoughtful youth might one day become world leaders who can build bridges.