Thanks for the intro Fatima! Here goes my first try at blogging…

I generally don’t fall into the category of people who quantify the immeasurable (”She’s a 9.5″, “I have more Facebook friends than you”, “Norway ranks the highest on the Happiness index according to a recent study”). But when it comes to something like a friendship, especially between people who have few commonalities, the best measure of the relationship’s quality is how many hours you have spent together in intentional conversation.

It is easy to allow cordial relations to pass for friendship. But being able to greet someone and treat them well in a three minute conversation says nothing about whether or not you two have overcome differences, affected one another, and are working to affect others.

For a leader, challenging friendships are especially hard to come by. Friendships with an influential friend stand to be beneficial and in challenging a leader the friend stands to lose not just a friendship but also the benefits that that particular relationship affords.

I think that what prevents people from changing, from sixty-year-old presidents to sixteen-year-old students, is that we don’t make the time for the kind of relationships that will be challenging. Different people have different amounts of time but everyone feels busy.

Simply, we have to go out of our way for our ways to change. The extent to which we are open to our own growth is perhaps best measured not by a vague, fleeting gutcheck (”Am I feeling tolerant towards others today?”) but by an honest evaluation of where we spend our time and whom we spend it with.

- Madison

One of the perks of our job (besides the free coffee in the kitchen) is that Aqila and I often meet with many inspiring and interesting folks. My second day on the job, we trekked over to American University and met with Dr. Akbar Ahmed. Another day, it was Imam Magid of the ADAMS Center. Add on phone calls with congressman and ambassadors’ offices, you can lose yourself pretty quickly in thinking that you are a big deal. At the same time, however, you can walk away thinking, “Wow! I have a lot to learn.”

I’ve had a lot of “Wow! I have a lot to learn” days since I’ve started working here. A few examples include: When Kathryn’s phone rings, it is probably best to let Kathryn answer the phone. Or when meeting with a leading Islamic studies scholar, you might want to brush up on Rumi BEFORE the meeting.

It’s good to have days like these because they remind us that we haven’t figured everything out yet. There are still things that we don’t understand, even things on which we had previously thought to have a pretty firm grasp.

Often when we think about dialogues, especially interfaith dialogues, the tendency is to think that you need to have everything locked down and figured out beforehand. We tell ourselves that dialogues are for experts and scholars, people who have studied and written and talked about this already, not for ordinary folks like us. We still have a lot to learn.

Here’s the truth: everyone still has a lot to learn, but people who have a lot to learn are just the people for dialogue.

-Scott

It’s hard to believe that I have only been here at Buxton for a month. I already have been fortunate enough to learn so much and meet so many inspirational people! This is my first attempt at blogging, so here it goes!

My experience so far at Buxton has taught me a lot about not only Christianity, but also my own religion, Islam. In the beginning, I was nervous and wondered, “Will I clash with the other intern’s views?” I have found the exact opposite to be true. After every discussion that Scott and I engage in, I walk away from the conversation much more informed about the topics we discuss. While we may not see eye to eye on everything, I know that there is a mutual understanding that we are here not only to become more knowledgeable, but also to appreciate each other’s religion and views. Building mutual trust with others is incredibly important because it sets a strong foundation that will allow you to tackle the difficult issues when they arise. Life is much too complex to expect agreement on all issues, but we can learn to value other’s opinions.

I recently attended an event at which an Iranian, who had converted from Islam to Christianity, spoke to a large group of Evangelical Christians. I went to the event with an open mind; everyone is entitled to his or her own beliefs. During her talk, she stated her views on Islam including calling it, “a religion of violence.” It was not easy to sit and listen to an individual tear your religion and beliefs apart, however, I am very glad I attended this event. Even after reading parts of her book, which in my opinion misrepresented both Islam and the Quran, I felt as if I walked away from the talk much more informed about faith. Although I would not necessarily label this event the ideal experience of dialogue, it made me realize the significance of educating yourself on other people’s beliefs and opinions. Something else that reinforced this was a comment made by Imam Mohammad Magid of the ADAM’s Center in Sterling, Virginia about the importance of reaching out to others of different faiths. While visiting with him, he said, “It’s not dialogue if you agree with the person you are talking to.” It is vital to keep an open mind, especially when participating in interfaith dialogue.

My time here at Buxton has already given me hope that Muslims and Christians can work together peacefully. I recently attended a talk given by Ambassador Doug Holladay (one of the founders of Buxton) at The Falls Church. He spoke about his faith journey and life and gave meaningful advice. I walked away from the lecture feeling very motivated and inspired by Doug’s words. It reminded me of something the Dalai Lama once said, “I am interested not in converting other people to Buddhism, but in how we Buddhists can contribute to human society, according to our own ideas.” I strongly believe that together, people of different beliefs can accomplish something that not one group could do alone. Talking to members of other faiths only makes us stronger in our convictions, and if we let it, can help broaden and shape our worldviews and also empower us. This is something that I am aiming to do everyday.

Ramadan is nearing its end and Laylatu-l Qadr (the holiest night of the month) is coming up soon! Ramdan Mubarak!!

Until next month,

Aqila

Last Thursday we gathered for a Buxton Young Leaders event to watch and discuss the film 30 Days: Muslims and America.  The film depicts how a 33-year-old Christian man, Dave, from West Virginia moves to the predominantly Muslim community of Dearborn, Michigan to live with a Muslim family for 30 days.  During this month, Dave must live as a Muslim in that he must grow a beard, wear appropriate dress, eat halal (only eating meat that has been properly slaughtered and blessed) and observe prayer five times a day.  Among other things, Dave struggles to move beyond prejudices against a religion that many Americans associate with September 11, and as a Christian, to pray in Arabic the words of another faith.  Despite his difficulties and preconceived notions, Dave comes to love many Muslims whom he met and to value their faith as one which is not violent and extreme. 

One question Dave asks both himself and his Muslim friends is one which I have noticed is often raised by many:

Why, if Islam really is not a religion of violence and if many Muslims practice a peaceful and tolerant Islam and also condemn violence and extremism, are there not more Muslims publicly denouncing such violence and speaking up about the true, peaceful nature of Islam?  

            During our discussion following the film, our Muslim participants voiced that while it is very encouraging that moderate Muslims are beginning to speak out, more need to do so.  Some voiced frustration that moderates have been complacent for too long and that Muslims should have been much more open about their faith years ago. 

Then, the next day (Friday), as though in direct response to this question, Aqila and I attended a luncheon event at the National Press Club entitled Uniting to Protect.  At this event we were fortunate to be able to hear Cardinal McCarrick, former Archbishop of Washington, DC, share his thoughts on Muslims, Christians and Jews partnering together in the future for peace.  While being realistic, Cardinal McCarrick was truly hopeful and inspiring.

For me, however, the most exciting and important part of this luncheon was when Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, a Muslim and Chairman of the Fiqh Council of North America, read aloud to a group of about 200 Muslims, Christians and Jews a Fatwa the Fiqh Council had issued condemning violence and terrorism and calling for its end.  The Fatwa began by stating its “unequivocal and unqualified condemnation of the destruction and violence committed against innocent men and women” and concluded with a prayer for the “defeat of extremism, terrorism and injustice.” 

The support among adherents of all three faiths in the room was resounding.  In response, Christians and Jews submitted their own proclamation, acknowledging and thanking the Muslim Fiqh Council for their Fatwa.  Cardinal McCarrick, Dr. Siddiqi, Rabbi Jack A. Luxemburg among others, all signed the Fatwa.

Aqila and I both agreed that this was a monumental event and left bursting with hope. Not only did we see Muslims publicly speaking out against violence and extremism, but Christians and Jews stood in support of their Muslim friends and their efforts.  For me, there were two main things I took away—both from our Young Buxton Leaders event and from the luncheon at the National Press Club.  First, there definitely are Muslims speaking out, whether that be with friends in their own communities, at dialogue events, or through proclamations such as the Fiqh Council’s Fatwa, and this will only continue to grow.  Secondly, as a Christian, I also share some responsibility in all of this, not only to support Muslims when they do speak out, but to speak out myself.

-Kat