Using Holidays to Soothe Interfaith Relations

Holidays offer great opportunities to start or strengthen relationships.

Major religious holidays for American Christians are Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter. The two holiest days in Islam are Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha.

Eid ul-Fitr is the “Feast of Breaking the Fast.” It concludes the fasting month of Ramadan during which Muslims refrain from eating and drinking during daylight hours. Eid ul-Adha is the “Feast of Sacrifice.” It concludes the period set aside for the pilgrimage to Mecca called the Hajj, and it commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his firstborn son. Both of these times of feasting and celebration start at sunset and last for two or three days.

Christmas is the feast celebrating Jesus’ birthday. It concludes the 4-week period called Advent, and it commemorates God’s willingness to give himself by taking on flesh and blood. Thanksgiving is a feast celebrating God’s providence and provision. Easter is the feast celebrating Jesus’ victory over death by resurrection. Christian feasts usually last no more than one day.

Here are some ideas for leveraging these feast days in your relationships with people in the other religion.

  1. These are times of giving sweets to each other and to children. Give your friend or neighbor a plate of candy, cake, or cookies to help them celebrate.
  2. These are times of giving small gifts to children. Give your friend or neighbor something simple for the children.
  3. These are times for holiday greeting card exchange:a. If you are a Christian, give or mail your friend or neighbor an “Eid Mubarak” greeting card. You can make this yourself with images collected from the Internet or you can order one from a dealer on the Internet.

    b. If you are a Muslim, give or mail your friend or neighbor a “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Thanksgiving,” or “Happy Easter” greeting card. Avoid giving your seriously Christian neighbors the generic “Happy Holidays” cards for Christmas. This suggests disapproval for public recognition of “Christmas.”

  4. This is a time for sending text-message and e-mail holiday greetings.
    a. If you are a Christian, send your friend or neighbor an “Eid Mubarak” or “Happy Feast Day” e-mail or text-message as they begin their celebrations.

    b.If you are a Muslim, send your friend or neighbor a “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Thanksgiving,” or “Happy Easter” e-mail or text-message.

  5. These are times when Muslims drop in on each other (often with house gifts). It’s a time when they expect and are prepared for visitors.a. If you are a Christian, these holidays are good times to visit your Muslim friend or neighbor to introduce yourself or build your relationship. You won’t necessarily need an appointment, but they may be out doing their own spontaneous visiting.

    b. Christians tend to celebrate their holidays more privately than Muslims. It’s a time reserved for close friends and extended family. They do not drop in on one another unannounced as Muslims often do. They do, however, like to share their feast times with outsiders. If you are a Muslim and show curiosity and express desire to find out how a Christian family actually conducts their feast, don’t be surprised if they invite you, and don’t hesitate to join them.

  6. These are times when Muslims ask for forgiveness from one another for any unspecified offenses that they may have committed against each other during the preceding year.

    a. If you are a Christian, ask your Muslim friend or neighbor for general forgiveness on these days. Do not mention any specific offenses! Say something like, “If I’ve done anything to offend you in the time that we’ve known each other, will you please forgive me?”

    b. Christians do not ask for forgiveness from one another for unspecified offenses the way Muslims do. Christians grant forgiveness for specific confessions. If you are a Muslim, you may say to a Christian something like, “If I’ve done anything to offend you in the time that we’ve known each other, will you please tell me what it is so that I can apologize.” Or if you know of something specific, tell them what it is and that you are sorry.

  7. These days are times of heightened religious awareness and instruction.

    a. If you are a Christian, these are good times to ask questions about Islam and Muslim culture, especially about the holiday. However, do not criticize or try to speak knowledgeably about Muhammad or Islam. “Stay in your lane!” You may present yourself as the subject matter expert on Jesus, Christmas, and communion. Let them be the subject matter experts on all things Muslim.

    b. If you are a Muslim, these are good times to ask questions about Christianity and Western culture, especially about the holiday. However, do not criticize or try to speak knowledgeably about Jesus or Christianity. “Stay in your lane!” You may present yourself as the subject matter expert on Muhammad, Muslim Feast days, and salat. Let them be the subject matter experts on all things Christian.

Ground Zero Mosque Exposes Cultural Fault Lines

Ethical dilemma over building a mosque at ground zero in New York exposes some front lines in the culture war raging across America. First, it reveals agendas that become visible when comparing what people say to what they do. Second, it provides opportunity to compare the relative importance of values held by sides in the culture war.

Concerning agendas, most of the people who are pro-religious liberty for building the mosque at that location are anti-manger scenes on public sidewalks. A hidden agenda among many in this pro-mosque group may be counterbalancing their intolerance for one kind of religious expression with tolerance for another. Ironically, most of the people who oppose this location for this mosque are pro-other kinds of religious expression, such as prayer in Jesus’ name at public events. A hidden agenda among many in this anti-mosque group may be to promote one religion over another.

Regarding differing systems of values, ethical dilemmas reveal values priorities. Telling the truth is important. However, during Nazi occupation, many Dutch families hid Jews and lied to occupying forces. Telling the truth wasn’t as important as preserving those lives. The mosque at ground zero exposes competition between at least two important values: 1) National Dignity/Security; and 2) Constitutional Freedoms.

On national dignity and security, some believe allowing the mosque to be built at ground zero will underscore American pluralism and undercut popular support for America’s enemies. For those with overarching concern for America’s dignity and security, however, this mosque location will embarrass America, embolden her enemies, and encourage support for groups like Al-Qaeda. Based upon my personal experience among Muslims and upon what I am hearing from many scholars and reform-minded Muslim leaders, I consider the latter outcome to be the most likely.

With respect to constitutional freedoms, many believe that, in the interests of taste and national security, the government can zone against the religious use of certain private properties. For those with the overarching concern that religious expression should be private and free from public interference, however, such a zoning intrusion would be an unthinkable human rights violation of much greater concern than any dignity or security issues.

As in most wars, one side will win and the other side will lose. Such an outcome in this culture war would be unfortunate for all of America. Reaching a “diplomatic” solution so that both sides can win will require exposing and marginalizing hidden agendas and then accommodating and affirming both sets of competing values. In the quest for public image, the side that wins will likely lose.

Ten Heroes Join Cloud of Witnesses

They had already given their lives. What happened August 5th merely capped their calling. Of them it is written, “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” Certainly they are “more than conquerors” (Romans 8:36, 37). If the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church (Tertullian c. A.D. 200), then a precious plant will sprout in Afghanistan.

Important Note: Though they were working for a Christian organization, these ten were medical workers and not missionaries. Four of them were not Christians (though I don’t know which ones). Afghan law forbids proselytizing, and they were strictly following Afghan law.

Dr. Tom Little
age 61
New York, USA
He was the Mobile Eye Camps team leader. He was affectionately known as “Mister Tom” amongst the many staff at the National Organization for Ophthalmic Rehabilitation (NOOR). He went with his family to Afghanistan in 1976. He worked as an optometrist and manager setting up clinics and workshops. He learned to speak fluent Dari. He lived in Afghanistan with his wife and three daughters through all of the turbulent periods.

Dr Tom Grams
Tom Gramsage 51
Durango, CO, USA
Dr Tom Grams was a dentist and personal friend of Dr Tom Little. He has taken time off for the past 9 years to travel around the world helping poor children who have never even seen a toothbrush. He retired from practice in 2009. He was working full time with Global Dental Relief in India and Nepal. Tom Grams was single.


Cheryl Beckett
Cheryl Beckettage 32
Ohio, USA
Cheryl Beckett had been working as an aid worker in Afghanistan since 2005 and had been involved in community development with a focus on nutritional gardening and mother-child health. She had been asked to assist the team as a translator for women patients. Cheryl was a Pashto speaker who worked in a clinic in Pul-e Charkhi on the outskirts of Kabul. Her father, Rev. Charles Beckett is the senior pastor at Woodlawn Christian Church in Knoxville, TN. She is survived by her parents and three siblings.

Brian Carderelli
age 25
Harrisonburg, VA, USA
Brian Carderelli was a professional free-lance videographer. Brian served a number of other organizations in Afghanistan active in development and humanitarian efforts.  Brian quickly fell in love with the Afghan people and culture and hoped to stay within the country for another year. He was a 2009 graduate of James Madison University, an Eagle Scout, and active life-long member of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Harrisonburg.

Glen Lapp
Glen Lappage 40
Lancaster, PA, USA
Glen trained as an intensive-care nurse and worked in Lancaster, New York City City and Supai, Arizona, and had previously worked in the responses to hurricanes Katrina and Rita. He went to Kabul in 2008, and initially worked in the International Assistance Mission Headquarters in Kabul. After 5 months of Dari language training he began work with NOOR. He was the organizer for the mobile eye camps that reached remote areas.

Dan Terry
Dan Terryage 63
Wisconsin, USA
Dan went to Afghanistan in 1971, he had a heart for the rural areas of Afghanistan and worked for many years in Lal-wa Sarjangal. Dan specialized in relating to local communities and liaising with aid organizations and the government to improve services in remote areas. Dan leaves behind his wife, three daughters, and one granddaughter.


Daniela Beyer
Daniela Beyerage 35
Chemnitz, Germany
Daniela was a linguist and a translator in German, English, and Russian. She also spoke Dari and was learning Pashto. She worked for the International Assistance Mission between 2007-2009 doing linguistic research and joined the eye camp so that she could translate for women patients. She is survived by her parents and 3 siblings.


Dr. Karen Woo
karen Wooage 36
London, United Kingdom
Karen was a General Surgeon who went on the trip to be the team doctor and to take maternal health care to the communities in Nuristan. She had been creating a documentary about her work with the charity, Bridge Afghanistan.

 


Jawed
Jawedage 24
Panjshir, Afghanistan
Jawed was employed as cook at the Ministry of Public Health’s Eye Hospital in Kabul and had been released from there in order to attend the Eye Camp. Besides being the team’s cook, he also assisted with the dispensing of eyeglasses. Jawed had been on several eye camps into Nuristan in the past, and was well loved for his sense of humor. He leaves behind a wife and three children below school age.

Mahram Ali
Mahram Aliage 50
Wardak, Afghanistan
Mahram Ali worked as a watchman at maintenance shop of the National Organization for Ophthalmic Rehabilitation (NOOR) since the end of 2007. He stayed guarding the vehicles in Nawa when the rest of the team walked over the pass into Nuristan. He leaves behind a wife and three children, at secondary school age and below.


They were returning from a 15-day medical assistance trip, called a Medical Eye Camp, to the remote Parun valley, which is accessible only on foot and with pack animals.

Two others, who had been with them, escaped. A driver, Safiullah, pled for his life by quoting verses of the Qur’an and saying that he was a Muslim. Mr. Said Yasin, returned to Kabul along a different route in order to visit family in the region.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility. He claimed to reporters that they were “missionaries,” but he was tragically and perhaps conspiratorially wrong. Qari Malang, the representative of the Western Nuristan Taleban, said “our people in the area have confirmed that they were bona fide aid workers and had been providing assistance to the population. Furthermore, we have learnt that among the killed foreigners, was Dan Terry, who had a long history of helping our people, including in Kunar and Laghman provinces and that he had previously provided welfare assistance to the families of those civilians martyred in bombardments… We pass on our condolences to the families of those killed.”

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Authentic Islam Seen on YouTube

The Islam on YouTube is filled with divergence and disagreement revealing Muslims are in a desperate search for authentic values and lifestyles. Do not be satisfied with drinking in what others say about Islam or what Muslims say about themselves. Learn from the raw material of  what Muslims say to and about each other. YouTube presents a glorious window into the world of art, music and instruction by Muslims for Muslims.

Here are some examples: