Where is the interfaith dialogue?
July 1, 2005
I’ve debated about posting this, because I have not been sure what it is exactly that I want to say, but it’s been something that’s been on my mind, and on the minds of others in our group.
One thing that has continually shocked me is the outright animosity towards Muslims that comes from the Palestinian Christians (Catholic and Greek Orthodox) I have met and spent time with. One of the things that I really wanted to focus on this summer was the idea of interfaith dialogue, and unfortunately, as I am coming to find out, this is apparently not something held up as a very high priority in this area. When I met with the person who has represented the Presbyterian Church (USA) in the Middle East for the past 10 years, and asked him, “So, who is doing interfaith dialogue work in this area, with Christians and Muslims…?” it took him a long time to think about it and then his response was basically, “Well, I guess that’s part of the problem – no one really is.”
It’s been interesting to live in an area (Jerusalem-Bethlehem) that is so incredibly important to the three largest monotheistic religions in the world. It was an incredibly surreal experience to be walking along the Via Dolorosa, the path that Jesus walked during his passion, being led by a group of Franciscan monks, as we passed by Jewish people, the whole time hearing the Muslim Call to Prayer in the background. What does it mean to live in such a society? The picture above was taken from Manger Square in Bethlehem and you see the square filled with Muslims during the noon Call to Prayer, and the Church of the Nativity is in the background, which is where I went to a Greek Orthodox and a Catholic service last Sunday, before heading to Jerusalem. What does it mean to be Christian, Muslim or Jewish in such a pluralistic geographical area?
I don’t know.
I love the young group of Palestinian Christians who I have been able to hang around with, in Bethlehem and Beit Sahour. However, I don’t know how to handle the continual slurs toward Muslims, references to violence and “If my sister ever tried to marry a Muslim, I’d….”-kind of statements. This is always done with a very light-hearted attitude, and so there is a chance that I am just not picking up on some socially-acceptable behavior that occurs in the Arab-world. But, I have a hard time believing that most of the people who I hear mention their opinions about Muslims are not being serious when they say these things.
I’ve also found that many of the Palestinian Christians hold very similar viewpoints about Islam that Conservative Evangelical Christians in the United States hold. I’ve heard people make rash generalizations about Muslims (“they don’t want peace, only us Christians want peace…”), broad statements about the religion of Islam (“it’s not a peaceful religion, it is filled with violent teachings…they are taught to be violent, especially toward Christians…”) and generally negative attitudes toward Muslims.
I haven’t been able to meet very many Muslims yet, so I don’t know if these attitudes go both ways or not.
Yet at the same time, our group met with a group of young Palestinians (Christians and Muslims) the other night at the Rapprochement Center, and they were asked pretty candidly about this topic, and they admitted that these feelings do exist, but they do have hope for a more unified Palestinian people in the future.
I just don’t know how to deal with all of this. Interfaith dialogue is something I’m interested in, and I don’t know what to do with that here in the Bethlehem area, where it is just non-existent (or it appears that way – does anyone know of anyone doing anything?).
The only last thing I’d like to say about this, is that the young people talked about Israel’s role in the division that exists among Palestinians. One of the techniques that they said Israel uses against Palestine is the “divide and conquer” technique. So, Israel knows that these tensions exist, and many believe that the government uses them to their advantages. On Palestinian ID cards, it says either “Christian” or “Muslim” on them. Many times, guards at checkpoints will let Christians pass and will not let Muslims pass. Obviously, if you are a Muslim and you see a Christian friend of yours be let through a checkpoint regularly, while you may be denied access, that is going to create some hostility. I’ve also heard that it is easier for Christians to go to Jerusalem for the holy holidays than it is for Muslims to travel to the Al-Aqsa Mosque for Ramadan.
So, tensions exist. The Israeli government uses these to its advantage. And I am left asking, “What can I do?”
Tags: Christians, Interfaith Dialogue, Muslims
Posted in 
Adam Walker Cleaveland: 
July 1st, 2005 at 7:00 pm
The first college I went to had a very large Muslim population, so large that we had a dedicated room for Muslims to pray in on campus. The Muslims I met were some of the kindest, most devout, and hard working people I have ever met.
Why do people choose to pidgeon-hole people? A lot of reasons probably. Everyone you know does it, so why not you. That part of the world is so charged with tension that they, or someone they know, has had a bad experience with Muslim(s).
Whatever the reason, keep fighting the good fight of love. Even if what you say clicks with one person, that makes it all worthwhile.
Blessings,
Paul
July 2nd, 2005 at 10:52 am
Hi Adam,
Thanks for being so open and honest about this. And, once again, I appreciate you allowing those of us who couldn’t otherwise experience this (families/work ties/financial/etc) to do so vicariously, so to speak.
I was discussing this topic and your blog with my brother-in-law and he had some interesting ideas I’d like to float with you. He thinks that in order to have peace in the middle east, the participants are going to have to get past the issue of whose land it was first and focus on what’s best for everyone involved now. For instance, if, in America, we tried to retribute land to those who had it first, we’d probably have a similar situation. He pointed out that there are Palestinians still living in refugee camps because their land was taken from them over 50 years ago (I don’t know the facts in this case, just repeating what I heard). At some point, people should move on with their lives, find a new place to live, settle down & go on with life. I know that sounds harsh and may ignore some difficulties that stand in their way such as prejudice against them and walls keeping them out, etc. What do you think?
Of course, religious beliefs play a part in this scenario as well. When two different religions claim the same historic sites and refuse to allow the other access, that will be hard to overcome. Perhaps it will take the leaders of the differing religions softening their positions on the other to make way for change/peace. I don’t know how likely that is. Come to think of it, that’s probably the biggest obstacle.
One thing I do know for a certainty, when a person travels to a previously unknown “world” and experiences it firsthand, it can remove the preconcieved assumptions and give him/her a clearer perspective from which to view that “world”. And when people with opposing positions spend some time alongside their opponents and experience life from their perspective, it can change opponents into friends and bridge the gap. But that takes a strong desire for change and an open mind.
Anyway, let me know what you think. I’m sure you’re having an exciting weekend!
Stay safe & may God bless your efforts!
David
July 3rd, 2005 at 12:33 am
Hi Cleave,
I’ve just come across your blog from a friend of mine who posted your link - it looks really good so I’ll be hanging around for a bit.
Re: your question over interfaith work in the Holy Land. Have you come across Jerusalem Peacemakers yet? Their website is: http://www.jerusalempeacemakers.org/
I haven’t had any personal contact, but I am part of a Jewish-Muslim charity group here in Australia and they were one of the groups we have started considering fundraising for.
Salam/shalom/peace
Umm Yasmin
July 4th, 2005 at 3:21 pm
Here is an interfaith group (Muslim, Christian, and Jewish) you might check out. I believe it is located in Jerusalem.
http://www.icci.org.il
Salaam/Peace/Shalom!