A Center Not a Mosque at Ground Zero

There has been much made of a proposed center that educate persons about Islam and its relationship to Christianity and Judaism.  These two, in particular, seem much more concerned with gaining power than actually understanding the world.  Here are a couple of paragraphs from John Esposito, professor of Religion and International Affairs and director of Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal center for Muslim-Christian understanding at Georgetown University, on the topic from Cnn.com.  Click the article title to read more.

Islamophobia and the Muslim Center at Ground Zero
John Esposito | Cnn.com | July 19, 2010

(CNN) — The proposal by the Cordoba Initiative to build an Islamic center near Ground Zero has drawn major media attention and engendered fierce debate. Right-wing political commentators, politicians, hard-line Christian ministers, bloggers and some families of 9/11 victims have charged that it is insensitive to 9/11 families, dishonors memories of the victims and will be a “monument to terrorism.”

But here are the facts:The center is not at Ground Zero but two blocks away, and the Cordoba Initiative seeks to build a center, not a mosque. The center is not designed as a local mosque for a Muslim community but rather to serve the wider community.


, 07/20/2010. Category: Culture.

Creative Response to Glenn Beck

The President of Union Theological Seminary offered this response to Glenn Beck’s latest remarks about “social justice” and the bible as an open letter on the Huffington Post.  Here is a bit.  Click the title to read more.

An Open Letter to Glenn Beck: We’re Sending You Bibles!
by Rev. Dr. Serene Jones | July 19, 2010

Dear Mr. Beck,

Serene Jones here. I’m President of Union Theological Seminary in New York, home of James Cone, the scholar featured on your liberation theology program this week.

I write with exciting news. Bibles are en route to you, even as we speak! Kindly let me explain. On your show, you said that social justice is not in the Bible, anywhere. Oh my, Mr. Beck. At first we were so confused. We couldn’t figure out how you could possibly miss this important theme. And then it hit us: maybe you don’t have a Bible to read. Let me assure you, this is nothing to be ashamed of. Many people live Bible-less lives. But we want to help out. And so, as I write this, our students are collecting Bibles from across the nation, packing them in boxes, and sending them to your offices. Grandmothers, uncles, children, co-workers — indeed, Bible-readers from all walks of life have eagerly contributed. They should be arriving early next week, hopefully just in time for your next show. Read them with zeal!

, 07/19/2010. Category: Michael D.
Next page →
← Previous page