Muslims & Christians Among the World Religions

“Most people today see a heavy and dangerous storm of tensions between Christians and Muslims that is menacing the world. Since the Crusades, relations between our two faith communities – currently comprised of just slightly under half the human race – have rarely been at a lower point than they are today. Tensions, deep conflicts, and often murderous violence between us are leaving a trail of blood and tears as well as a mounting deposit of deeply painful and potently dangerous memories. … But many of us sense of new wind of hope beginning to blow…”
- Yale professor Miroslav Volf, A Common Word, Eerdmans Press: Grand Rapids., 2010. Page 18.

This is a tremendously important month in the life of our congregation. We have the unique opportunity to hear from a series of scholars about Islam. The road to peace in the world can be paved by growing understanding among the religions. Tolerance is born through knowledge.

I am excited about our visit from Dirk Ficca, the Executive Director for the Parliament of the World’s Religions. Rev. Ficca heads a most challenging and hopeful task: to gather representatives of every religion on earth, to have them learn about one another and then to see what common concerns they can agree to work on together. We are happy to share his presence in Lincoln with the University of Nebraska. Rev. Ficca will speak at these events:

• Feb. 13 Westminster Worship at 8 and 10:30 Adult Education 9:00
• Feb. 14 Lecture at the University of Nebraska Dudley Bailey Library in Andrews Hall. 3:30 – 5:00.

During this month, we will also be joined by Qur’an scholar Dr. Simon Wood of UNL and Farida Ebrahim to learn more about this important world religion.

Our hope is to create deeper understanding, which leads to deeper dialogue. We want to do our part to create an atmosphere of mutual respect. We need to have external dialogue with those who live and work around us. And we need an internal dialogue, in our heads and hearts, so that we have the will to care for those who are different, and the knowledge to know how to care. To paraphrase Hans Kung,

• peace in the world requires peace among the religions
• peace among the religions can lead to peace among the nations;
• peace among the nations can foster a shared ethic that leads to hope for the world.

Sincerely,

Andrew McDonald, Senior Pastor