The purpose of this article is emphasizing the positive rather than the negative. The hope is that after reading it, we would all come away feeling that we would like to be our brother's keeper.
Islam Believes:
There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
If anyone harms another, God will harm him; and if anyone shows hostility to others, God will show hostility to him.
If one focuses on the actions of a few militant Muslims, one would never arrive at this conclusion. Considering the facts below could go a long way to assist each and every one of us to arrive at a more balanced conclusion:
Estimates of the total number of Muslims range from 0.7 to 1.8 billion worldwide including 1.1 to 7 million in the U.S. The present estimates indicate that 33% of all people follow Christianity while 23% follow Islam. With the rapid growth of Islam, it is estimated that it will out-grow Christianity by the mid-21st century if the present trend continues. We have to differentiate between Radical and Moderate Islam. The vast majority of people belong to Moderate Islam. Christians should make an effort to get to know the people from Moderate Islam better and encourage and assist them to take a stand against their Radical brethren. Islam phobia or hatred of Muslims is not the answer. We cannot assume that all Muslims are extreme, violent, fundamentalist terrorists who are out to hurt us.
Christians and non-Christians seem to regard Christianity and Judaism as having a positive influence on society. Most would agree that this is so. It does not mean that we should view other religious groups with suspicion and treat them with hostility.
Take a stand when hate crimes against mosques and individual Muslims are committed. As members of the human race, won't it be great if we all believed in the inherent worth of every person. People are worthy of respect, support and caring simply because they are human. Obtain a balanced understanding of positive and negative contributions of religion, including religious sources that inspired Gandhi and Mother Teresa who committed their lives to unselfishly serve humanity.
Religious beliefs have contributed to hatred, violence, unjustified discrimination and suffering as well as mass murders and genocide. These were committed in many countries including Nazi Germany, Kosovo, Northern Ireland and the Middle East.
Promoting Love and Peace is something that we could all aspire to do. Perhaps the followers of Christianity and Islam would like to get together to ponder this. It could be the start of a great movement.
We could all subscribe to this movement in small ways. Reach out to our Muslim brothers and sisters. We could start with tiny steps such as a smile, an invitation to coffee, pleasant conversation on a bus or train, small gestures like that. Then allow it to develop in its own way.
If we all believe that we are one in all and all in one, then we would reach out to everyone regardless of religion, race, nationality or sexual preference. The purpose of our existence is not to judge. It is to reach out, to touch and to love each and every one of our brothers and sisters in this Universe.
Let this be our motto. Let us be all inclusive and not leave out any individual, race or nationality. Let us resolve to make this World a Better Place starting now.
In the interest of full disclosure, let me say that I am a Roman Catholic and I have no prejudice against any human being because of race, color, nationality, religion or for any other reason for that matter.
It is my hope and prayer that I shall leave this earth a better place than I found it. The intent of this article is not to write about Christians and Muslims. This is about the human race. It is about being our brother's keeper.
I wish you all Pure Love and Pure Light.
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