Christian-Muslim panel continues to foster understanding

The Christian has had Muslim friends for several years and has shared dinner in their homes.

But now Columbus resident Tim Orr is sharing beliefs, religious practices and the like with seven area Muslims as part of a continuation of a local project of friendship and unity that sprang from something that could have been divisive: unexplained 2014 spray-painted graffiti messages from the Quran left on three local Christian churches.

“What separates us is fear,” said Orr, an adjunct lecturer in religious studies and a member of Terrace Lake Community Church. “What unites us is love. The only way to break down barriers is to come together and dialogue with one another, and erase the fears and formulate bonds that illustrate for others how Muslims and Christians should relate to one another.”

Orr is one of seven Christians on a panel that recently began meeting with a panel of seven local Muslims from all over the world — Yemen, Malaysia, Egypt and elsewhere. The two groups will try to understand each other better through eight private sessions of two-and-a-half hours each, book and video study, discussion, attending one of the other’s worship services and more activities through May. The classes, known as “The Sultan and the Saint,” from materials prepared by a Catholic church in Louisville, Kentucky, are meant to build bridges between the two groups.

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When the first group of panelists in 2015 spoke publicly when their sessions finished, a couple of participants grew emotional when they mentioned how much they had grown to love those of the other faith. Christian panelist Jan Banister, a St. Bartholomew Catholic Church member, was among those who said she fell in love with the panelists from the Islamic Center of Columbus Indiana.

Now, Banister is the overall coordinator for the current sessions.

“Isn’t it a particular blessing that in a small, southern Indiana town, we have this kind of diversity?” she asked.

Columbus resident Zulkifly Yusuf, a member of the Islamic Center locally, is serving as a facilitator of the panel this time. He was a member of the original discussion group that met in 2016. In the last couple of years, he often has stressed the importance of local Muslims educating others in Columbus about their faith, especially because of misconceptions linked with world terrorism.

“But I believe we should meet to discuss (beliefs) regardless of what’s happening somewhere else,” Yusuf said. “Our sharing and our learning do not need to be driven by others’ hatred.”

Columbus resident Donna Keogh served on the first panel and now is serving as a facilitator for the current panel.

“I would say that it’s important to continue this to keep the lines of communication open,” Keogh said. “Plus, in that first group, we had some genuine friendships form.”

Even now, Keogh said she continues to learn about the Islamic faith and its followers. Among the first Muslims Keogh met locally were Ala’a Wafa and her father, former IUPUC Vice Chancellor and Dean Marwan Wafa, after a presentation at the Bartholomew County Public Library. She was impressed with how open they were to questions about their faith and culture.

“I would like to see people come away with the knowledge and the expectation that you can approach someone (of another faith) on the street and simply chat with them,” Keogh said. “Really, they’re just like you and me. And there’s no fear to be had.”

One of the biggest impacts on Keogh came when panelists visited a service at the Islamic Center of Columbus.

“That visit was an eye-opener,” Keogh said. “It was very good to see the reverence that the (Muslim) people had, including prostrating themselves on the floor. And it all made me feel more comfortable about going there if I ever wanted to ask questions (about the faith).”

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Various Christians and Muslims gather for an informal breakfast open to all at 8 a.m. the second Saturday of each month at Blackerby’s Hangar 5 Restaurant, 4770 Ray Boll Boulevard in Columbus.

Each diner is responsible for their own tab.

Information: [email protected].

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