Bruce Feiler - Where God Was Born, Abraham, Walking The Bible

Showing Christ's Love to Muslim-Haters
Monday, February 12, 2007

I got an email this week that reminded of something I've been thinking for some time but haven't written about publicly. Let's start with the email, in response to a notice from me about the paperback publication of WHERE GOD WAS BORN:

Great to hear from you. It's amazing how God's timing is so relevant. I have had discussions over the last few months with a fellow from our church regarding Islam, or for more clarity "Allah-the Moon God". He was upset with me when he found out I was delivering food hampers to a new immigrant community in our area comprised of 80-90% Muslim families. I gave him some research I had, to attempt to educate him that the moon god position is not true as stated. I was unable to locate your book "Abraham" that I had lent out after reading it, and emailing you previously.

Two days ago, a friend came by and returned the book, without me calling him (I couldn't remember who I lent it to). I will ask this fellow from church if he would like to read it when I see him at church on the weekend.

I am finding it more difficult to show Christ's love regarding faiths like Islam to fellow Christians then to followers of Islam. Somehow that seems backwards to me, considering how open the Muslim families are to talking with us over "groceries" about our faiths, and the similarities of them; i.e. "The God of Abraham". Baby steps, I know, but one has to learn to walk before they learn to run.

I have been traveling around the country talking about religion, politics, and geography for almost six years now. At the start, pre-9-11, when I had just published WALKING THE BIBLE, I would say the conversation was more personal for me, and for most people I met. What is the role of the Bible, and religion, in my life. After 9-11, of course, the topic became much more political. When I published ABRAHAM in the fall of 2002, and it appeared on the cover of TIME, I would say the country was still thirsty for interfaith relations.

That hunger, and that need, are certainly still out there. But I would say with the war in Iraq, and the (inflated) showdown now with Iran, that the attitude toward Islam in this country has worsened considerably in the last few years. Individuals like the writer above are pioneers, and I believe the vast majority of Americans would still like to make interfaith relations work in this country. But the pioneers are feeling the wind in their faces more these days, not at their backs.

Labels: Interfaith Relations

Posted by B Feiler at 7:15 AM
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