Friday, May 23, 2003
Evangelicals shift approach to Muslims
In the wake of international criticism of high-profile Christian preachers for their harsh depictions of Islam, evangelical leaders in America are striking out in a new direction. They have taken a stance against negative public rhetoric about Islam, and are encouraging widespread conversation with Muslims.
A set of guidelines for Christian-Muslim dialogue - which seeks increased mutual understanding but also calls for engaging over theological differences and other serious issues - is now circulating for comment among evangelical and other Christian denominations. The guidelines (www.ird-renew.org) were proposed earlier this month in a meeting sponsored by the National Association of Evangelicals and the conservative Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD).
‘This is very, very welcome. We've been waiting for this kind of approach for about a thousand years,’ says Sayyid Syeed, secretary general of the Islamic Society of North America. ‘The fact that hard-core evangelical Christian leaders are saying that we will talk to each other with respect, and have identified areas of common interest - this is a very auspicious development.’
Syeed is hopeful. ‘We pray that this works,’ he says. ‘They've had to struggle against an age-old negativity toward Islam, and if they have been able to overcome that, then this is a major change. It's good for Christians, for Muslims, for America, and for the world.’
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