Alien Drums

I have been privileged in recent days to be involved in a public discourse with Ummadam, a Muslim. This conversation has taken place in the comments sections of our blogs, but I thought I would bring some of it to the surface.

I had to confess to Ummadam that I know little about Islam and have never read the Quran. I told her that I have had a hard enough time trying to comprehend my own faith and its implications.

In her most recent comment on my blog titled “Where’s the authority?” Ummadam replied the following to a question of mine:

“Muslims believe in all of God’s Messengers, Prophets, and Revelations. We believe that He sent revelations to Prophet Moses as well as Prophet Jesus (peace be upon them both. However, we believe that each of their communities strayed and that the original Revelation no longer exist and what we have now known as the Old and New Testaments are not the original Revelations We believe that as God sent Jesus to guide the people back to the straight path, that He too sent Muhammad as his last and final Prophet to mankind as a guidance. We believe that the quran confirms the truths in both previous revelations and we believe that it also clarifies some of the falsehood that has crept in. Anything else we remain silent about as God is the Best Know-er.”

My response:

“Thanks, Unmadam. That is helpful. I think there is no doubt that the communication of revelation has been shaped by culture and that we Christians (I will not speak for Jews) have given poor expression to Christ’s teachings at time. As someone who admittedly knows little about Islam, I would say that I suspect your honored text most likely has also been influenced by culture and that the people who honor it have given poor expression to Muhammad’s teachings. I find it interesting also that Christians and Muslims see their honored texts in such finality.

“I hope I have not offended in anything I just said. I am predisposed to express what I’m thinking and do not mean any disrespect you and your faith when I raise questions and see difficulties.”

I had an interfaith dialogue with a Hindu friend a few years back, but this is my first dialogue with a Muslim. I must say that in this dialogue I fear being misunderstood or disrespectful. Of course, I can feel that way with some Christians, as well.

I do not know much about Islam and I feel I know so little about my own faith, but I do know this: God loves us all, and I pray that His love is manifested in me in my dealing with others.