In a sign of growing acceptance of U.S. Muslims, one of the most prominent religious leaders in the country, evangelical pastor Rick Warren, spoke recently at the annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). Representatives from the two largest streams of American Judaism, the Reform and Conservative movements, also attended to highlight their newly formed partnerships with the Muslim group, which is based in Plainfield, Indiana.
Warren, the founder and senior pastor of Saddleback Church, an evangelical megachurch in Lake Forest, California, is a bestselling author of many Christian books, including The Purpose Driven Life.
Warren, the founder and senior pastor of Saddleback Church, an evangelical megachurch in Lake Forest, California, is a bestselling author of many Christian books, including The Purpose Driven Life.
Despite his conservative views on matters such as gay rights and abortion, Warren is also known for his outreach to non-Christians, and was the controversial choice of Barack Obama to speak at his inauguration. His presence at this major Islamic conference has resounding significance in the interfaith world. That is especially significant in the U.S., which is already the most religiously pluralistic nation on earth.
"The landscape of religion in America is changing," says Sayid Syeed, who leads ISNA's interfaith outreach. "America itself has reached a certain level of fulfillment in terms of diversity of faith."
In the Associated Press story on the eve of the conference, from which Syeed's quotes are taken, The Islamic Society is identified as "an umbrella association for tens of thousands of Muslims. [It] has worked for years to persuade leaders of other faiths to attend its convention, a massive family reunion in its 46th year that draws about 30,000 people. Major American Jewish groups had largely stayed away from the event, mainly due to hostility between U.S. Muslims and Jews over Israel, the Palestinians and the role of Hamas in the region. Many conservative Christians did the same."
But, the AP points out, ISNA "has prominently denounced terrorism, including terror by Hamas, and has endorsed a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians. The organization also elected its first female president, Ingrid Mattson, who participated in the National Cathedral service for President Barack Obama the day after his inaugural."
During his address to the conference, Warren said that Muslims and Christians should be partners in working to end what he calls "the five global giants" of war, poverty, corruption, disease and illiteracy.
Warren acknowledged that both ISNA and he left themselves open to criticism for their mutual outreach. "It's easier to be an extremist of any kind, because then you only have one group of people mad at you," he said. "But if you actually try to build relationships -- like invite an evangelical pastor to your gathering -- you'll get criticized for it. So will I."
Warren also urged Muslims and Christians to speak out against stereotyping of any group and to respect each other even while disagreeing.
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