Ignorance, Not Islam, Is The Enemy

Category: Faith & Spirituality Topics: Ignorance, Islam Channel: Opinion Views: 4858
4858

In a single vote, the Texas State Board of Education managed to undermine Christian-Muslim relations, hamper religious literacy and impose ignorance on our kids at a time when they need knowledge to live and work in a competitive and integrated world.

Board members--no foreigners to strange and bizarre decisions--voted to scrub textbooks of anything that smacked of a "pro-Islam" or "anti-Christian" bias. Texas textbooks, by their sheer number, end up setting nationwide standards.

The resolution, passed in a 7-6 vote, refers to moments in history when Christianity is portrayed unfavorably and Islamic events that could be deemed unfavorable are "glossed over." The vote endangers relations between Christians and Muslims at a time when Islamophobia is becoming a worrying phenomenon across America.

Statistics from the Pew Center on Religion & Public Life find that 38 percent of Americans have an unfavorable view of Islam, compared to 30 percent who reported a positive view. Another study conducted by The Washington Post found Islam's unfavorable image creeping up to 49 percent among Americans.

Here at home, U.S. Muslims have expressed concern and fear over recent developments of burned Qurans and strident opposition to building mosques. Muslims overseas, meanwhile, shake their heads in dismay over the future of Islam and Muslims in America.

The actions of the Texas educators do nothing to change and alter opinions of the U.S. abroad; if anything, they probably make things worse.

Ironically, the Texas vote comes as a new film, "Waiting for Superman," depicts how America's best and brightest are educationally unprepared and falling further behind in math and science.

We have a duty to give our kids a well-rounded education, and in today's world that includes understanding religion and its impact on public affairs at home and abroad.

Indeed, there's already substantial darkness regarding basic knowledge of religion in this country. The Pew Forum's new survey of religion literacy, released Tuesday (Sept. 28), found that about half of Americans know that the Quran is the holy book of Islam. It also found that less than a third know that most people in Indonesia--the world's most populous Muslim nation--are, in fact, Muslim.

Our dangerous religious illiteracy was evident after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Religious leaders from multiple faiths--Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and others--quickly realized the dangers involved. The latest surveys show how little has changed.

We need to prepare our kids for the reality that they will interact with people of different faiths; being sensitive to those faiths can only improve relations. This work begins at home--and in the schools.

The vote of the Texas State Board of Education is not only sad but also dangerous, representing a throwback to willful darkness, something that should not find a haven in centers of education. Students deserve more than that.

Islam is a not the enemy. Ignorance is. And educators--in Texas or any place else--should never endorse it.

(John L. Esposito, the author of "The Future of Islam," is the founding director of the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University. Sheila B. Lalwani is a research fellow at the center.)

John L. Esposito is professor of Religion and International Affairs at Georgetown University. He also the author of "The Future of Islam," is the founding director of the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University. 
Sheila B. Lalwani is a research fellow at the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University.


  Category: Faith & Spirituality
  Topics: Ignorance, Islam  Channel: Opinion
Views: 4858

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Older Comments:
BABANDI A. GUMEL FROM U.K said:
Islam is true but unfortunately the Muslims and majority of non Muslims such as one who commented earlier have misconception about the Deen some due to igonorence while maority due to sheer prejudice. They dont want be objective all they want find is the negative aspect present in the Muslims which is very unfortunate. As the author has rightly pointed out it is not Islam which is the enemy but but those with prejudice who have already made up their minds to hate the Deen are finding faults with Islam through the conduct of some Muslims. All those who are sincere I assure you Allah will give them guidance but they have to seek sincere guidance. We pray Allah guide the humanity including our Critic Romesh Chander and Co. They are not worse then Sayyidina Umar who took his sword to kill Nauzu Billah the Prophet but in the end Allah gave him huidance through the Dua of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W). We pray the same for all those who come this forum with the intention to find fault with Muslims and Islam.One day Allah will also give them guidance as He has guided us and all the other Muslims. May He continue to guide us until our last breath when leaving this transitory world we leave finally with the last Kalimah on our tongues at the time of death which is LA'Ila Ha Il LalLah which every should take note.
2010-10-05

ROMESH CHANDER FROM USA said:
The authors write " ... 38 percent of Americans have an unfavorable view of Islam, compared to 30 percent who reported a positive view. Another study conducted by The Washington Post found Islam's unfavorable image creeping up to 49 percent among Americans.".

Well, why is it so? Did muslims ever think, why is it so? Is it beccause, schools don't teach 'pro-islam' history? Oops, the above poll is from adults, not from school children.

So, why Islam has 'unfavourable' reputation in US (and in the West)?
May be there is some truth about it. Did muslims ever think about rater than complain all the time.

If poll were conducted regarding view point on Hinduism, I bet 98% will be negative. Guess, what, Hindus in US are not complaining. Why? Because they prefer not emphasizing their Hindusness, rather they prefer to be just human aqnd make money and live their own livesw (and leave their Hindusism and Hinduness to their homes and in private lives). I don't find Hindus being bothered in US. And same is true of Buddhists.

Like it or not, you cannot impose your will in a multiethnic, multireligious, multicultural society.

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The authors write "... how America's best and brightest are educationally unprepared and falling further behind in math and science.".

Granted. But what that has to do with teaching of 'pro-Islam' ' 'anti-islam' in schools? Looks like, the eminent professors casnnot keep their heads straight.

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Everybody knows, history is always subject to personal biases. You can never find about exactly unless you read variety of authors whio give conflicting viewpoints, a job only of scholars; unfortunately, children are too young to be scholars.

People don't like teaching that Columbus was a murderer. Should that kind of teaching be considered as 'anti-american'? Should it not be covered in schools at all? But Columbus was a murderer approaching to Nazi levels. And so was Timurlane.
2010-10-01