The Link is published monthly at 40p (Senior Citizens 35p), and we deliver free within the parish and post copies (at the reader's expense) to those who request it. Please contact us if you would like a free copy for a trial period.
January 2003, Page 4.
Index of articles.
Race & Faiths:
index,
Twinning,
Aire,
Iraq,
Bussing,
Islam,
Zimbabwe.
In this issue:
(January 2003)
Vicar's Letter,
Depression,
Islam,
Question.
Get to know Islam in Bradford
|
Understanding your Muslim neighbour Philip Lewis
Dominic Moghal
Please bring a packed lunch - drinks available |
With the looming threat of war with Iraq, and a lot of concern among Christians about the rights and wrongs of this, the staff of St. Augustine’s church felt it would be helpful to give the opportunity for Christians to learn a bit more about Islam and about our neighbours in Bradford who follow it. So there is to be a one-day course on the subject, possibly to be followed by three Wednesday evening sessions if there is the time and inclination.
The course is given by two very experienced Christians who have worked together both in Pakistan and in England. It covers:
• Why should I get to know my Muslim neighbour? The biblical and theological foundations for learning, friendship and dialogue with those who subscribe to a different world religion.
• The history of Islam, and its origins partly as a protest against the corruptions of Christianity in the sixth century AD.
• The fundamentals of Islam as a religion and as a view of how personal life and society ought to be organised.
• Islam and Culture: how the teaching of the Qu’ran and the practice of Islam by local people relate, and the differences between the two.
• The practicalities of neighbourliness: some day-to-day advice on how best to build friendships, and some do’s and don’ts about what to say and do.
Everyone is welcome. We hope housegroups might come as a group. Ask if you want a lift.
Since the above article was written, we received the following programme for the day:
Understanding Your Muslim Neighbour
Saturday January 11th 2003, 10.00am - 3.30pm.
Session 1 - 'Making sense of Islam through prayer.' This session will provide an insight into Islam as a developing religious tradition built on Holy Book, Muhammad's example, a developing legal tradition and an experiential dimension [Sufism] as illustrated through a focus on prayer.
Session 2 - Islam in history and attitudes to the West and Christianity.
Session 3 - An exploration of the 5 pillars of Islam in creating Muslim identity and community [umma].
Session 4 - Muslims in Bradford - making sense of the tensions between Punjabi culture, Islam and British society [gender, generational tensions and leadership].
Session 5 - what sort of relations are possible and what is the biblical/theological warrant for such relationships.
Sessions 1 & 2 will be led by Philip Lewis, Sessions 3 and 4 by Dominic Moghal. Session 5 will be more a conversation with participants and a sharing of good practice.
Sessions 1-3 will be 50 minutes each. There will be a lunch break from 12.30-1.30, followed by sessions 4-5 which will be an hour each.
PL & DM