The Commission on Christian-Muslim Relations is sponsoring an educational series on three Mondays in September at the Islamic Center of Rochester, 727 Westfall Road, Brighton.
Each program in the series will run from 7:30 to 9 p.m.in the meeting area on the second floor. All those attending are invited to stay afterwards to observe Isha prayer.
The series’ topics are as follows:
* Sept. 12: “Islam in America: Many Faces.” Speakers: Dr. Salahuddin Malik, professor of history at the State University of New York College at Brockport, and Najmah Abdul-Matin, principal in the Rochester City School District.
The media often talk about Islam as if it were exactly the same in every country and at every time. This program will try to dissolve this myth by describing two of the “many faces” of Islam here in the United States: The face of the Muslim immigrant community and the face of our home-grown African-American Muslim community.
* Sept. 19: “Extremism and Fundamentalism in Islam and Christianity.” Speaker: Dr Emil Homerin, professor of religion in the department of classics of the University of Rochester.
This session will examine how Islam and Christianity, religions dedicated to peace and human flourishing, have in many instances become distorted by fundamentalism and extremism — and have even been manipulated to justify violence.
* Sept. 26: “Meeting Islam as a Christian: A Personal Journey.” Speaker: Deacon George Dardess, author of Meeting Islam: A Guide for Christians
Deacon Dardess will talk about his experience of exploring Islam. After the talk there will be an opportunity to buy a signed copy of the speaker’s book. Fifty percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Islamic Center, as well as the Commission on Muslim-Christian Relations, which operates under the auspices of the Greater Rochester Community of Churches, an ecumenical organization to which the Diocese of Rochester belongs.
All sessions are free and open to the public.
