American Muslim

Baptist Perspective

Asalaam Alaikum (Peace be with you),

A friend of mine who went to seminary at Emory sent me this article some time ago, but I didn't have a chance to post it till now. With all that has been said in support of and opposition to the Cordoba Institute, I am always interested in seeing the arguments behind those non-Muslims who have chosen to support the center's construction.

This essay was written by Robert Parham, director of the Baptist Center for Ethics, and was originally published in the Washington Post:

"If religious liberty is an American hallmark, then a mosque near Ground Zero would be an American landmark to our nation's commitment to religious freedom for all. What better cultural signpost could we offer than one that says America is guided by its better angels, not its dark demons of fear and politicians of demagoguery.

"Four hundred years ago, a Baptist founder, Thomas Helwys, advocated for religious liberty for "Turks" in Christian England in a letter to King James I. He did so when the Ottoman Empire was a global powerhouse with Islam at its core. Helwys' courage and conviction made their way into the Baptist faith tradition which shaped the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. That amendment states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

"After the adoption of the Constitution John Leland, a Virginia Baptist minister, rejoiced that it would possible for a "pagan, Turk, Jew or Christian" to be elected to political office. Regrettably today, too many efforts are under way to block and to discourage people of Islamic faith from their free exercise of religion.

"Such efforts are part of the larger cultural narrative that says Christianity and Islam are at war with each other. Challenging that negative narrative is a moral obligation for Baptists and other Christians.

"In fact, less than a month ago, some 300 goodwill Baptists from across the country attended a Baptist Center for Ethics luncheon in Charlotte, N.C., where they talked about positive experiences with American Muslims.

"These Baptists are framing a new narrative that says Christians and Muslims share a common word found in their different sacred texts--texts that command believers to love their neighbors. Using the documentary "Different Books, Common Word," these Baptists are advancing the common good.

"Would that other Americans remembered their heritage and spoke up for the First Amendment.