islam is not a religion and not equal to judism or christianity…this social justice/inclusive crap is just that…crap

Sunday project seeks to build respect for all faiths

Islamophobia was one of the biggest news stories of 2010. Unfortunately, the evolution of that story over the past 12 months has not led us to a hoped-for place of understanding and common ground.
Instead, it has led to misconceptions, distrust and, in extreme cases, violence. We are committed to ensuring that the storyline changes dramatically in 2011 by helping to create an environment of mutual understanding and respect for each other’s faith traditions.
Interfaith Alliance and Human Rights First offer Faith Shared as a way to engage faith leaders on the national and community levels in interfaith events intended to highlight respect among people of different faiths.
No longer will we allow the United States to be portrayed as anti-Islamic would-be Quran-burners, at the expense of the mutual respect that is shared by Muslims, Christians, Jews and so many other Americans. Through photos, video clips and print coverage distributed around the world, we are looking to display visual images of respect and understanding between faith traditions in the United States.
Internationally, this project aims to demonstrate to the world, including the Arab and Muslim worlds, that the United States is not, in fact, a nation defined by the widely covered images of the marginal few who would burn a Quran, but by a proud and longstanding tradition of religious freedom, tolerance and pluralism.
In communities across the United States, this project will not only serve as a model for tolerance and cooperation, and promote local faith leaders as champions of such, but it will also create a concrete opportunity to build and strengthen working ties between faith communities moving forward.
Faith Shared asks houses of worship across the country to organize events on Sunday, Jan. 30, involving clergy reading from each other’s sacred texts during a worship service.
An example would be Christian minister, Jewish rabbi and Muslim imam participating. Suggested readings will be provided from the Torah, the Gospels and the Quran, but communities are encouraged to choose readings that will resonate with their congregations. We will also provide suggestions on how to incorporate this program into your regular worship services. And we will assist local congregations in their media and communications efforts.
While there is a strong preference for all of the events to happen on the same day, Jan. 30, we will not exclude any house of worship that wants to participate anytime during this weekend.
Faith Shared will collect images and videos from these events to use in our efforts to spread this message of respect and understanding from America.
Rev. Yarbrough is from the Church of the Ascension; Rev. Webster from Lake Avenue Baptist Church and Jaschik, the Interfaith Alliance of Rochester.