Interfaith Dialogue and Collaboration

Introduction

• Reference to being fans of the "Three Stooges" as a metaphor for their initial attempts.
• Started with sharing spiritual wisdom from their different traditions.
  • Prophet Micah on justice and kindness.
  • Gospel According to John on unconditional love.
  • Koran on repelling evil with good.
• Realization that they were "stuck in patterns of behavior."
  • Story of the Mullah and the cheese sandwich as a metaphor for self-imposed limitations.

Post 9/11 Interfaith Efforts

• Immediate call to Jamal for an authentic representation of Islam post-9/11.
• Collaboration with Rabbi Ted and Pastor Don McKenzie.
  • Friendship and mutual understanding developed.
  • Explained "Muslim" as one who surrenders to God.
  • Averted misunderstanding and a "global crisis."

Development of Interfaith Work

• Marked the first anniversary of 9/11 with an event, decided to continue work.
• Developed a framework for true interfaith dialogue leading to collaboration on moral issues.

Challenges in Interfaith Dialogue

• Difficulty due to confusion between particular and universal beliefs.
  • Every spiritual path leads to a greater universal.
  • Dangers of exclusivity in religious claims.
• Importance of spirituality being inclusive and interconnected.
• Need to address taboo areas in traditions (exclusivity, violence, inequality, homophobia).

The Role of Humor and Hope

• Humor as a tool to cope with tragedy and promote hope.
• Comedy as an eclipse to tragedy.
• In God's view, nothing is irreparably broken.

Personal Acknowledgments and Reflections

• Christian repudiation of Judaism and Islam acknowledged.
• The cross as a symbol of unconditional love, not oppression.
• Quran's message of diversity and getting to know others.
  • Diversity as a divine design for human connection.
• Religion sometimes complicates this connection.

Interfaith as Completion, Not Conversion

• Interfaith aims to make participants more complete human beings.
• Collaboration on social justice and earth care projects.
• Rumi's view of adoration and oneness.
• Theme song embodying unity with words in Arabic, Hebrew, and English:
  • "Bismillahirrahmanirrahim"
  • "La ilaha illallah"
  • "Adonai hu ha Elohim hu"
  • "It's all one and I am as I am."