American Islam: Struggle for the Soul of a Religion

Paul Barrett, author, American Islam: Struggle for the Soul of a Religion

Paul Barrett’s widely acclaimed book, American Islam; Struggle for the Soul of a Religion, describes Islam through the stories of several American Muslims who exemplify different tendencies, different viewpoints in the ongoing debate within this faith tradition. Mr. Barrett begins with an overall description that will astound some listeners. He notes that American Muslims are much better educated, more affluent and more likely to be registered to vote than are average Americans. Saudi Arabia with its highly traditional “Wahabi” or “Salafist” Islam, Mr. Barrett says, has had a strong influence in American Islam, funding the building of mosques, distributing literature and sponsoring the education of imams. This fuels the intense internal debates within the religion, including struggles over the role of women and controversies over the subjects of Friday sermons: should they reflect anti-Western themes, or an inclusive societal outlook? The Muslims profiled by Barrett include a successful entrepreneur and newspaper editor of Lebanese origin with sympathies for Hezbollah, a Muslim scholar who promotes a contemporary view of Islam, an African-American Muslim who went from the Nation of Islam to conventional Islam, two Muslim men with radical views – one tried and acquitted, the other who changed his views, a Muslim feminist, and a married couple who are Sufi mystics. Paul Barrett is optimistic about the future of Muslims, and Islam, in America.

A New Recommendation on Gay Clergy in the Evangelical Lutheran Church

Kevin Eckstrom, Editor, Religion News Service, regular analyst for Interfaith Voices

A council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in American (ELCA) recently voted to defrock a gay minister living with his gay partner, and at the same time, recommended that the national church change its policy, and permit openly gay partnerships among its clergy. Kevin Eckstrom provides an analysis of the situation, but does not believe that the ELCA will change its policy, but we won’t know until its convention in the summer of 2007.

The Christian Season of Lent: Can it be Relevant in Today’s World?

Rev. Jennifer Kottler, Deputy Director, Protestants for the Common Good, ordained minister in the Disciples of Christ Church

Rev. Dr. Cain Hope Felder, Professor of New Testament Language and Literature, Howard University School of Divinity, Editor of the Journal of Religious Thought

Dr. Cain Hope Felder recalls that Lent as a season came into Christian history with the Council of Nicea in 325 C.E. It remembers Jesus’ 40 days in the desert, and is traditionally a time of fasting, prayer and preparation for Easter. Both guests noted a heightened interest in Lent in our consumer society, and in an age when the so-called “prosperity gospel” is preached. Dr. Felder noted that it has been of greater importance in “black churches” in the last 30 years because of greater prosperity, and “prosperity gospel” preaching. The latter teaches that God rewards good Christians with prosperity in this world, but both guests decried this teaching as out of sync with the gospel, and an implicit condemnation of the poor. When it comes to creative ideas for Lenten practices, Rev. Kottler suggested taking on a spiritual practice (like meditation) – rather than “giving something up,” or acts of Christian witness, such as participation in the anti-war protest coming up in mid-March. Dr. Felder agreed, urging Christians to deal with one of their personal faults during Lent, combining that with specific action for social justice.