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| Rev. Terry Jones of Dove World Outreach Center |
Source/Credit: The Columbus Dispatch
By Meredith Heagney | September 11, 2010
Nine years after the terrorist attack of Sept. 11, 2001, America is still trying to figure out its relationship with Islam.
But at least in some cases, it appears actions such as the threatened burning of Qurans by a Florida pastor can have the unintended effect of bringing people together.
Yesterday, four members of the Canal Winchester/Lithopolis Ministerial Association visited the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community at its Groveport mosque to condemn the Rev. Terry Jones' plan - apparently called off yesterday - and share a meal.
Today, Catholics, Protestants and Muslims will be among those in worship at First Unitarian Universalist Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Rd., for "Burn NO Sacred Books: An Interfaith Solidarity Service" at 2 p.m.
The church is working to expand the newly formed Columbus Interfaith Youth Group for teens, with the hope that starting a dialogue that will soothe divisions.
National Muslim groups are planning Quran giveaways to interested non-Muslims, libraries and interfaith groups.
"I think it's great," Abdus Salam Malik, president of the Ahmadiyya mosque, said of the efforts to foster greater understanding between Muslims and Christians.
"It was so heartwarming, so beautiful, our Christian neighbors supporting us."
At the Ahmadiyya mosque yesterday, the Rev. Ben Foulk spoke on behalf of the ministerial association, made up of eight Protestant churches and one Catholic parish.
"We can take what is evil and turn it to good," he said.
Before the congregation reached out to him, "I didn't know there was an Ahmadiyya Muslim Community," Foulk told about 60 Muslims and Christians gathered in a former church space now owned by the Ahmadis.
"And I didn't know it was in Groveport. How about that? What a difference a few days can make."
No matter what Jones does today, he's already managed to bring people together.
mheagney@dispatch.com
Read original post here: Faiths unite to oppose burning of sacred texts
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