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March 9, 2003
Breaking down barriers
Interfaith event draws diverse crowd
By David Horn,
Hoosier Times
BLOOMINGTON
Amish girls in bonnets and Muslim women in hijabs (head scarves) mixed with Catholics, Baptists, Quakers, Lutherans, Pentecostals, Scientologists and at least one heathen Saturday at a Turkish buffet offering lentil loaves, spinach pie, grape leaves and baklava.
The interfaith feast at Phi Delta Kappa International Conference Center inaugurated the Bloomington Muslim Dialog Group, founded recently by Muslim graduate students at Indiana University to promote respect among religious traditions.
Three conference rooms were merged to accommodate more than 100 people, including bouncing babies, white-haired seniors, suspendered construction workers and several Ph.D. candidates in blue suits.
Hakan Toker's fingers danced over 75 strings as he welcomed the crowd by playing Turkish classical music on a kanun.
"It's a Middle Eastern instrument like a hammer dulcimer," he said, "only it's plucked."
"O God, join our hearts, mend our social relationship, guide us to the path of peace ..." prayed group’s president in his opening remarks.
"We formed this group a few months ago," he said, "because we felt a need for more interactions among different faith members. Especially Muslims need to interact more with the public, since there is widespread misinformation about Islam and Muslims."
Father Dan Atkins, pastor of St. Paul's Catholic Center, felt honored to be at the meeting.
"Thank you for getting us Christians together," he told the Muslim students, "and thanks for being the first to extend the hand of friendship."
Kevin Jaques, professor of religious studies and Near Eastern languages and cultures at IU, drew laughter describing his first teenage visit to a mosque, where worshippers remove their shoes. He got so scared that he ran outside in his socks.
"I had to sneak back in and get my shoes before prayers were finished," he said.
Jaques applauded Muslim students and everyone attending Saturday's meeting, because he knows from experience that "it takes bravery to cross barriers."
Rebecca J. Jimenez, campus minister for the Center for University Ministry, believes God is too big to be entirely contained or revealed in just one set of beliefs.
"When we move beyond forms, institutions, doctrines and traditions into the mystery of religion, we find a lot of common ground," she said.
The group's next public event is an ashoora, a gathering in remembrance of Noah's first meal on dry land after the flood. It is set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Center for University Ministry.
For more information about the group, call 339-5228 or go towww.bmdg.org/ on the Web.
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