LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Understanding
Faith
I find it somewhat disconcerting to see so many people commenting
and debating a class that none has taken, and about which the
only fact that is related with certainty is the name of the class.
As Aaron Gale, the professor of the class, recently said, if
everyone was so curious, why didn't they just ask him?
I took Professor Gale's "Faiths of Abraham" class last spring (2002), and have to say that it was one of the best classes I have ever taken from this university (that includes five years as an undergrad as well as my current time as a graduate student).
The point of the class is education about, which will hopefully lead to dialogue between, the three monotheistic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. We discussed not just the origins of all three religions, and how they trace their roots back to Abraham, but we also covered the major points of history in each faith, as well as chief practices and precepts, for only through education can we combat ignorance, and the hatred that springs from such ignorance.
This class was instituted as part of a series of classes following the confusion, ignorance, and fear of 11 September but quickly became much more than that. Members of all three faiths, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, attended and participated in the class, which discussed not only the origin of all three religions harking back to the patriarch Abraham, who is the father of Judaism through his son Isaac and of Islam through his son Ishmael. Christianity then appropriated Abraham through the Torah or Old Testament, but Abraham belongs fully to none of those religions. Abraham was a monotheist who rejected the polytheism that existed at his time, and whose faith inspired those who came after him to create the Judaism, Christianity, and Islam that exist today, in all their myriad forms.
I'd like to state again that members of all three faiths took this class, and although discussion and debate did occur, the discussion was civilized and educational, which is an occurrence that is not always common when one discusses a subject as contentious as religion.
If anyone is interested in learning more about the relationship between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, I would suggest one of many excellent books that are currently available, such as A History of God by Karen Armstrong. Also, when Bruce Feiler was here this spring for the Festival of Ideas, he mentioned that all across the country interfaith dialogue groups have started so that members of each faith can learn about the others. Membership in or attendance of such a group would be another way to learn about a faith other than the one in which you were raised.
It is only by gaining a knowledge of what other faiths believe and practice, that we can truly come to an understanding of those other faiths, and it is only through understanding that we will come to live in peace with one another.
Michelle Klishis '94 B.A.
Morgantown, WV