Visitors from the Maghreb and middle-east

During the week of April 4, 2011 five other members of the Interfaith Council (IFC) of Thanksgiving Square (TGS) and I, along with four TGS staff members met with seven distinguished and influential visitors from countries bordering the southern and eastern Mediterranean coast.  Our multi-talented visitors, all Muslim, were professors, authors, judges, imams, experts in Islamic studies and sharia, economists, university deans, and researchers in Islamic movements.  In addition to their native Arabic, they are conversant in French and most are also conversant in English.  They were visiting the United States under the auspices of the Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program.  They came from Algeria, Israel, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.  Our Interfaith Council participants, including the staff, consisted of a Baptist, a Catholic, a Christian Scientist, three Jews, a Lutheran, a Muslim, an Orthodox Christian and a Sikh.  The meeting included men and woman.

To the sorrow of us and our visitors, we had only one hour for discussion, but it was a very worthwhile discussion.  I made brief notes as the visitors asked questions or offered comments.  In some cases I only have notes about the thought provoking questions.  I think you will find them interesting.

Question/comment 1 (from a visitor):
Everyone we have spoken to in the US, everywhere we have been, regardless of culture or religion or their origins or the origins of their ancestors, sees him or herself as American.  It applies to Muslims, Christians, Jews, everyone.  Why is that?  What brings that about?  

Question 2/comment 2 (from a visitor):
Before he received his message, the Prophet had a meeting of various faiths that existed at the time and in the area.  He said:  "We have your faith and we have ours".  That is always the case in for Muslims.


Question/comment 3 (from IFC):
What is the relationship between church and state in your countries?
Answer (visitor):
It differs among our countries.
The role of religion in all of our countries is different than in western countries.  Islam does not only address spiritual things, but is more deeply involved in many aspects of daily life.  I am seeing some commonalities between US history and what our countries are seeing now [a reference to the  revolts underway in many countries in their region].
Some governments are trying to use religion to give themselves legitimacy.  Islamic scholars contradict governments.  Populations give more legitimacy to scholars than to governments.  There are two elements at work now:

1. Secular - separation of church and state (eliminate religion as a justification for the government).  But those people are the minority.
2. Religious stream - build a democratic system based on religion.

This is leading to open discussions about the role of religion in government in Egypt, in Tunisia, in Morocco.  Constitutional changes will decrease government power.

Israel accommodates multiple legal systems.  These include Jewish law, sharia law, and civil law,

Question/comment 4 (from a visitor):
Power in the US comes from the coexistence of groups (ie, the Interfaith Council).
Arabs and Muslims generally want peace and it should result from the fruits of the revolutions now occurring.
Tunisia may have a different view than other countries.  Islamists were partners, not leaders, of the Tunisian revolt.  Now a debate is happening on the role religion should have.  A very serious is underway.

Question/comment 5 (from a visitor):
The dialog among us (the visitors) is valuable.  We have differing opinions and learn from each other.