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Houstonians open homes for
interfaith dinner dialogue
WSN Network
We, at the WSN, are reproducing this report with the suggestion that
the Sikh community would think seriously about launching such
initiatives in order to spread the word about who the Sikhs really
are and what does Sikhism stand for.
A Sikh and a Muslim who sat down for dinner at a Jewish home
Thursday night agreed on what drew them to the gathering. "In my
vocabulary, there is no such thing as coincidence. We are here for a
reason," Bindu Malhotra, the Sikh, said of the interfaith dinner.
"I feel God is making all this happen," agreed Nasru Rupani, an
Ismaili Muslim who said he wanted to give a face to Islam.
The two were among more than 800 Houstonians to attend Amazing
Faiths Dinner Dialogues held simultaneously at 73 homes around the
city.
Their host, Ann Nunes, was delighted with the religious diversity of
the nine guests at her Meyerland-area home. "I just feel it's
important for all of us to know and appreciate each other and how
much wisdom and beauty we all have to offer," she said.
At the first dinner dialogue in January, 20 homes hosted more than
200 Houstonians of various faiths. In addition to growing locally,
the program has expanded to a handful of homes in San Antonio,
Dallas and Brenham. Sponsors, including the Boniuk Center for the
Study and Advancement of Religious Tolerance at Rice University,
Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston and the Houston mayor's
office, hope the program spreads around the United States and
eventually to other countries.
Rupani became the face of Islam for the Rev. Mark Downs, pastor of
Heights Presbyterian Church.
"It's one thing to learn about Islam and another thing to meet a
Muslim," said Downs, who grew up in Alvin but recently moved to
Houston from Chattanooga, Tenn.
Munawar Choudry, a Pakistani-born Muslim, said his desire to clear
up misconceptions about his religion made him eager to host a dinner
in his North Houston home. "It is the political disputes that are
creating problems, not the faith itself," he said of Islam. "The
Quran always tells us to treat people with respect and dignity.
Nowhere does it say to kill people."
During the dinners, guests picked questions from a deck of cards and
answered based on their personal beliefs. Other participants
listened, and were requested not to challenge responses.
Cynthia Davis, a non-denominational Christian, moderated the dinner
at Choudry's house. She said she had recently felt called by God to
move beyond her comfort zone in the African-American community.
The point of the evening, she said, was not intellectual learning,
but "to really get to know each other."
"It's all personal," Nunes said, adding that the answers all come
from "one's own life and thought ... "
(Courtesy Houston Chronicle)
21 November, 2007
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