Jamal Rahman
By Dr. David C.
Aune, AU Religion Department
Why should I take the time to listen to
a Muslim guest speaker on the topics of religious differences and sacred
laughter? Can I really learn anything
new from someone who directly challenges some of my core beliefs? And why should I care about religious issues
anyway: what differences do they make? These
are the questions that many of us may be asking ourselves when we hear that Muslim
interfaith speaker Jamal Rahman will be giving two presentations on Tuesday
March 11 and Wednesday March 12 (both at 7PM) on the AU campus.
As associate professor and chair of the
Religion department here at Ashland, I am in a good position to answer these
questions. Years of teaching and
scholarly activities have convinced me of the value of learning about other
religions and engaging in inter-religious dialogue. Particularly when it comes Islam, there are
many misconceptions and misunderstandings that continue to be promoted in our
world. But Jamal Rahman will provide
some valuable insights in a creative, entertaining and thought-provoking
way. He is a nationally known personality
who has written and spoken extensively about Islam and Sufism (a spiritual
movement within Islam). For over ten
years now he has appeared along with a Rabbi and a Protestant minister as one
of the three “Interfaith Amigos.” See his website at jamalrahman.com.
On Tuesday, March 11th
at 7:00 pm (in Myers Convocation Center at Ashland University), Jamal will share
on the topic of “Encountering Irreconcilable Differences.” This title intrigues me because so much of
the interfaith discussion these days seems to overlook obvious disagreements in
our respective faith traditions. Jamal
approaches the topic by not just celebrating similarities but also by honoring
the dignity of differences. For him, the
goal is not to change other people but to get to know them on a human and
personal level. And, in perhaps the most important part of his
presentation, he will ask the question, “How does it feel to be the other?” By taking the time to listen to and interact
with Jamal, I anticipate that we will gain skills for understanding and dealing
with various kinds of differences (not merely religious ones). Empathy is
something all of us could develop further in our lives.
Jamal’s Wednesday March 12th
presentation (at 7PM in the Student Center Auditorium) will be on the topic of
“Sacred Laughter: Awakening the Soul through the Sacred Laughter of the
Sufis”. Honestly, this topic intrigues
me even more because, while I can relate to the value of laughter, I don’t know
much about what the Sufi spiritual masters have to say about it (or how and why
it might be considered “sacred.”) Could
it be that the ability to laugh at ourselves and focus on the playfulness and
joy in life is actually a spiritual gift that connects us with others and
enhances the life that God intends for us?
Again, this is an experience that all of us might find beneficial and surprisingly
enjoyable.
So I’ll be encouraging everyone I
know to attend Jamal Rahman’s presentations.
His presence at Ashland will certainly enhance and enrich our lives.
For more information on the events,
visit www.ashland.edu/acn
For more information on Jamal Rhaman, visit www.jamalrahman.com
