Here is the Video (Google video) to an earlier Doha Debate on BBC with Tim Sebastian that I blogged about in March.I recommend especially in the current times we are living in with what is going on in Lebanon, Religious Extremism among Muslims, State Terrorism and Israel etc, to watch this very enlightening debate between Shaykh Hamza Yusuf Hanson, Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Former Palestinian Authority Spokeswoman Diana Butt and Centre for Muslim-Christian Understanding John L Esposito, with inputs from Alliance of Civilizations member Rabbi Schneier and author Karen Armstrong.
An excerpt from the debate:
TIM SEBASTIAN: Can you have mutual acceptance though of people who commit atrocities or other extremist acts?
RABBI SCHNEIER: Do not stereotype and do not generalize, and above all, it's very interesting, by the way in Judaism, in the Bible not once, 36 times it's repeated, 'Love your stranger,' not once, because it's the tendency of the human being to be suspicious of the other. What are we talking about, xenophobia and anti-Semitism or Islamophobia, what is it? That's what we're talking about, so the way to go is really respect for the other, respect for human life, respect for the stranger. You talk a lot about democracy. You want to have a definition of democracy? How the majority treats the minority, whether it's politically or religiously speaking, that is a barometer, how the majority treats the minority.
12 comments:
SS,
In two or three days Inshallah... I'll have a better net connection and I'll be back here to watch this.
I've heard of this Rabbi before and respect him immensely.
That's great Tainted, it really is one of the most inspiring and informative debates. One that actually leads somewhere...That actually clarifies a lot of the misconceptions and pinpoints a lot of the dilemmas and problems we have within the Muslim community.
Rabbi Schneier is definitely a peace force to reckon with.
The debates were very informative and cleared a lot of things. I recommend every one watch this. Thanks for sharing this with everyone Shaira.
need to read more about this Rabbi.. seems very open minded..
true one has to respect others, especially ones he doesn't know about.
a good example in the koran is the verse "we made you (different) creeds and tribes to meet"
(wa ja3alnakum shu3ooban wa qaba2il li ta3arafoo"
D Reb, I would say the future of Muslims in this world as healthy contributing individuals lies very much with people like Hamza Yusuf and the younger generation and non Muslims paying attention to such positive examples instead of basing their ideas on extremists that we ourselves cannot relate to.
I agree Buj, that verse is very describing in that it shows that God had the power to create us all the same, and with the same religion or race but He didn't and instead wants us to get to know each other. Hate would therefor be an impossibility in that equation.
hello there.
i remember seeing this debate, and was by far one of the better ones in the series thus far.
Gr8 site btw.
PS: and just in case u were wondering, yes i know i told u it was a gr8 site previously, but saying it again doesnt hurt now does it?
take care
Hey zee :) welcome back. Thank you for your kind words. And no it doesn't hurt! lol
The debate was one of the better ones for sure, because it clarified a lot of issues and answered a lot of questions that were yet to be given an appropriate and relevant answer, to say the least from a Muslim scholar or personality that lives in the real world, and wishes to remain in it.
Wonderful to watch, very impressive and encouraging.
I am glad you enjoyed it :)
Cool guestbook, interesting information... Keep it UP
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Cool blog, interesting information... Keep it UP football rules
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