Faculty Chair Funding To Promote Understanding Of The Contemporary Faith Hartford Seminary will receive a gift of $2 million from a Muslim community in Turkey to advance the study of contemporary Islam. This is the largest gift from the Muslim community in the history of Hartford Seminary, said David S. Barrett, director of public and institutional affairs at the seminary. The largest gift ever received by the seminary was $6 million in 1997, he said. The donation, announced by the seminary Thursday, will be used to fund a faculty chair bearing the title of professor of contemporary Islamic studies. The donor, Ali Bayram, a Turkish scholar and representative of the Muslim community made up of followers of Turkish theologian and religious leader Fethullah Gülen, said he hopes the chair will help in the understanding of contemporary Islam. "For many unfortunate reasons, Islam has been greatly misunderstood," Bayram stated in a release issued by the seminary. "Neutral scholarly knowledge on Islam is missing from the discussion and not highlighted." A key aspect of the gift is that, in accordance with Islamic principles, it may not be invested in companies or funds that are based on the sale or promotion of alcohol, gambling or tobacco. Hartford Seminary houses the Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim relations. The chair will be housed in the Macdonald Center to enhance its program. The seminary has worked with the Gülen community for many years. The community, which condemns violence in the name of Islam, has several students studying at the seminary, and has had scholars come to the seminary for sabbatical work. Its followers favor modernism, tolerance, dialogue and democracy without sacrificing religious precepts. "The study of Islam is especially important in these difficult times, and this gift will allow us to offer precedent-setting research and teaching on contemporary Islam as it is lived out in the world today," said Hartford Seminary President Heidi Hadsell in the release. ---- what are your comments ?
Maybe they can finally figure out why pissing on a Bible is art but putting a Koran in a toilet and silly cartoons is cause for rioting and murder.
Maybe we can figure out why people blame islam for al quida and ignore Christianity's role in the KKK. Stupid people = stupid results. 99.9% of the 1.5 billion muslim population are peaceful, intelligent people. 99.9% of the 1.9 billion christian populaiton are peaceful, intelligent people.
"The seminary has worked with the Gülen community for many years. The community, which condemns violence in the name of Islam, has several students studying at the seminary, and has had scholars come to the seminary for sabbatical work. Its followers favor modernism, tolerance, dialogue and democracy without sacrificing religious precepts." Sounds very positive to me Sakaryalee, nice to hear some good news
This is not surprising. Liberal seminaries long ago departed from the faith, are not interested in reading or understanding the Bible, and they perpetuate tales about Jesus Christ. Thus, to see them bring in another religion's teachings is expected.
There's a reason the mainstream doesn't associate the KKK with Christianity. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28 Romans 12 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. There's also an example of God stricking someone dead for being racist. Find clear examples against the terrorists in the Koran. I've asked numerous times and have yet to see such examples.