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April 24, 2008
RIPON, Wis. – A panel comprising Muslims and students from Professor Brian Smith’s class, “Religion and Politics in Comparative Perspective,” will aim to separate fact from myth about the Islamic faith during a 4:15-5:30 p.m. discussion Thursday, April 24 in the East Hall Little Theatre at Ripon College.
Topics will include the common religious beliefs that Christians and Muslims share, the truth about Muslim’s perceived support of violence, common cultural and political values Muslims around the world share with Americans, and Islam’s compatibility with democracy.
Five students in Professor Smith’s course will make presentations. In addition, two Muslim students will give responses to the presentations, along with Ms. Nihal Shahbandar, a Muslim woman from the Fox Valley Islamic Society in Neenah, Wis.
Smith said he finds that many Americans do not understand the Islamic faith, including some on the Ripon College campus. “These misunderstandings can lead to tensions across religions and sometimes can produce discriminatory remarks or actions that are hurtful,” Smith believes. “More frank discussion between Christians and Muslims are necessary to eliminate stereotypes that some in each religion have of those in the other tradition.
“There will be no peace in the world,” he said, “if there is poor understanding and a lack of respect among religions.”
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Professor Brian Smith in the Religion department of Ripon College at 920-748-9229.
About Ripon College
Ripon College, founded in 1851, prepares students of diverse interests for lives of productive, socially responsible citizenship. Ripon’s liberal arts curriculum and residential campus create an intimate learning community in which students experience a richly personalized education. Ripon has consistently been recognized as a “best value” and “Best 366 College” by The Princeton Review, a “Best Buy in College Education” by Barron’s, a “Best Liberal-Arts College” by Washington Monthly, and is listed among the 160 best schools in the nation by Colleges of Distinction.
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