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Evelyne Reisacher On How Fear Blurs Our Vision Of Islam

1/7/2016

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The holidays threw me out of the habit of writing, but I promise to have regular posts again soon. In the meantime, watch this video from Evelyne Reisacher. I studied under her during my M.A., and she became one of my favorite professors for her compassion and insight.

Dr. Reisacher is professor of Islamic studies and intercultural relations, and this video (from an evangelical conference) is a must-watch for Christians concerned about the future of Christian/Muslim relations, Islam and the West, or Muslims in America... especially this election season.

Evelyne Reisacher

Quotes:

​“The 21st century is the century in which Muslims and Christians must learn how to live together on this planet, if not we will destroy each other.”
 
“What stories are you going to tell about Muslims? Stories of fear, or stories of hope?”
 
“War paralyzes us, freezes us in the trauma of history. I did not dare talk to this Muslim, but she crossed the street and walked over to me.”
 
“If some Muslims are scary, Muslims are not generally scary. A few days ago, Muslims in France formed a human chain around a church to help Christians celebrate Christmas in safety. When I was sick with cancer, Muslims from halfway around the globe came to visit me. When the attacks in Paris happened over the Charlie cartoons, Muslims across France shouted ‘Not in my name.’ Fear is normal, fear protects us, but it also blinds our vision.”
 
“Today both Muslims and Christians are caught in a spiral of fear.”
 
“I remember talking to Muslim leaders after 9/11 and saying to them that Christians are afraid. They said to me, ‘We are also afraid as Muslims. We are so afraid that other Muslims would kill us. We are afraid that bombs are falling on our cities. We are afraid of hate crimes against Muslims. We are afraid of what Christians will think of us.’ Fear causes us to turn away from each other, but we serve a God who turns His face towards us.”
 
“If God turned His face towards the world to bless us with hospitality in Jesus, how can I as a child of God not turn my face towards Muslims?”
 
“Muslim/Christian relations have been going on for 15 centuries. They are very complex. It worries me, that despite the fact that Islam is 15 centuries old, Christians keep asking the same questions. Why should we perpetuate the ignorance about Islam in our circles? Wisdom teaches us to think and to feel and the best way to learn is to talk to Muslims.”
 
“I feel that you feel what I feel.”
 
“Enough with caricatures, shortcuts and oversimplifications of Islam.”
 
“We need Christians who can resolve conflicts, who can be involved in peacemaking and social work and education.”
 
“Christians must rediscover Wonder.”
 
“A cross and a veil? How does this go together? She grabbed my hands and started dancing with me.”
 
“We can be part of the great revolution of joy.”
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