However, interfaith dialogue is now more important than ever, said April Najjaj, a professor of history and the director of international studies at Greensboro College in North Carolina.
Students for Dialogue, an Ohio State organization, has invited Najjaj to speak at OSU.
“I think the most important thing I’ll be talking about is the principles of interfaith dialogue,” Najjaj said. “It’s not a debate. We’re just listening to each other and increasing understanding.”
Students for Dialogue hopes to increase understanding among different cultures, genders and religions, said Yusuf Danisman, the organization’s president.
Najjaj can help because of her expertise in the field of interfaith issues, Danisman said.
Najjaj has spoken about interfaith issues at academic conferences and with community organizations, Greensboro churches and her students. Her research interests include interfaith issues and the role of women in Islam.
She plans to focus her talk on the issues of women in religion.
“With my own experiences, the issues of Islamic women are the biggest misunderstandings in the media and in popular culture,” Najjaj said.
Faraaz Siddiqui, a member of the Muslim Students’ Association, agrees.
“People get the wrong idea all the time,” Siddiqui said. “People think that women are placed on a rung below men in Islam.”
Students for Dialogue works to correct these misconceptions.
“The world is becoming a global village,” Danisman said. “The more we know about others’ backgrounds, the better we can communicate and live in peace.”
The talk will take place at 5:30 p.m. today in Ohio Union Cartoon Room 2.
http://www.thelantern.com/campus/interfaith-dialogue-explores-cooperative-interaction-between-religions-1.1479415
