George Washington University professor Seyyed Hussein Nasr spoke to an ICC Auditorium packed with both students and faculty to mark the commencement of Ramadan on Tuesday night. With an emphasis on spirituality, Nasr’s speech aimed to bridge the Muslim and Christian communities by showing the many similarities between the two religions.
“We are, in fact, on this boat of life together,” Nasr reminded the audience.
Nasr is a professor of Religion and Islamic Studies at GWU. A highly respected intellectual, he has written more than 50 books and hundreds of articles.
Nasr reminded attendants about the spirituality that is within everyone. “Christianity and Islam are ways sent by God to reach him. When we forget this spirit, there is no way to talk across borders.”
Nasr also cited difficulty in religious communication as a current problem.
“Dialogue between the same heart has become, though not completely, a dialogue between the mute and the deaf. Each wants to hear his own voice,” he said.
Another problem in dialogues between Christians and Muslims, according to Nasr, is that the discourse usually comes from a political viewpoint. Extremist views, though widely publicized, are not representative of the whole religion, he said.
“Force brings about force. Events of the last 20 years have brought about extremists that divide the sides. They are the ones most often hear,” he said.
People dropped bombs during World War II wearing crosses around their necks, but this did not mean that they were acting on Christian principles, Nasr said.
Nasr maintained the attention of his audience not only through his understanding of the interplay between Christianity and Islam, but also through his use of unexpected comparisons.
According to Nasr, the modernization of the last century is a challenge to all religions. Nasr compared religions to turtles: They hide in their shells when challenged.
The Reverend Kevin Wildes, S. J., who provided the formal welcome for Nasr, described him as an “eloquent speaker with a charismatic presence.”
Students at the lecture shared positive responses to Nasr’s aim to show the similarities between Christianity and Islam.
According to Keith Krause (SFS ‘05), fliers describing the speech as uplifting were appropriate due to Nasr’s discussion of the potential for harmony between Muslims and Christians.
Others found the speech rewarding.
According to Maggie Daher (CAS ‘05), “It was very refreshing … especially in light of the past few years where it seems the focus has been on enumerating [Islam and Christianity’s] divergences from each other.”
Hanan Nassau (SFS ‘05) said he liked how the night avoided focusing on the differences of Islam and Christianity.
“As a Jewish student at Georgetown I am encouraged by a night that is dedicated to how the two views should come together, rather than defending one’s own side,” Nassau said.
