“Diverse Perspectives”: Brief Reflections on the Middle East
This section is an attempt to gather brief remarks from people of diverse perspectives on the topic of the Israel/Palestine conflict. The reader is introduced to the perspectives of two Palestinian Christians (Ms. Seda Mansour and Pastor/Professor Alex Awad), two Jews (Professor Dale Frank and Professor Sam Fleischacker), and two Muslims (Imam Mubasher Ahmad and Dr. Mehnaz M. Afridi), as well as a comment from Dr. Albert H. Baylis of Multnomah Biblical Seminary. It is hoped that their brief commentaries will serve as catalysts for further reflection and discussion.
Dates, Gatorade, and Ramadan
In “Dates, Gatorade and Ramadan”, U.S. Army chaplains Gordon Groseclose and Steven Hokana, both Evangelicals, discuss the religious accommodations they and their colleagues have made for Muslim soldiers. The article explains the unique Army chaplain doctrine of perform or provide, and how they joined it with their Evangelical faith in order to reach out to fellow soldiers of different faiths. The authors also contrast duty to perform or provide with a description of the apprehension some chaplains may have with offering religious support to Muslims. In response, the authors make the case that providing support to non-Christian soldiers is an honest expression of Christian hospitality, among the highest virtues listed in Scripture. “Dates, Gatorade and Ramadan” is not intended as an exhaustive discussion on ecumenism or encouraging synchronistic beliefs; rather, the article is meant to spur discussion among theology students and to be an entry point for laypeople to further our understanding of what it means to be Christian in a pluralistic society.
Chaplain Groseclose referred to giving Gatorade and dates to Muslim students during Ramadan within his panel remarks at the Association of Theological Schools’ consultation on Christian Hospitality & Pastoral Practices in a MultiFaith Society in September 2010.
Click HERE to view the full article.