Thursday evening marked the final Christian and Muslim dialogue sponsored by Muslim Student Association and Buffalo International Students, Inc.
Imam Ibrahim, the Muslim speaker, and Rev. David Kunselman, the Christian speaker, expressed their views on morality in their religion practices.
According to the Christian-Muslim dialogue website, International Students, Inc. is an organization of Christians who want to share friendship with international students at U.S. colleges and universities.
Ibrahim said he thinks that people are still using the teachings of the Koran for a model to follow in today's society.
According to Ibrahim, there are three different parts to morality.
"Your behavior with your God, how you behave with other people, and the situation of your own heart," he said.
Faces of all genders, ages and races peppered the audience of about 50 people, who gathered in a Student Union meeting room for the discussion.
Ibrahim stressed that Muslims thank God for every blessing, not just favorable things.
"People have asked me, why don't you celebrate Thanksgiving? My answer, everyday for a Muslim is a day of thanksgiving," said Ibrahim.
Ibrahim feels that being nice to people is one of the most important parts of being a good Muslim.
"If you cannot be a flower, don't be a thorn that will hurt others," he said.
Though tensions between the Muslim and Christian worlds have grown over the past several years, Kunselman, the Christian speaker, echoed many of Ibrahim's views on morality.
"I believe this forum is one in which we can keep the peace," he said. "I am humbled that I would've been asked to speak on morality."
Ironically, although Kunselman came to UB to speak of moral issues, his briefcase was stolen as soon as he got to UB.
He told the surprised audience that he set down the small, tan, leather briefcase when he got into the room, and a few minutes later, it was missing.
Kunselman assured the crowd he didn't believe anyone at the meeting took it, but he said that he is sure that he will never get it back.
The stolen briefcase led Kunselman into his next thoughts of truth morality.
"We have many ways of communicating the truth," Kunselman said. "Things are not the same now as they were 10 years ago.
"Why do we guard our ATM pin numbers? Why are there so many STD's in the world? Why is there such an increase in AIDS?"
Kunselman also feels that this sort of decrease in good morals is often seen in Buffalo.
"Why do you have to watch recently when you are driving in downtown Buffalo for people running red lights? We didn't have to worry about that 10 years ago!"
Kunselman said he believes that God transcends boundaries that are established by our society.
"God is transnational and transcultural," he said.
Kunselman also feels that being nice to everyone is a characteristic of a good Christian.
"So the question is not how moral are you, but do you want to be at one with God today and for eternity?" said Kunselman. "No one can earn his or her eternal life by good deeds. Change your mind about God."
Four Christian and Muslim meetings were held in the past where topics including views of God and the prophets, views of the scriptures, and views of reality were discussed.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
